Sidra Medicine: A Leading Center in Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery

 

At the heart of medical transformation in Qatar and the Middle East, an advanced center with an ambitious vision has emerged: Sidra Medicine. This treatment and research institution, which is part of the Qatar Foundation, serves as a highly specialized center providing comprehensive medical services for women, children, and adolescents, and has become an unparalleled regional hub in pediatric neurology and pediatric neurosurgery.

 

Sidra Medicine embodies the vision of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, to create a world‑leading medical center. She emphasizes:

 

“The addition of Sidra Medicine to Education City may be our most ambitious and far‑sighted project to date… This center not only enables our medical students to train in one of the finest and most technologically advanced facilities in the world, but also provides health care of the highest global standards for the people of Qatar and the Gulf region.”

 

Hospital Introduction and Vision

 

Sidra Medicine is a 400‑bed hospital and research center located in Education City, Doha, which officially began operations with outpatient services in 2016, followed by the opening of its inpatient services in January 2018. This center was built with substantial funding from Qatar Foundation and is situated in a dynamic environment filled with prestigious international institutions such as Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar and Georgetown University.

 

Sidra’s core mission is to deliver tertiary care (complex specialized care) to global standards, deeply integrate research with clinical treatment, and educate the next generation of health care specialists. The center’s approach is patient‑ and family‑centered, and all services are delivered with cultural sensitivity and full psychosocial support.

 

Pediatric Neurology Department: Diagnosis and Treatment of Complex Neurological Disorders

 

The Pediatric Neurology Department at Sidra Medicine is committed to providing the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services for a wide range of simple and complex neurological disorders in children. The center’s understanding of parents’ concerns has led it to provide complete support from the stage of diagnosis through disease management.

 

Specialized Areas and Conditions Treated

 

The specialists in this department have expertise in various aspects of pediatric neurology, including:

 

· Epilepsy and complex seizures

· Neuromuscular disorders (such as muscular dystrophy)

· Movement disorders

· Neurocutaneous disorders (such as neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis)

· Headaches

· Sleep disorders

· Pediatric stroke

· Ataxia

· Cerebral palsy and spasticity

 

Multidisciplinary Specialized Programs

 

Believing in the effectiveness of a team‑based approach, the Neurology Department has established several highly specialized programs to address the most complex neurological challenges:

 

· Comprehensive epilepsy and epilepsy surgery program

· Multidisciplinary tuberous sclerosis clinic

· Multidisciplinary neuromuscular clinic

· Multidisciplinary movement disorders clinic

· Multidisciplinary complex care clinic

 

Pediatric Neurosurgery Department: Advanced Surgery with High Precision

 

The Pediatric Neurosurgery team at Sidra Medicine consists of international pediatric neurosurgeons specialized in managing complex surgical conditions. In close collaboration with other specialties, they provide a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for each child.

 

Conditions Treated in Neurosurgery

 

· Hydrocephalus

· Brain and spinal tumors

· Congenital abnormalities of the spine and head

· Traumatic injuries of the brain and spinal cord

· Drug‑resistant epilepsy

· Craniofacial disorders

· Dystonia

 

Special Programs and Achievements

 

· The first pediatric movement disorders clinic in Qatar: providing advanced care for spasticity and dystonia in collaboration with specialists in physical medicine, neurology, and neurosurgery.

· The first center in the Middle East to successfully perform intraventricular baclofen therapy for patients with dystonia.

· Specialized programs including the hydrocephalus program, spina bifida, craniofacial, neuro‑oncology, and others.

 

Leading Medical Team and Department Heads

 

Sidra Medicine’s neurology and neurosurgery team consists of specialists from around the world working in a multicultural and collaborative environment. The scientific leadership of these departments is entrusted to distinguished figures who play a key role in the excellence and advancement of the center.

 

Dr. Hossam Kayyali

 

· Position: Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Sidra Medicine.

· Duties and role: overall leadership of the Pediatric Neurology Department and the advanced epilepsy program. Dr. Kayyali also chairs the Sidra Annual Pediatric Neuroscience Conference and serves as a spokesperson for the center in the field of neurological innovation, particularly personalized medicine.

 

Dr. Ian Pople

 

· Position: Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Sidra Medicine.

· Duties and role: leading the pediatric neurosurgery team and advancing sophisticated surgical techniques. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration among surgeons, researchers, and technologists in redefining what is possible in the operating room.

 

Dr. Ruba Benini

 

· Position: Director of the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory and Director of the Pediatric Neurology Fellowship Program at Sidra Medicine.

· Duties and role: managing the accredited Pediatric Neurology Fellowship Program, which runs over three years under the supervision of experienced specialists. Dr. Benini also serves as one of the chairs of the Pediatric Neuroscience Conference, helping connect scientific discoveries with real clinical impact.

 

Dr. Khaled Alkarazi

 

· Position: Senior Pediatric Neurosurgeon at Sidra Medicine.

· Duties and role: as one of the chairs of the Pediatric Neuroscience Conference, he plays an active role in designing the scientific content and promoting knowledge exchange at regional and global levels.

 

Research and Innovation: The Beating Heart of Sidra

 

Research at Sidra Medicine is not limited to the laboratory; it is integrated into every patient’s treatment journey. Through a hospital‑wide Precision Medicine Program, the research division uses next‑generation technologies such as genome sequencing for diagnosis and personalized therapies such as stem cells and gene therapy.

 

Research Focus of the Neurology Department

 

· Epilepsy studies

· Neuromuscular disorders (including gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA))

· Neurogenetic diseases

 

With its leading gene therapy program for SMA, Sidra Medicine has positioned Qatar as a regional pioneer in advanced genetic treatments for children with neurodegenerative diseases. The Sidra Gene Therapy Center continues to provide safe and effective treatment for eligible patients.

 

Annual Pediatric Neuroscience Conference (PNC)

 

Sidra Medicine hosts this prestigious conference annually, and in 2025 it will hold its fifth edition in collaboration with respected global institutions such as Children’s National Hospital in the United States. This conference reflects Sidra’s leadership in this field and its commitment to making Qatar a hub of medical innovation.

 

Contact Information and Appointment Booking

 

Sidra Medicine provides comprehensive coordination services for both international and domestic patients.

 

For appointments and information

 

· International patients: to request an appointment from outside the country, contact the International Patient Services Unit.

· Email: international.services@sidra.org

· General information and appointments: please apply through the official page of the Neurology and Neurosurgery departments on Sidra’s website.

· Specialized inquiries about gene therapy: to speak with the gene therapy team or obtain more information, please visit the official website.

 

Main Address

 

Sidra Medicine – Doha

Al Gharrafa Street, Ar‑Rayyan, Doha, Qatar

P.O. Box: 26999

 

Main Telephone

 

· Main phone: +974 4003 7777

· International Patient Services: please use the email above or visit the official website.

· Official website: https://www.sidra.org

 

In Conclusion

 

Choosing Sidra Medicine for specialized pediatric neurology and neurosurgery care means choosing a world‑leading center where advanced treatments, innovative research, and human‑centered care come together to create a brighter future for children and their families.