Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar University (QU) celebrated the success of its first Health Tech Hackathon 2024, held under the theme ‘Innovating Health, Empowering Tomorrow’.
The event, which ran over three days at the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center under Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), brought together innovators, students, and professionals from diverse fields, including health care, engineering, and business to develop creative solutions for pressing healthcare challenges facing Qatar.
Prominent QU academics and representatives from the hackathon’s sponsors opened the closing ceremony with welcoming speeches, announcing the winning teams and honouring outstanding projects. Event organisers expressed their pride in the participants’ efforts, viewing the Health Tech Hackathon as a foundational step toward advancing collaboration and innovation in Qatar’s healthcare sector.
Esteemed institutions such as the Qatar Foundation (QF) and HMC collaborated with QU to organise the event, which spotlighted four major themes: telemedicine and remote monitoring, genomics and precision medicine, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and public health, mental wellness, and preventive care.
Dr Kholoud Abdulla, a research associate at the Vice-President for Health and Medical Sciences at QU and the chairperson of this Hackathon, and Prof Faleh Ahmad Tamimi Marino, professor of Restorative Dentistry at the College of Dental Medicine and chair of the QU Health Innovation Committee, led the organising committee that oversaw the event.
The event presented participants with the opportunity to devise impactful solutions for today’s urgent healthcare challenges while developing approaches that can adapt to future demands. Health Tech Hackathon 2024 featured keynote addresses from industry leaders, engaging roundtable discussions on current healthcare technology trends, and invaluable networking sessions with peers and mentors.
In her opening remarks, Prof Asma Al Thani, vice-president for Health and Medical Sciences and director of Biomedical Research Center at QU, stated, "This event was more than just a competition; it was a platform for collaboration, intellectual exchange, and bridging science, creativity, and application. Everyone here is a winner, as each idea and step taken contributes to a brighter future for healthcare in Qatar.”
Prof Feras Qasem Alali, associate vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies at QU, said: "This event embodies QU Health’s dedication to fostering innovation and driving meaningful change in healthcare for Qatar and beyond.”
Dr Kholoud Abdulla, chairperson of this Hackathon, highlighted the significance of this initiative, saying, "The QU Health Tech Hackathon 2024 goes beyond tackling healthcare challenges; it’s about equipping the next generation of innovators to shape the future of healthcare.”
Dr Faleh Tamimi, chair of the QU Health Innovation Committee, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Building a knowledge-based economy in Qatar relies on developing technology-driven ideas. This is why events like this are essential.”
Major sponsors, including the Qatar Development Bank (QDF) and the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI), sponsored the event, and Rafeeq provided essential support aligned with Qatar’s vision of advancing healthcare technology locally and
globally.
The closing ceremony culminated with the awarding of prizes to the winning teams and recognition of exceptional projects that contribute to the advancement of healthcare through innovation.