Local, int'l high school students explore medicine at WCM-Q
Doha
Eighty-three local and international high school students aspiring to pursue careers in medicine had the opportunity to gain early exposure to the field through the Medical Minds Online Programme (MMOP), a summer programme organised by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).
The week-long virtual event was part of the Summer Enrichment Programmes, designed to introduce pre-college students to the field of medicine and science through engaging and interactive sessions led by WCM-Q's faculty and staff, who are experts in their field.
Offered by WCM-Q's Office of Student Outreach and Educational Development, the programme aims to provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the medical field to students with a keen interest in medicine and the sciences. It targets students in Qatar's high schools and from different parts of the world who have shown academic excellence in the sciences and mathematics.
Fifty girls and 33 boys from 43 schools engaged in a variety of live Zoom sessions and self-paced modules, such as medical ethics, anatomy, surgery, forensic biology, and the admissions process at WCM-Q.
The participating students, entering grades 10, 11, and 12, came from various schools across Qatar, while international students joined the sessions from Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Conducted by physicians, medical educators, and WCM-Q student mentors, the programme offered both academic knowledge and personal development skills, including building a professional identity in medicine and exploring career pathways. The students also learned how to work on Canvas, a learning management system used by educational institutions.
The programme explored different specialties in medicine to give the students a chance to see which field they were passionate about. To inspire them further, the faculty shared personal stories about their medical journeys.
Additionally, five WCM-Q pre-medical students served as student assistants in a session titled 'Building your Professional Identity in Medicine', where they facilitated group discussions that asked students to identify their personal values, reflect on what drew them to medicine, and link these values to their vision of medical practice. The students were Fatima Abdulla, Shaikha Al Ishaq, Nouf Alabdulmalik, Noof AlMalik, and Mohammed Ali Abdulla.
WCM-Q medical and pre-medical students, Reem Al Janahi, Batoul Arabi, Fatima Al Mohammed, Anns Mahboob, and Ola AboMoslim, also conducted a panel discussion where they tackled topics such as writing personal statements, interview techniques, and student life at WCM-Q.
Following the conclusion of the programme, all students were awarded a certificate of completion.
Noha Saleh, director of premedical Administration, Student Outreach, and Educational Development, said: 'The MMOP was a wonderful opportunity for high school students to get a glimpse of the medical field. By combining both academic content and real-life insights from professionals and our students, I believe this will help the students make informed decisions about their future and build a strong foundation for those considering careers in the healthcare sector. Offered online, the programme's international reach expanded attracting students from more than 10 different cities around the world, in addition to Doha, Qatar.'
Student participant Faisal Alazawi of The Hamilton International School, who is heading to grade 12, said: 'The programme was an eye-opener, and I have learned that everyone's journey into medicine is personal and unique. Hearing the doctors share their experiences, including the challenges they have encountered, motivations, and turning points, was really inspiring, which showed me that there's no single path to becoming a physician.
'The programme being held virtually made it incredibly accessible, allowing us to learn from anywhere while still gaining insight into what WCM-Q students experience. The self-paced modules kept me productive now that we are on summer break.'
Dr. Rachid Bendriss, assistant professor of Education in Medicine, associate dean for Foundation, Student Outreach, and Educational Development programmes, and professor of English as a second language, said: 'I believe that besides introducing the students to medical topics, the programme helped them build essential skills like critical thinking, communication, and self-directed learning. It's incredible to see young minds grow more confident about pursuing their goals in
medicine in the future.'
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