Q Life Magazine Q Magazine December 2018 | Page 50
| Issue 5
As Director of Reproductive Surgery at Sidra Medicine,
Dr Yousuf specialises in robotic and minimally invasive
gynecologic surgery. She says: ‘Family is at the core
of Qatari culture and the very heart of this is women.
It is therefore vital that women can have access to
groundbreaking and innovative healthcare services.
‘Robotic Gynecological Surgery at Sidra Medicine is
performed through Da Vinci Robot machines, which
gives us doctors better visualisation, through 3D cameras
and surgical ergonomics.’
The advantages of using robotic techniques mean that
operations have become minimally invasive – with
smaller incisions that lead to less post-operative pain
and faster recovery. It also means that patients can be
discharged sooner due to shorter hospital stays.
The addition of Robotic Gynecology Surgery is part of
Sidra Medicine’s ambitious plans to set new standards
for healthcare in Qatar and the region by leveraging
the latest technology, techniques, teaching methods,
and attracting leading medical talent, both locally and
internationally.
Women are increasingly leading the way in medicine in
Qatar, according to Dr Yousuf. She says: ‘We are very
lucky to have visionaries like Her Highness Sheikha
Moza bint Nasser, who have set things in motion for a
whole generation of women.’ Dr Yousuf was inspired to
become a doctor by Her Highness. She explains: ‘I had
the privilege of meeting Her Highness at my high school
for a special event that was hosted for high achievers.
I was inspired by Her Highness’s vision for QF and
Education City, and that led me on the path to consider
medicine as a career choice. I was one of the first
students to graduate from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
and went on to the University of Michigan Hospital,
where I completed my specialization in Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
‘Following that I went to the University of Toronto,
St. Michael’s Hospital in Canada, and completed a
50
sub-specialty fellowship program in minimally invasive
and robotic surgery, under the sponsorship of Sidra
Medicine.
‘I consider myself as an example of the education vision
for Qatar, particularly as part of QF. I see my journey
from student to an employee as one that came full circle,
as I graduated from an QF partner university, and then
after completion of my training abroad, I went back to
work at Sidra Medicine.’
Now, she is glad to see others following in her footsteps.
She says: ‘It is very encouraging to see more women
entering the field of medicine and research in Qatar.
‘With a female Public Health Minister, Her Excellency
Dr Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwari, at the helm of
advancing healthcare, there is no better time for us to be
in healthcare.
‘I find it motivating when I see more Qatari
female colleagues joining our diverse teams and me in
the operating rooms, as we continue to save and
change lives.’