US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis being briefed about the latest robotic surgery facilities available at The View Hospital in the presence of Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul, the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Andy Jaffal, its chief medical officer. Photos by: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula.
Doha: The View Hospital, in affiliation with Cedars-Sinai - a top-ranked US hospital, is hosting the second edition of its highly anticipated annual symposium, ‘Innovations in Robotic Surgery,’ over two days at the Equestrian Club in Doha.
The symposium opened on Friday with the presence of the US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis; Chief Executive Officer of The View Hospital, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul; Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Harry Sax and several others.
Ambassador Davis addressing the symposium highlighted the importance of fostering innovation in healthcare and he was briefed about the latest robotic surgery facilities available at The View Hospital.
US Ambassador to Qatar H E Timmy Davis being briefed about the latest robotic surgery facilities available at The View Hospital. Photo by: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula
Building upon the resounding success of its inaugural edition, this year’s symposium captivated participants with intellectually stimulating sessions across diverse specialties, including general surgery, urology, thoracic surgery, bariatric surgery, gastroenterology, and women’s health. Attendees experienced firsthand the revolutionary capabilities of robotic technologies, engaging in discussions that illuminated how robotics is reshaping precision, safety, and outcomes in modern surgical practices.
A number of international and regional medical experts deliver transformative discussions, pioneering innovations, and groundbreaking advancements in robotic-assisted surgical techniques during the symposium.
The event aims to elevate Qatar's healthcare narrative and underscore its growing prominence on the global medical stage.
Chief Medical Officer at View Hospital, Dr. Andy Jaffal; Chief Executive Officer of The View Hospital, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul; and Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Harry Sax. Photo by: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula
“This is the second annual symposium and we selected the topic as the robotic surgery with an intention and a careful introduction of our hospital. Our hospital is the only hospital today which has the robotic surgery services in private domain in Qatar, which shows how we are leading the industry, and we have built and developed the service together with our colleagues from Cedars-Sinai and we will continue to lead in many other areas,” said Chief Executive Officer of The View Hospital, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul speaking to media on the sidelines of the symposium.
He also emphasised that the partnership with Cedars-Sinai is a cornerstone of the research-based approach, seamlessly integrating global expertise and cutting-edge innovation to redefine excellence in patient care at The View Hospital.
Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Harry Sax highlighted that the symposium is testament for international collaboration.
“Cedars-Sinai is committed to three components, top notch compassionate patient care the education of the next generation of healthcare providers and research. And working closely with our colleagues at the View Hospital, we're continuing to bring that type of thought process to Qatar and learn and learning from our colleagues here in the GCC. There are tremendous opportunities, not just in surgery, but in medicine and elsewhere,” he said.
Attendees at the 'Innovations in Robotic Surgery' symposium. Photo by: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula
Chief Medical Officer at View Hospital, Dr. Andy Jaffal said “We're very proud of our partnership with our colleagues at Cedars-Sinai. Bringing their expertise and knowledge to Qatar, along with their diverse backgrounds, is one of our main goals. At The View, we offer a wide range of specialties and sub-specialties, and we look forward to expanding in innovation, as demonstrated today by the impressive discussions on how we can benefit from collaborations like these.”
Among the distinguished speakers were experts from Cedars-Sinai, including Dr. Harmik Soukiasian on thoracic surgery advancements, Dr. Srinivas Gaddam on pancreatic cancer detection, and Dr. Karyn S. Eilber and Dr. Kulmeet K. Sandhu on robotic pelvic floor and bariatric procedures.
The View Hospital was represented by Dr. Radwan Kassir, Dr. Ihab Abutabanjeh, Dr. Wael Al-Saydali, and Dr. Jassim Fakhro, who shared insights on bariatric, urology, and robotic surgical integration.
Contributions from Qatar University included Dr. Susu Zughaier and Dr. Zumin Shi, discussing microbiota research and post-bariatric advancements. Dr. Sama Abdulrazzaq Asal from Hamad Medical Corporation addressed robotic obesity management. Additional regional insights were provided by Dr. Kubilay Ertan of West Bay Medicare on robotic gynecology and Dr. Raed Anwar Azhar of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital on urological oncology. Nathan Nagel, CEO of the Global Robotic-Assisted Surgery Platform, explore future trends in robotic surgery education.
Notably, the symposium provided attendees with 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, highlighting its value as a leading educational opportunity for surgical professionals.
The two-day symposium will conclude tomorrow, February 22.
