Doha, 8 October 2023: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Rheumatology Department hosted the Fourth Annual Qatar Rheumatology Conference, held from 6 to 8 October the Le Royal Meridien Doha Hotel.
This year's conference focused on different types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis, among other joint inflammatory conditions. The conference included lectures and various discussion sessions on rheumatic diseases, as well as workshops for physicians on the use of clinical imaging in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis.
Present at the conference opening ceremony were Dr. Abdullah Al Ansari, HMC’s Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Ahmed Al Mohammed, HMC’s Deputy Chief for Medical Services; and Mr. Hassan Al Hail, HMC’s Chief Communications Officer.
Dr. Samar Al-Emadi, Head of the Rheumatology Department at HMC and Chairperson of Qatar Rheumatology Conference said: "Hamad Medical Corporation is committed to providing the best treatments available that have been developed based on scientific research and have proven to be effective and safe for patients. These medications and treatments have effectively helped us in treating rheumatic diseases and preventing complications, significantly improving the lives of rheumatology patients.
“Considering the success of our previous conferences and the efforts put into preparing for this year's conference, we have achieved exceptional success in terms of organization and the scientific content presented. The discussion of important topics related to arthritis contributes to enriching the knowledge and scientific expertise of our physicians at HMC. Hosting this conference is also an opportunity to introduce participants from other countries to our medical capabilities and exceptional healthcare standards in Qatar.”
Dr. Karima Becetti, Rheumatology Consultant at HMC and Deputy Conference Deputy Chairperson, said: "This year's conference hosted several eminent regional and international experts, including speakers from the United States, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and other countries. Hosting these professionals provides an opportunity to exchange expertise in rheumatic diseases."
Dr. Becetti emphasized the importance of holding this conference, as medical conferences effectively contribute to improving healthcare quality and enhancing the competence of HMC's medical staff. “These conferences provide our physicians with the opportunity to learn about the latest scientific research and developments in the field of rheumatology,” Dr. Becetti said.
Over three days, the conference covered key topics in the field of rheumatology. The conference program included lectures presented by prominent rheumatology experts, such as a lecture titled ‘Updates in psoriasis pathogenesis’ delivered by Dr. Jonathan Barker; a lecture titled ‘Comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis and benefits of bariatric surgery’ delivered by Dr. Carlo Selmi.
Other sessions included a lecture titled ‘Medical management of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis: from the 2023 updated EULAR recommendations to the personalized care of psoriasis’ presented by Dr. Joseph Smolen and Dr. Jonathan Barker. Also, ‘the advantages and pitfalls of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of axial SpA presented by Dr. Dennis Poddubnyy; and a lecture titled ‘Vaccination in patients with inflammatory arthritis’ delivered by Dr. Janet Pope. The conference also included several workshops in the field of rheumatic diseases.
