Middle East hosts first virtual Web Conference to deliver 2020 Guidelines

Nancy Brown Welcome message
Nancy Brown, CEO Addressing the online audience during the opening session

Unique Virtual Rollout
In 2020, the American Heart Association Middle East and North Africa region celebrated the 10th year of its impactful presence. Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MENA team strengthened e-learning portals — sharing new 2020 Guidelines with a network of instructors, training centers and sites via  three virtual rollout web conferences.

Online experts
The online expert speakers and moderators participating during the AHA MENA G2020 Rollout

Highlights
The conferences featured welcome messages from AHA CEO Nancy Brown; Dr. Comilla Sasson, vice president of Science and Innovation; Lindsey Hilton, vice president of MENA and India ECC; Zehra Hilali, regional director of MENA; and Dr. Osama Kentab, chairman of the Scientific and Organizing Committee. It also included five live high-quality scientific sessions with a Q&A and concluded with a visually captivating virtual MENA recognition.

About 1,000 faculty members and instructors from 15 countries across the MENA region participated through a web platform, joined by participants from the International Training Centers, Reference Centers and Training Sites.

Other highlights included:

  • 22 Speakers
  • 22 Moderators
  • 11 Sponsors
  • Virtual Inauguration Ceremony
  • Virtual Awards and Recognition
  • Virtual 3-D Exhibition
  • Conference E-booklet
AHA 3D Booth
AHA-3D booth on display during the virtual exhibition

High-Quality Content and Discussions
The five scientific sessions were:

  • G2020 Science Update
  • How to Teach the New G2020 Courses
  • Education and Quality
  • MENA Specific Tools
  • The Future Ahead (focused on Get With The Guidelines and Stroke Hospital Certifications)
Panel discussion
Questions from the audience being addressed by the moderators and speakers online

Awards and Recognition
The 2020 recipients are:

  • Bronze Achievement Awards – Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation (GWTG-R) Facilities:
  • King Abdulaziz Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Saud Albabtain Cardiac Center, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation (GWTG-R) Facilities:
  • King Saud University’s Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, Saudi Arabia
  • King Abdulaziz Hospital, Saudi Arabia
  • Saud Albabtain Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia
  • Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) Facilities:
  • Al Madinah Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia
  • King Abdullah Medical City (Cardiac Center), Saudi Arabia
  • King Abdullah Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia
  • Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia
  • Saud Albabtain Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia
  • MENA Regulatory Bodies for their support of the 2020 Guidelines:
    • Dubai Health Authority, UAE
    • Dubai Healthcare City, UAE
    • Department of Health, UAE 
    • General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation, Egypt
    • Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations, Kuwait
    • Oman Medical Specialty Board, Oman
    • Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
    • The National Health Regulatory Authority, Bahrain
    • Ministry of Public Health, Qatar
  • Resuscitations Quality Improvement (RQI) Training Facilities:
    • American Hospital Dubai LLC, United Arab Emirates
    • Saud Albabtain Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia
  • Reference Centers for support to the network throughout MENA:
    • BAU Life Support Center, Lebanon
    • College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan
    • Dubai Health Authority, United Arab Emirates
    • KFMMC Reference Center LSTC, Saudi Arabia
    • Medical Simulation Center, Oman
    • King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain
    • King Saud University's Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, Saudi Arabia
    • Regional Life Support Training Center, Jordan
  • Lifetime Achievement:
    • Dr. Abrar Ashraf Ali
    • Dr. Osama Kentab
    • Dr. Taghreed Alnajjar
  • Arabic reviewers for their contribution to the 2020 Guidelines:
    • Dr. Ayad Al-Moslih
    • Emad Dababneh
    • Firas Al-Dakak
    • Ghazi Zghoul
    • Dr. Jehad Awad
    • Dr. Osama Kentab
    • Dr. Taghreed Alnajjar
  • Recognition for Go Red for Women activities:
    • Pakistan Cardiac Society

Virtual Exhibition
The conferences also featured a virtual exhibition on its web platform, with individual pages dedicated to the AHA and each of the sponsors. 

feedback
Excerpts from the feedback received from the participants

Sponsors

  • World Point ECC
  • Medtronic
  • Stryker ESCS BV
  • Mediclinic Middle East
  • National Ambulance LLC
  • Gulf Group Company
  • Laerdal Medical
  • Philips Electronics Middle East Africa B.V.
  • Simulead DMCC
  • ZOLL Medical Corporation (US)
  • Prestan MENA

In addition, 38 MENA Territory Faculty status were renewed for 2021. The chairman of the Scientific and Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee members, Organizing Committee members, moderators and speakers were also presented appreciation certificates.

Event Video
You can view a video of highlights of the three virtual events at https://youtu.be/MlTSGxr7f5w.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors.

See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: May 3, 2021