Sidra Medicine Celebrates Graduates of Certificate in Leadership Program at Georgetown University in Qatar
Empowering the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders 5 February 2025, Doha, Qatar – In a closing ceremony at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), Sidra Medicine celebrated the achievements of 14 middle and senior managers who completed the newly launched Strategic Leadership Development Certificate Program offered by Georgetown University. In her remarks, Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO of Sidra Medicine, gave a background on why she initiated the program and the outcome she hoped to achieve, saying, “Our partnership with GU-Q has been instrumental in strengthening our investment in the growth of our national talent. I am confident that together, we will continue advancing Qatar’s vision of cultivating a highly skilled, innovative, and capable workforce—one that will drive the nation’s healthcare and broader development goals forward.” In her message to the graduates, Dr. Kelly Otter, Dean of Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies highlighted the importance of strategic leadership in building a better world, saying, “Your dedication and hard work will not only advance the goals of Sidra Medicine, but also will serve your communities well by providing holistic, patient-centric care. Your contributions will ensure that precision medicine is an accessible reality for many in the Gulf region.” Aysha Al-Kuwari, Director of the Talent Management Division at Sidra Medicine, added, “Strong leadership is the backbone of any successful healthcare institution. Through this collaboration with GU-Q, our managers have gained the skills to lead with confidence, adaptability, and a patient-first mindset—qualities that will drive both individual and institutional success at Sidra Medicine.” Launched in May 2024, the Strategic Leadership Certificate Program featured a distinguished faculty lineup, combining academic insights from Georgetown University’s Department of Health Systems Management with practical expertise from experienced healthcare industry executives. This tailored approach ensured that the 14 certificate holders are prepared to apply global healthcare insights and practical strategies to Sidra Medicine’s unique operational environment, leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced organizational efficiency. Highlighting the Qatar campus’s strategic location and capacity to support this program, Andrew Henley, Chief Operating Officer of GU-Q, remarked, “As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary in Qatar, we are proud to support Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies and leverage Georgetown’s global network of faculty expertise through GU-Q’s Office of Executive and Professional Education to help build Qatar’s knowledge economy and contribute to positive health, social, and economic outcomes for the region.”
From a board role to a CEO: Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch’s seemingly effortless transition
Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO, Sidra Medicine is no stranger to the world of decision-making while being a medical professional. In a candid conversation, Dr Tinubu-Karch talks about the transition to a CEO and the values it demanded inculcated in her, apart from the role technology plays in diagnostics today. “Technology is the cornerstone of our ability to expand and enhance our clinical services, ensuring we provide exceptional care for women and children.“ “Stepping from the boardroom into the CEO role has been an incredible journey. While my board role focused on strategic oversight and high-level decisions, my current position has immersed me in the daily operations of Sidra Medicine. This deeper involvement has provided invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities we face, which allows me to ensure our teams have the necessary resources to excel in patient care, research, and education,” says Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO, Sidra Medicine. One of the biggest shifts for Dr Tinubu-Karch has been getting to know the people on a deeper level. Witnessing their commitment firsthand is truly inspiring and reinforces her responsibility to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, according to Dr Tinubu-Karch, who actively seeks input from diverse perspectives within the organisation, believing as she does that this collective wisdom leads to more informed and effective decision-making. “Healthcare is a dynamic field. As CEO, I need to make sure that we as an institution are agile and adaptable. This means being committed to nurturing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. By embracing change and fostering a growth mindset, we can ensure that Sidra Medicine remains at the forefront of women’s and children’s healthcare,” informs Dr Tinubu-Karch. On the role that technology plays in advancing clinical care at Sidra Medicine, Dr Tinubu-Karch is forceful about Sidra Medicine’s commitment to embracing the latest technological advancements based as it is on the belief that advanced technology is essential for the institution to remain a leader in patient care, adding, “Technology is the cornerstone of our ability to expand and enhance our clinical services, ensuring we provide exceptional care for women and children.” Dr Tinubu-Karch adds that Sidra Medicine has become a regional pioneer in gene therapy, harnessing the power of technology to revolutionise treatment options for genetic diseases. Our administration of Elevidys for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and our unique position as the sole provider of gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Qatar exemplify this commitment. How has Dr Tinubu-Karch’s background in geriatric medicine shaped your approach to healthcare leadership? Dr Tinubu-Karch informs that her background in geriatric medicine has profoundly influenced her approach to healthcare leadership. She details, “In geriatrics, you learn to consider not only the immediate medical issues but also the broader context of a patient’s life – how their environment, family support, mental well-being, and social circumstances all influence their health. This perspective is essential for providing compassionate, effective care, and it informs how I lead a multidisciplinary team, with a collaborative agenda at a healthcare institution like Sidra Medicine.” Geriatric medicine, Dr Tinubu-Karch adds, emphasises long-term health and quality of life, not just treating immediate symptoms. “This philosophy is central to Sidra Medicine’s approach. We’re not only focused on acute interventions but also on providing sustainable, comprehensive care that supports the overall well-being of our patients and their families. My background has instilled in me a deep respect for the continuity of care, which we strive to deliver at every stage of a patient’s journey here,” says Dr Tinubu-Karch. Innovations in healthcare At Sidra Medicine, innovation is at the heart of our mission to provide exceptional care for children and women. Dr Tinubu-Karch talks about several ways in which Sidra Medicine is constantly striving to achieve new milestones and push the boundaries of healthcare through several key initiatives. One key area is our Clinical Trials Program, which focuses on trials directly benefiting children in the Arab region, informs Dr Tinubu-Karch. The trials could offer children the chance to receive beneficial treatment whether it is a new drug, therapy, device or procedure before it becomes widely available, she says, adding, “Our programme addresses the historical lack of research for the Arab population, enabling us to develop personalised and effective treatments.” In tandem, Sidra Medicine has also established the first pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) programme in Qatar, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Additionally, our precision medicine initiatives leverage genomic data to personalise care plans, using advanced technologies such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify disease-linked genetic variations and Zebrafish Functional Genomics Facility for rapid gene mutation identification. We are strategically integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our operations to empower our patients and optimise our workflow. Global healthcare trends in women’s and children’s health
