New York, November 17 (QNA) - Qatar Foundation alumni, who are based in the US and Canada, came together at a milestone gathering to strengthen their connections to each other, and to the ecosystem and nation that shaped them.

Attended by HE Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, the first Qatar Foundation Alumni Chapter Forum: US & Canada brought together graduates of universities at Qatar Foundation (QF) who are now working and studying in the two North American countries to connect and reconnect, share their experiences and journeys, and build networks of knowledge and support.

The New York City forum was organized by the Alumni Office within QF's Higher Education division and sponsored by Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Cultural Attache Office at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington D.C., with the keynote speech being given by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani.

The Qatar Foundation Alumni Chapter for the US and Canada was established in 2024 to support and bond the 500-plus QF graduates pursuing impactful careers and advancing their studies in North America. The first international alumni chapter to be launched by QF, it has since been followed by a UK equivalent.

Across the US and Canada, QF alumni are now working in fields including healthcare, education, engineering, technology, and the business and cultural sectors, as – among other roles – doctors, lawyers, educators, and artists.

"At Qatar Foundation, we are deeply proud of the global reach and the positive impact that Qatar's Education City university graduates continue to make around the world," said Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education and Education Advisor, QF.

"This event in New York brings together a remarkable group of alumni who are making meaningful contributions to the region's economic and social development, while remaining strongly connected to the educational values and unique experiences they gained as students in Qatar. Maintaining close ties with QF alumni – and encouraging them to stay connected with one another – is essential to strengthening our global community.

"These connections foster collaboration, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas that not only benefit the alumni community, but also extend QF's mission of learning, innovation, and social progress well beyond Education City."

Alumni who attended the forum also heard from a guest speaker who is one of their own – Qatari entrepreneur Sheikha Mayes bint Hamad Al-Thani, a graduate of QF partner university Georgetown University in Qatar, who is Managing Director of the US-Qatar Business Council and owner and Group CEO of M Power Investment Group.

And the event saw Dr. Mouhamed Yazan Al Ismail, an alumnus of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, also a QF partner university, receive his QF Alumni Legacy Award from Her Excellency Sheikha Hind, for his contribution to society in the field of healthcare. The physician-scientist and educator, ranked among the top five percent of hematologists in the US and among the top 10 percent worldwide, was named as one of the recipients of the QF Alumni Awards at last month's Qatar Foundation Annual Alumni Forum 2025.

During the forum, Dr. Al Ismail and Dr. Karim Ginema, CEO and co-founder of Virginia-based EndoMD Health, a Virginia-based startup focused on access to pediatric care, and a graduate of QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University, shared their stories with their fellow alumni, before a networking reception.

"Our global alumni vision began in June 2024 with the launch of our first international chapter in the United States and Canada, and we are proud to see this chapter grow into an active and thriving community," said Asmaa Al Kuwari, Manager of Alumni Engagement, QF.

"The concept of hosting a global alumni forum stems from QF's longstanding initiative to bring alumni together – wherever they are – to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate their achievements. With a significant and growing alumni presence in the US and Canada, it was important for us to expand the forum to include and honor our alumni residing here."

In the 30 years since QF was established, over 11,000 students have graduated from its universities, which include six US partner universities. (QNA)