International
Cedars-Sinai International Spotlight: Harry Sax, MD
Over the course of a distinguished career, Harry Sax, MD, has built an international reputation for clinical excellence as Cedars-Sinai’s vice chair of Surgery, associate dean of International Academic Programs and professor of Surgery. Last year, he added another title to this impressive list: medical director of The View Hospital, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate located in Doha, Qatar.
At The View Hospital, Sax—along with the Cedars-Sinai International team—is focused on elevating the quality of healthcare in Qatar and across the Middle East. His skill and experience have helped build clinical programs and patient-safety measures at The View Hospital as it continues to grow since opening last year.
Below, Sax discusses ongoing developments at The View Hospital and how international affiliations are enabling Cedars-Sinai to offer patients exceptional healthcare closer to where they live.
Harry Sax, MD
As medical director of The View Hospital, what role do you play in day-to-day operations?
Harry Sax, MD: My job is to ensure that the quality of care at The View Hospital is equivalent to what you would expect from any hospital that carries the Cedars-Sinai name. This includes evaluating service lines, developing quality metrics, overseeing credentialing, and problem-solving. I’m based in Los Angeles and am also busy with my other obligations at Cedars-Sinai, but I travel to Doha about once every three months, and I check in with our full-time employees there every day.
What was the impetus for establishing Cedars-Sinai’s affiliation with The View Hospital?
HS: One of the key pillars of Cedars-Sinai International’s strategy is to grow our global footprint by establishing meaningful and impactful collaborations with local healthcare organizations. The main reason for doing that is to prioritize convenience for patients. A large number of patients travel from Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman) to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles for advanced care that may not be available in their home country. As these patients return home, they are looking for continuity of care and a handoff to a healthcare provider closer to home. For others, coming to L.A. may be a challenge. Bringing Cedars-Sinai’s knowledge and excellence to the region is an absolute game-changer. We’re also able to provide real value to the local healthcare system by being another resource for patient needs in the local market.
What are the benefits of strengthening collaborations abroad?
HS: Innovation is a major driver of these collaborations. Our presence in other countries gives us critical opportunities, such as launching international clinical trials that may yield new treatments for devastating diseases. In addition, there are so many things we can learn about diseases based on where people live. For instance, in the Middle East, we know inflammatory bowel disease tends to present differently than in the U.S. Opening up international lines of communication widens our lens, allowing us to see things more clearly than when we limit ourselves to our own geography.
Do cross-border collaborations between institutions encourage closer working relationships among doctors and other medical staff?
HS: Yes, and this is essential. The ongoing exchange of ideas is central to taking research to the next level and to exposing physicians to new approaches and techniques that can save patients’ lives. At Cedars-Sinai, we’re currently hosting medical students from places like China and Abu Dhabi, which gives them a chance to see what we’re doing so they can bring some of that back to their schools and colleagues. For our own residents and physicians, traveling to international partner institutions and learning how medicine is delivered in those countries helps them envision different ways to do it here. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Are there challenges integrating Cedars-Sinai and The View Hospital—two organizations that bridge two distinct cultures?
HS: Healthcare is universal. Our shared humanity dictates that we all want to provide the highest-quality care to our citizens, and that transcends our differences. That common ground is what makes this affiliation a success.
