10-05-2025
WCM–Q graduates set sights on global impact
Satyendra Pathak
Doha
Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar (WCM-Q), the Ivy League institution's Middle East campus, continues to live up to its reputation as a premier medical school nurturing some of the most promising doctors of tomorrow.
As this year's cohort of graduates steps out into the world, each one carries a deeply personal story shaped by determination, diversity, and a shared desire to serve.
Among them is Ahamed Lebbe, who moved from Sri Lanka to Qatar at the age of seven. Growing up in Doha, his dream to become a doctor was fueled by the urge to give back to society in a meaningful way.
WCM-Q offered him not only a world-class curriculum but also access to US-based clinical experiences that have prepared him for the next chapter: a residency at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital. His goal? A career in gastroenterology.
For Ahamed, WCM-Q offered the ideal blend: a globally recognised Ivy League education within reach of home. What truly impressed him, he shared, was the institution's strong emphasis on patient-centred care, a philosophy that resonated deeply with his own values.
He credits WCM-Q with preparing him for clinical rotations and research opportunities in the United States, which strengthened his residency applications.
He is now headed to Johns Hopkins Hospital to begin his residency in internal medicine, with hopes of eventually specialising in gastroenterology.
Pradipta Paul, a Bangladeshi national born and raised in Qatar, found his calling early in life.
For him, WCM-Q wasn't just an educational institution — it was a bridge between home and a global future. His groundbreaking research on COVID-19 vaccines, under the mentorship of Dr Laith Abu-Raddad, professor of population health sciences, and director of the biostatistics, epidemiology, and biomathematics research core at WCM-Q, won him accolades and helped shape his approach to patient care.
His interest in medicine was sparked in high school, and he was determined to pursue it while remaining close to his family.
'WCM-Q allowed me to do what I loved, while staying rooted,' he said.
His time at the college helped him develop a strong aptitude for research, which began as early as his second year in the pre-medical track. Over the years, this interest evolved into a deep commitment.
He believes this experience not only honed his analytical and communication skills but will also help him counsel patients with vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice.
He is now headed to Rochester General Hospital to begin his residency in internal medicine, with ambitions to specialise further in cardiology or gastroenterology.
For American-born Kevin Zhai, the choice to study medicine in Qatar was deliberate.
Eschewing offers from US schools, he embraced the cultural diversity and intimacy of WCM-Q's campus, where he thrived in leadership roles and led pioneering research in nanomedicine.
He will soon begin his residency in neurology in the United States.
'I knew I would receive the same Cornell curriculum here, but with the added benefit of understanding a different culture and healthcare system,' he said.
What stood out for Kevin was the more intimate academic environment compared to large US universities.
With smaller class sizes and strong faculty access, he found ample opportunities for leadership and innovation. Over the past few years, he led a research team as principal investigator, exploring the intersections of nanotechnology and medicine.
His work, funded through various grants and published in peer-reviewed journals, has contributed to a growing body of knowledge in biomedical innovation.
He will now return to the US to begin his residency in neurology.
Another graduate Mohammad Saad Javed, originally from Pakistan but raised in the UK, has been living in Qatar for the past decade.
He joined WCM-Q at a time when it was the sole provider of American-style medical education in the country. Now, with several years of rigorous training behind him, he appreciates the institution's holistic and supportive learning environment.
'The faculty are incredibly engaged. They truly care about student growth,' he shared.
Though he didn't highlight a specific research project, he expressed pride in simply completing the programme and stepping into the next phase of his career.
He is now preparing to begin his residency in psychiatry in Florida.
Then, there's the story of Omar Mourad and Aisha Serpedin — two students whose paths converged both professionally and personally.
Amar, a Syrian national raised in Qatar, and Aisha, who moved from the US with her Romanian-American family, were drawn to WCM-Q for similar reasons: the opportunity to receive an American education close to home. They are now headed to the University of Vermont for their residencies with Amar specialising in internal medicine and Aisha in neurology — with plans to return and serve the region they call home.
'There are unique cases and healthcare challenges in this region. Studying medicine here gave me exposure to both American medical standards and local cultural contexts,' Aisha said.
For Amar, treating Arabic-speaking patients and practising in a community he knew well was a key motivation.
Both valued the professionalism and high standards of education that WCM-Q offered.
As fate would have it, their shared journey extended beyond the classroom.
The couple matched together at the University of Vermont — Aisha into neurology and Amar into internal medicine. They hope to return to Qatar after their US training to serve the region with their acquired expertise.
From aspiring physicians to future specialists in internal medicine, neurology, psychiatry, gastroenterology, and cardiology, these graduates are now set to begin their residencies in top institutions across the United States.
They leave behind a legacy of academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and a strong commitment to serve. As they step into the global medical landscape, their stories remain anchored in the halls of Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, an institution that has empowered them to heal, to lead, and to inspire.
