Last week over 300 clinical staff from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) gathered in Qatar for the Surgical Endocrine Symposium. Organized by the Department of Surgery and held in collaboration with the Qatar Surgical Society, the symposium provided focused training to physicians and nurses involved in the surgical treatment of thyroid disorders.
Dr. Hassan Al Thani, Head of Trauma and Vascular Surgery at HMC and Chair of the Surgical Endocrine Symposia, said the Department of Surgery has an established track record in offering high-quality education and training opportunities for staff. He said HMC is committed to developing local expertise to manage the care of patients with complex thyroid disorders.
“We are committed to developing local expertise to manage complex clinical cases, and targeted learning events such as these are an important means for us to build the capacity and capability here in Qatar,” said Dr. Al Thani. “I am delighted that we have had exceptional interest from doctors and nurses in the topics covered during our symposia. With each session providing the opportunity for learning to around 300 attendees, we have managed to deliver a significant training program in surgical endocrinology to many healthcare professionals in Qatar.”
The thyroid gland is approximately two inches long and is located in the middle of the lower neck, below the larynx (voice box). It is shaped like a bow tie and helps regulate physiological functions in the body by releasing hormones that control metabolism - the way the body uses energy. The thyroid's hormones regulate vital body functions, including breathing, heart rate, body weight, body temperature, and cholesterol levels.
Over twenty highly qualified endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, anesthetists, and cardiology specialists, as well as radiation and medical oncologists, were among the presenters at the day-long symposium, which included a panel discussion featuring patient case studies.
“We already have highly experienced teams using advanced diagnostic technologies to identify different kinds of endocrine disorders as well as any underlying causes. As a recognized teaching institution, we are committed to supporting the training and education of other healthcare professionals in the pursuit of knowledge, with the ultimate goal of providing better patient care,” added Dr. Al Thani.
In October 2015, HMC opened a specialty unit dedicated to caring for patients with thyroid gland disorders. Early detection of thyroid disorders is important as timely access to treatment can prevent the development of additional health problems. The majority of patients treated at the Thyroid Unit, which is located in the Outpatient Department at Hamad General Hospital, have thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules, which are an abnormal growth of thyroid cells, require the partial or complete surgical removal of the thyroid gland.
