Health Made Simple: WCM-Q community webinars tackle chronic disease and environmental risks

Chronic kidney disease and the powerful role of environmental conditions in shaping community health took center stage in two recent live sessions of the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Health and YOU: Community Wellness Webinar series.

In a bid to cut through complexities and bring clarity to everyday health concerns, the webinar series, organized by WCM-Q’s Institute for Population Health (IPH) provides verified facts, evidence‑based guidance, and plain‑language explanations. The goal is simple: help people understand the health challenges around them and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

These sessions aim not just to provide information, but also to empower. By breaking down complex medical issues in easy to understand conversations, the webinars give community members the tools to protect themselves, prevent chronic illness, and take charge of their well‑being.

Dr. Mahrukh Rizvi, assistant professor of medicine at WCM-Q and an alumna of the college, gave a webinar titled, “Safeguarding your kidneys: Understanding chronic kidney disease.” The session discussed the risk factors and early signs of kidney disease, stages of disease progression, management strategies that can be implemented to slow the progression of the disease, and the impact of kidney disease on overall health. Dr. Rizvi completed her residency training in internal medicine at Rochester General Hospital in Western New York and her fellowships in nephrology and critical care at Rochester Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, respectively.

In a separate event, Dr. Sadeer Al-Kindi, associate professor at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center and Weill Cornell Medicine in the U.S, gave a webinar titled, “How the Environment Shapes Our Health.” Dr. Al-Kindi, a preventive cardiologist and a leader in environmental and precision cardiovascular health, discussed how air, water, climate, noise and other conditions influence disease risk, aging, and wellbeing. He also explored how these factors shape health trajectories across the lifespan and underpin health disparities among different groups. The webinar also discussed opportunities for prevention of adverse health effects of environmental factors, and ways to build resilience. Dr. Al-Kindi is also an alumnus of WCM-Q.

The webinars have earned praise from community members, who have indicated that the sessions are clear, practical, and genuinely useful in helping them take charge of their health.