Sidra Medical and Research Center today announced that Dr. Ziyad M. Hijazi has been appointed Clinical Chief for Pediatrics. In this role, the pioneering and highly experienced clinician will drive the strategic direction of the Department of Pediatrics and integrate research and education priorities into a program of excellent clinical service delivery. He will also hold the position of Chair of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College – Qatar, Sidra’s partner for medical education.

“Sidra will be a beacon of excellence for pediatric care in Qatar and the Middle East so this is a key appointment for us,” said Sidra’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Edward S. Ogata. “Dr. Hijazi’s wide-ranging clinical and academic expertise in both pediatrics and cardiology, and his passion for research of the highest quality – evident from his exceptional record of publications – perfectly complement our vision for Sidra. I am particularly pleased that he will be here when Sidra hosts the Excellence in Pediatrics Conference in December, the first time that this major conference has ever been held here in the Middle East.”

Dr. Hijazi graduated from the University of Jordan School of Medicine before attending Yale University School of Medicine where he completed a Master of Public Health degree, a residency in Pediatrics and a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology. He spent eight years on the faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine and another eight years at the University of Chicago. In 2007 he was appointed Professor, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Director, Rush Center for Congenital and Structural Heart Disease, Section Chief, Pediatric Cardiology at Rush University Medical Center.

Dr. Hijazi specializes in treating congenital and structural heart disease in both children and adults. He is a pioneer in the non-surgical repair of congenital and structural heart defects and a Past President of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).

“It’s an honor to join Sidra and its prestigious leadership team. It’s also a personal pleasure for me to come back to the region where my love for medicine began. I hope to bring back what I have learned and contribute a small part to improving the lives of women and children in Qatar and the region. I’m optimistic that my work with transcatheter septal defect closure in children, which will be the focus of my presentation at the Excellence in Paediatrics Conference, is helping find alternatives to the invasive open heart surgery which is especially traumatic for pediatric patients and I look forward to bringing these techniques to Sidra,” said Dr. Hijazi.

Hosted by Sidra, the fifth annual Excellence in Pediatrics Conference will take place in Doha on December 4-7, 2013, at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The conference will bring together international academics, scientists and clinicians to share cutting edge research and best practice with the aim of improving care for pediatric patients. It is expected to be one of the largest international pediatric conferences of the year and will be attended by more than 3,000 healthcare professionals from 98 countries.