Dr. Madeeha Kamal is a Senior Attending Pediatrician at Sidra Medicine in Qatar and the Acting Division Chief for General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. She is also a Professor at Qatar University and an Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, where she has taught since 2004. Her career began with a residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and she has played a pivotal role in establishing the first Adolescent Medicine program in Qatar. Dr. Kamal focuses on treating adolescents with eating disorders and leads research on ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Since 2021, she has volunteered with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), contributing to the International Foundations of Medicine committee. Dr. Kamal’s commitment to pediatric care and education continues to make a significant impact.
Why do you volunteer for NBME?
- I volunteer for the NBME to further enhance my exam writing skills and knowledge. It is an excellent opportunity to meet experts from all over the world, especially the USA, and different specialties (Internal Medicine, Surgery, OBGYN, Family medicine, and Pediatrics) sharing our knowledge, thoughts, and expertise.
What about volunteering with NBME excites or motivates you the most?
- I have always strived to achieve volunteer service on a committee at the NBME. Being part of a committee that construct and dictate questions, shares expertise with other members of the committee, and provides back-and-forth revisions and feedback will advance my professional and personal career.
What first motivated you to volunteer, and has that changed throughout your tenure?
- NBME is a prestigious institution I have always wished to be part of early on throughout my career. Volunteering at the NBME has enhanced my exam writing skills.
What is a professional talent or area of knowledge that your peers in this community might find interesting?
- I worked with children and adolescence with (ADHD), Autism spectrum Disorder, as well as Eating Disorder. My expertise and knowledge revolve around the behavior of children and adolescents
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- In the research on Autism Spectrum Disorder called (BARAKA) study, working closely with our collaborators at Sick Kids, Toronto.
What is unique about working as a volunteer for NBME?
- Working as a volunteer at the NBME is very rewarding. I meet diverse members from different parts of the world with diverse and unique expertise where we exchange medical information.
When you were a kid, what did you aspire to be?
- Having seen my older sibling being sick and in desperate need for a medical attention, growing up with two of my uncles being medical doctors, I developed a passion for Medicine and decided early on to pursue the path to become a doctor.
If sleep didn't exist, what would you do with those extra hours?
- I would spend more hours helping children, preventing diseases, and leading educational campaigns to raise community and school awareness of the importance of early identification and intervention of the most common disorders and diseases. I would spend more time teaching medical students and Pediatric residents by revising MCQ, among other educational materials. More importantly, I will spend more time and take vacations with my family and friends.
Do you have pets?
- I love pets, in particular I have a connection with, and I unwind with playing with our kitten “Felix”. Felix is a four-month-old kitten and was adopted from a special breed called a ragdoll. He is cuddly and has excellent behavior.
What do you do to turn things around when you're having a bad day?
- Take a deep breath and start again.