With highly qualified doctors needed now more than ever, elite medical college Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) welcomed its new cohort of incoming students with a comprehensive three-day orientation programme – delivered fully online this year for the first time in the institution’s history.
With measures to control the spread of the coronavirus still in place, new students logged in remotely to meet one another, interact with faculty and staff, and learn skills designed to help them excel academically and thrive in their new environment.
Dr. Javaid Sheikh, Dean of WCM-Q, said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome our new cohort of students to WCM-Q to begin learning the art and science of medicine at a time when such skills are needed more than ever. These talented young women and men are excited to learn and to make strong contributions to the health of people in Qatar and beyond.”
The incoming cohort is truly global, comprising citizens of 19 different countries: Qatar, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, the UK and the USA.
This year’s intake brings 22 new students to the college’s Foundation Programme, all of whom are Qatari nationals. There are 51 new pre-medical students, 23 of whom have been promoted from last year’s Foundation Programme, while 28 are new arrivals.
Of the 48 new medical students, 47 were promoted after completing the two-year pre-medical curriculum at WCM-Q, with one new arrival. Combined, the two-year premedical curriculum and four-year medical curriculum form the WCM-Q integrated six-year Medical Programme. The Foundation Programme provides intensive instruction in the basic sciences, English and mathematics to prepare students for the rigours of the six-year Medical Programme.
The orientation programmes began with welcome addresses, followed by introductions to the curricula. Other sessions included information about academic integrity, student health and wellness services, legal issues in the practice of medicine, study skills and technology tools.
Dr. Rachid Bendriss, Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Outreach and Foundation Programmes, said: “Orientation is always a great experience as it marks the beginning of our academic year, with all of the energy, hope and excitement that it brings. I thank all of our new students and my colleagues at WCM-Q for working hard to make this year’s orientation not only a great event, but also one that protected the health, safety and wellness of everyone who participated.”
To help the new arrivals get to know one another there were also peer discussion sessions and a chance to interact with existing students to ask about their experiences at the college.
Student Maryam Al Quradaghi is beginning the four-year medical curriculum this semester, having previously completed both the Foundation Programme and the two-year pre-medical curriculum at WCM-Q.
“Despite viewing the world through a screen, the excitement that we felt about the upcoming year was still there. Meeting new professors, learning more about the profession and seeing our classmates after so long made the event so enjoyable. This year’s orientation was definitely something that I will remember as it heavily reflects every aspect of my future career as a doctor,” she said.
The orientation programmes, coordinated by WCM-Q’s Division of Student Affairs, are carefully designed to familiarise students with the people, curriculum and procedures at the college so they can quickly feel at home and succeed in their studies.
