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Al Shaqab to Open World-Class Equine Health Facility

EVMC will foster research and education as well as care

DOHA: Horses have long been an important part of Qatari life and culture, and just as the country’s human healthcare has seen significant advances, so too has equine care. The Al Shaqab Equine Veterinary Medical Center (EVMC), scheduled to open in September, is the next step in this growth, offering world-class facilities for veterinarians, researchers and educators.

Al Shaqab EVMC will include a state-of-the-art equine veterinary hospital, an accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory and a clinical research laboratory. The hospital is equipped with facilities to conduct MRIs, CT-scans, and nuclear scintigraphy, and includes two operating theaters, a well-equipped farrier shop for hoof care, and lameness examination areas.

Other specialized medical services at Al Shaqab EVMC will include internal medicine, with an all-hours intensive care unit and anesthesiology/ pain management.

In addition to its healthcare facilities, Al Shaqab EVMC will provide research opportunities for its clinicians and international visiting scientists interested in developing independent or collaborative equine research programs within the center and in partnership with other research institutions in Qatar.

“Al Shaqab is proud to have an opportunity to not only practice equine medicine at the highest level, but also to help advance veterinary medicine through research by a core of internationally recognized experts at EVMC,” said Khalifa Al Attiya, Al Shaqab’s Executive Director. “Such vision will put both Al Shaqab and EVMC on the international map of world’s best equine hospitals and laboratories.”

Many of Al Shaqab EVMC’s activities hinge on international partnerships with hospitals and laboratories. Already, EVMC has initiated collaborations with globally recognized institutions such as the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Florida, Oxford University, and the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar. As soon as the EVMC is fully operational, it will begin hosting visiting clinicians and researchers from all over the world.

A key part of Al Shaqab EVMC’s mission is education. As part of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the facility has a strong commitment to offering learning opportunities and fostering innovation, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.  To that end, Al Shaqab EVMC plans to seek affiliations with universities in order to accept PhD and master’s degree students to join the research laboratory. The center will also welcome veterinary students for externships, and help train veterinarians for board certifications. The goal is to not only benefit equine health around the world, but also increase awareness of the veterinary profession in Qatar.

The facility will also be beneficial to the participants of the annual CHI AL SHAQAB event, one of only four international annual equestrian competitions that showcases three or more equestrian disciplines in one event.