Sidra Medicine, a member of the Qatar Foundation and Qatar's new hospital for children, young people, and women, is marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) today by announcing the launch of its Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine clinic.

Dr Lisa Thornton (pictured) — the former University of Chicago, Director for Paediatric Rehabilitation — has been appointed as the Division Chief of Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine.

The clinic helps manage the health of children with physical disabilities such as paralysis, cerebral palsy and brain damage. Patients are currently referred internally from Sidra Medicine's own in-house teams, as well as Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). The service will be expanded to accept referrals from doctors who practice outside of these institutions in 2018. The clinic expects to see more than 1,000 patients in its first year.

The clinic's focus will be on a multidisciplinary, community-based approach - working with young patients and their families under the leadership of Dr Thornton, who has over 20 years of experience in the field. The IDPD's theme this year ‘transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all,' also aligns with Dr Thornton's philosophy of strengthening the support network around a child and helping parents throughout the journey by empowering them with knowledge and guidance.

'During my research before moving to Qatar, I found a series of favourable articles on Qatar supporting children with disabilities and the commitment made by H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, to improving the lives of these children. I was grateful to see the kind of openness that Qatar has to this population and saw a chance to be part of its efforts. I feel privileged to be part of Qatar's strategy to help children with special needs get to adulthood with dignity and with family and community support. Sidra Medicine is most definitely a beacon of learning and discovery and I am delighted to be part of it and to join a diverse and dedicated team of specialists who are all committed to ensuring improved outcomes for patients and families alike, said Dr Thornton.

The Rehabilitation Clinic ensures the patient is seen by Dr Thornton together with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. Combining the collective expertise of a child's rehabilitation team allows for the development of a more tailored, holistic approach for every child. As part of this wide-ranging spectrum of care and support, the family will also receive a personalised plan on what to expect regarding the impact their child's disability will have on their lives, and receive guidance on the best ways to help their child reach their full potential.

Speaking about the clinic's broader, long-term vision for creating a community-based ecosystem, Dr Thornton emphasised that a child with a disability is just as healthy and capable as those without physical disabilities and should be encouraged to pursue any interest, be it sports, music or travel. 'There are already a number of programs and activities in Qatar designed to enable participation for children with physical disabilities. More collaboration between the various program owners and healthcare entitities will help create a supportive and extensive community, said Dr Thornton.

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