Faster vaccination can end Covid-19, says Dr Fauci
World racing to deploy vaccines to beat Sars-CoV-2 mutation, says Biden’s chief medical adviser
The global community is in a race to access and deploy vaccines faster than Sars-CoV-2 can mutate into more transmissible and deadly variants, US President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser for Covid-19, Dr Anthony Fauci, yesterday told the virtual graduation ceremony of Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Class of 2021.
“Currently, we are at a critical juncture in the Covid-19 pandemic. Our pathway to ending the pandemic has been lit by the stunningly rapid development of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines now authorised for use,” pointed out Dr Fauci, also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US.
As the keynote speaker at the ceremony, he congratulated the graduates for facing the pandemic of Covid-19 with courage, resiliency and adaptability.
“As we navigate year two of the global pandemic of Covid-19, I am keenly aware that celebrating this important milestone of your lives under the constraints of this pandemic is, at best, disappointing. However, we all must adapt to this extraordinary situation and unite to meet its challenges.
“When this pandemic began its sweep around the globe more than a year ago it quickly hobbled hospitals and imposed crushing levels of stress and strain on their medical staffs,” he recalled.
Dr Faucci who graduated from the Cornell University Medical College in 1966 acknowledged that his infectious disease training at NIH, prepared him well to fight the emergent viruses such as HIV, 2009 influenza, Sars-CoV-1, Ebola, Zika, and now Sars-CoV-2 and exhorted the students to treat such situations as unexpected opportunities
“As you move into the next stage of your medical careers, regardless of your medical speciality, now more than ever we will need your talent, your energy, your resolve, and your character to restore and preserve the health of our world,” he reminded the graduates.
With a call from the dean of the college, “to maximise the ability to heal others”, Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2021 at a virtual ceremony with 41 new doctors, bringing to 463 the total number of physicians from the institution, since its inception in 2001.
US President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser for the coronavirus (Covid-19) and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr Anthony Fauci, was the keynote speaker.
The students of the Class of 2021 recited the Hippocratic Oath and were presented with their MD degrees by WCM-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh.
Dr Sheikh told the graduates: “Your dedication to your studies and your commitment to the measures put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus has been a source of inspiration to all of us at the WCM-Q.
“I am grateful to each and every one of you for stepping up to this challenge, to my colleagues in the faculty and on the staff at the WCM-Q, and to the wider Education City community, for providing essential support in very trying conditions.”
He added: “Many of you will be called upon to help those afflicted by Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, to deal with as yet unforeseen healthcare emergencies, and to find new reserves of strength to meet the challenges you will encounter.”
“I think I speak for everyone here when I wish you all the very best as you go forwards from here to embrace these challenges,” Dr Sheikh said.
The WCM-Q dean thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Foundation (QF) Chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Vice-chairperson and chief executive HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, and HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari for their ambition, vision, and leadership.
The WCM-Q Class of 2021 comprises 30 women and 11 men, hailing from 13 countries: Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, Singapore, Canada, and the US.
Student speakers on the occasion were Raihan El-Naas and Lolwa al-Theyab.
The Holy Qur’an recitation was given by Class of 2021 graduate Abdulaziz Nasser al-Abdulghani.
The role of university marshal was performed by Dr James Roach, associate dean for Premedical Education and Professor of Chemistry.
Alongside Dr Sheikh for the presentation of candidates and conferment of the MD degree was Dr Thurayya Arayssi, professor of Clinical Medicine and senior associate dean for Medical Education and Continuing Professional Development.
The graduation ceremony also heard from Dr Augustine Choi, dean of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, who said: “There are so many opportunities for you to make an impact – in Qatar, in your countries of origin, and around the world.”
“This past year has shown us that health is precious,” he said. “As graduates of Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, you have the tools to make a difference wherever you choose to focus your energies.”
“I wish you all the best on the journey ahead and look forward to hearing about all that you will achieve as Weill Cornell alumni,” he added.