Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khouly, Vice President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) for Female Student Affairs, inaugurated the First Medical Colleges’ Scientific Research Day, and its accompanying exhibition full of scientific posters and introductory corners, on Wednesday, 25^th Rajab 1439H at the Abediyah-based UQU Premises. The event witnessed the participation of the Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Applied Medical Sciences, Nursing, and Public Health and Health Informatics. It is worth mentioning that the event was organized by the Medical Science Research Center and the Pharmaceutical Science Research Center at the Deanship of Scientific Research. It was also supervised by Dr. Somaya bint Hashim Al-Hariry and Dr. Alaa bin Al Dhafir Al-Qahtany, Heads of the aforementioned centers.

The event was attended by Dr. Hanady Buhairy (Vice-Dean of Scientific Research for Quality and Development), Dr. Somaya Al Sharaf (Vice-Dean of Research Volunteering and Voluntary Research), as well as Dr. Haifaa Fida and Prof. Dr. Afnan Telmesany (Vice-Deans of the Research Centers). Moreover, Dr. Fatima Al-Salmy, Dr. Maram Ghobashy, Dr. Sarah Taher, Dr. Salwa Dahlawy, Dr. Mashael Al-Fifi, Dr. Mariam Majly, Dr. Najlaa bin Ubaid, Dr. Amany Mahboub, Dr. Haifaa Hijazy, Dr. Warda Al-Asmary and Dr. Heba Al-Amoudy (Vice-Deans of Medical Colleges and Department Heads) attended the event. The event also was attended by Dr. Loloa Al-Harethy (Vice-Dean of Student Affairs), Dr. Najwa Samarqandy (Vice-Dean of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship), in addition to a large number of UQU staff members.

Immediately upon arrival at the meeting hall prepared in the College of Medicine in the Health Colleges Building, the Vice-President of UQU gave a speech in which she expressed her happiness with the participation of the medical colleges for the first time, and wished them more prosperity, progress and giving. She also honored the Vice-Deans of Scientific Research, the Vice-Deans of the Centers and the coordinators of medical colleges.

The ceremony started with a breathtaking Quranic recitation followed by the speech presented by Dr. Hanady Buhairy on behalf of Dr. Abdurrahman Al-Ahdal, Dean of the Scientific Research Deanship. The speech explained the role of research centers in directing scientific research towards meeting the requirements and aspirations of the local community, in order to turn scientific research from theoretical results into practical solutions benefiting the community. This would keep pace with the changes and developments in the scientific research arena; all this also aimed to advance the desired level of scientific production and applications.

This was followed by the speech of Dr. Somaya Al-Hariry and Dr. Alaa Al-Qahtany in which they stressed the significance of such first-of-its-kind research meeting. They added that the event gathered all medical colleges under one umbrella, in order to promote a culture of scientific research and enhance acquaintance between medical colleges.

Then, the research sessions of the medical colleges were launched with the participation of the Colleges of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Applied Medical Sciences, Nursing, and Public Health and Health Informatics.

At the end of the event, the best scientific poster for each college and the best introductory corner were honored under the supervision of an arbitration committee and specific criteria.

It is noteworthy that this First Medical Colleges’ Scientific Research Day has been organized within the context of concern by the Deanship of Scientific Research with the enhancement of the knowledge-based production quality of researchers (i.e. staff members and students). It has also aimed to spread the culture of research groups that has emphasized the need to start from common grounds and different scientific disciplines. This would create new and innovative research opportunities that could be utilized in the desired knowledge-based transformation.