DOHA: Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Honorary President of the QU Alumni Association, graced the 11th International Conference on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP), All Together Better Health (ATBH) XI, hosted by Qatar University (QU) and held in the Middle East for the first time.
The biennial ATBH XI conference aims to inspire and provide opportunities to share knowledge, compare perspectives, exchange experiences and transform current understandings of IPECP.
The theme for this year’s conference is 'Cultivating a Collaborative Culture: Sharing Pearls of Wisdom' with the following subthemes related to interprofessional education and collaborative practice: Sharing models of best practice, informing national, regional and global policies and standards, advocating for health and wellbeing, embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and promoting safety in and beyond health services.
The event was attended by Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Al Kuwari; Qatari Businessmen Association DirectorSheikh Faisal bin Qassim bin Faisal Al Thani; Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Department of Medical Education at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Dr Abdullatif Mohamed Al Khal;Director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Health Workforce Department Jim Campbell,Vice President of QU’s Health and Medical SciencesDr Asma Al Thani,Member of the QU Board of DirectorsDr Hessa Mohammed Sadeq, and vice presidents, deans and officials from inside and outside QU.
QU President Dr Omar Al Ansari said in his speech, “For the first time in the Middle East, we meet at Qatar University to solidify the foundation of a future where health and education converge with a lasting impact. As part of Qatar University’s overarching strategy, our vision is to have a pioneering role in driving the transformation of academic health education in Qatar and the region. This involves creating a comprehensive educational system that aligns with our national health priorities and facilitates seamless integration with cutting-edge research. We are here today to validate, elevate and amplify the impact of health professional education in the region and to recognize its power to shape the destiny of our communities.”
He added, “The knowledge shared during this conference will become a bridge that connects health professionals from diverse backgrounds, allowing them to learn from each other's experiences, challenges and success. This approach is crucial in preparing the next generation of health leaders to navigate the complexities of a globalized health landscape.”
Dr Champion N Nyoni, Chair of Interprofessional. Global (IPG), University of the Free State, South Africa, said in his speech, “It gives me great pleasure and privilege to welcome you here as we gather for the ATBH conference in this vibrant city of Doha, Qatar. This gathering marks a pivotal moment, underscoring the sustained growth, the development of interprofessional education, and collaborative practice on a global scale. Our theme for this conference, ‘Cultivating a Collaborative Culture: Sharing Pearls of Wisdom’ encapsulates the essence of our interconnected lives. While we may be coming from different corners of the world, we share common challenges, and the ATBH conference serves as an indispensable platform to learn from, to learn with, and to learn about each other through engagement and sharing the pearls of wisdom that enrich our political understanding.”
He added, “Interprofessional.Global is a global confederation of regional networks from across the world that aim at advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice. We are responsible for providing the ATBH conference which is being held for the first time in the Middle East. This is very special for IPG, not only have we had our conference being held here for the first time, but this is coinciding with the elevation of the Arab network of interprofessional collaboration to the status of a regional network, which is a very prestigious status.”
Dr AllaEl-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations and Engagement and Chairperson of the Conference Steering Committee, said in her speech, “On behalf of Qatar University, I extend a warm welcome to over 600 participants from 33 countries around the world, representing a diverse spectrum of professions. We are honoured to guide you on this transformative journey through 276 presentations, including 6 pre-conference workshops, 12 conference workshops, 26 pearls of wisdom, 15 discovery majlis’, 91 oral presentations across 8 parallel sessions and 118 posters.”
She added, “This conference is a culmination of years of dedication, collaboration and a resounding testament to our commitment to advancing health professional education. The opening ceremony provides the stage for the launch of two important events that provide a beacon of hope and progress. The first of these is the launch of the Launch of Winterthur – Doha Declaration developed by Interprofessional.Global, representing more than 100 countries and 11 regional networks, it signifies a collective commitment to advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice globally.”
“The second is the official launch of the Arab Network for Interprofessional Collaboration as part of Interprofessional.Global networks. Since the idea of the network was first planted, concrete efforts have helped the emerging entity since 2018 to evolve into an established network uniting academics, health professionals and interprofessional activists from around the world. The launch is particularly significant given the remarkable growth of IPE in the region.”
The opening ceremony was concluded with talks by Prof John Gilbert and Dr Barbara Maxwell, who discussed ‘Informing national, regional, and global policies and standards for IPECP’ and ‘Advancing Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice: A Declaration for a Healthier Future’ respectively.
ATBH is the leading global IPECP conference, providing a collaborative forum for transnational champions to promote IPECP towards improving global health through consensus-based partnership, share ideas and address emerging healthcare challenges.
