Dr Sara al-Dahir, Amanda Grego, Sarah Zaini,  professor Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad, John Tyrell and CPH dean Dr Ayman el-Kadi.

Qatar University (QU) and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), USA, recently signed an agreement to extend the previous clinical training agreement signed in 2011 with the aim to strengthen links through joint academic, social and cultural activities, and to promote intercultural relations between faculty and students.  
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by QU President professor Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad and XULA clinical professor Dr Sara al-Dahir in the presence of QU College of Pharmacy (CPH) dean Dr Ayman el-Kadi, as well as several QU and faculty and students.
The agreement facilitates the mutual exchange of undergraduate and graduate students between QU and XULA in order to help students gain advanced pharmaceutical practices and prepare them to become future healthcare professionals. It also includes academic staff exchange, joint educational programmes and research projects.
As per the terms of the agreement, CPH students will participate annually in 4-week elective clinical/academic internships in a teaching hospital setting at XULA, under the supervision of academic pharmacy practitioners. Counterpart students from XULA will participate annually in international pharmacy education and practical internships in Qatar under the supervision of CPH faculty members.
Commenting on the agreement, professor al-Misnad said: “QU is pleased to strengthen its partnerships with XULA in another important initiative that brings together expertise in research, teaching and clinical practice benefiting students and faculty from both institutions. This agreement reflects QU’s commitment to serving the needs of the community and to providing various services to the society and industry through strong partnerships.”
Dr al-Dahir said: “This agreement enhances the strong relationship we have been building for many years with Qatar University and with Qatar as we strive to advance the practice of pharmacy through partnerships. The success of this programme can be attributed to XULA’s and Qatar University’s commitment to sustain international partnerships. I look forward to several more years of success.”
Present on the occasion also were CPH PharmD students Rihab al-Kaissi, Sara Hyder, Hebatalla Affifi, Fatima Hammo, Safae Abu Yousef and Wessam el-Kassem who successfully completed clinical rotations at XULA, as well as XULA PharmD students Sarah Zaini and Amanda Grego, and John Tyrell, PharmD student from Medical University of South Carolina, another of CPH international partner sites.