People Biography

Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh is the Dean and CEO of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCMQ). He is an internationally renowned medical executive and creative thought leader in global academic medicine. Since beginning his tenure in 2010, Dr. Sheikh has pioneered several innovative biomedical research and education programs, enabling Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar to become widely acknowledged as a leading institution preparing global physician-scientists for the 21st century.

Dr. Sheikh has led the establishment of a truly world-class research infrastructure at WCM-Q, equipped with core laboratories with advanced capabilities in genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, amongst others. These laboratories allow the institution to perform deep molecular phenotyping of the population, as well as apply personalized medicine approaches to cancer, diabetes, and other complex diseases. Discoveries based on cutting-edge research being done at WCMQ have paved the way for better diagnosis and more effective therapeutic interventions for cancer, diabetes, and many other complex illnesses.

Since 2012, Dr. Sheikh has led the conceptualization and implementation of comprehensive population health programs to advance health promotion and disease prevention for the Qatari population, beginning with “Sahtak Awalan” for school-age children. In early 2025, Dr. Sheikh launched a comprehensive Women’s Health program “Sehatuha,” that has galvanized both the community and the medical establishment to focus on this often neglected domain.  Working closely with the Ministry of Population Health, Dr. Sheikh is transforming the health and wellness of the whole Qatari population, and getting them to actively participate in creating healthier lifespans and striving for peak functioning.

Dr. Sheikh has recently established the Artificial Intelligence Center for Precision Health at WCMQ, which is exploring the potential of artificial intelligence and wearable technologies for the early detection and prediction of diabetes, autism, anxiety/depression, and women’s health issues, such as gestational diabetes and postpartum depression. Broader aims of the Center are to mitigate health risks, enhance early intervention, and improve patient outcomes, ultimately driving proactive, personalized, and preventive care.

Before joining Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Dr. Sheikh built a distinguished career at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. He was a tenured professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, associate dean for veterans’ affairs, and was board chair of the Palo Alto Institute for Research and Education. He is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford.