HMC appoints eminent diabetes specialist as department of medicine chair

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has appointed renowned endocrinologist and diabetes specialist, Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, as Chair of the Department of Medicine.

Professor Abou-Samra is a specialist in the fields of Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine and Molecular Biology. His specializations are particularly relevant to HMC’s efforts to tackle the rising incidence ofdiabetes and metabolic diseases in Qatar. The International Diabetes Federation has indicated that the prevalence of diabetes in Qatar is about 20 percent.

HMC is currently in the process of establishing a dedicated, one-stop, multidisciplinary diabetes center within Hamad General Hospital, bringing together a range of services under one roof. The clinic will be staffed by physicians, dieticians, patient educators and podiatrists and will offer a variety of services including an eye clinic and insulin pump clinic. Due to be operational by mid- 2013, the center will play an important role in the treatment and management of diabetes in Qatar. 

“The appointment of Professor Abou-Samra to the medical leadership team is part of HMC’s drive to transform into an internationally competitive Academic Health System (AHS) and establish a healthcare legacy for Qatar,” said HMC Managing Director Hanan Al Kuwari PhD. “Professor Abou-Samra will be a key figure in the future design and operation of our National Diabetes Center and he will help us to lead research in this field to tackle diabetes. His experience and expertise in diabetes will be invaluable in supporting and developing our current initiatives in this area.“

Professor Abou-Samra has held previous roles as Professor of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan.

His distinguished career to date includes senior academic and hospital appointments at the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Lyon University in France, among others.

“I look forward to working with the committed team at HMC on improved treatments for people living with diabetes in Qatar as well as finding innovative and long lasting ways to prevent its spread,” Professor Abou-Samra said of his new role.