Cornell Colors 2025 | Page 8

A group of 29 high school students had the chance to experience on-campus life as medical students during the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) weeklong Qatar Medical Explorer Programme (QMEP).

The programme, part of WCM-Q’s enrichment programmes, is offered by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach & Educational Development. Entry to the programme is through nomination by high school counsellors and teachers, who put forward students who have demonstrated academic excellence, particularly in sciences and mathematics.

As part of the programme, students are exposed to a series of sessions that accurately reproduce the experiences of current WCM-Q students, with classes in biology, chemistry, anatomy, neurology, disease investigation, and research. There are also sessions on study skills, time management, writing personal statements, interview techniques, applying to medical school, and careers in medicine.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in an oral presentation exercise, in which they research a medical topic and then present their findings to their peers and WCM-Q faculty members.

Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “Our enrichment programmes continue to offer valuable opportunities for high-calibre students to gain a well-rounded and accurate view of what it is really like to study at WCM-Q and to pursue a career in science. We are absolutely delighted by the level of enthusiasm, intellect, and commitment demonstrated by this year’s participating students.”

According to Dr Syed Ahmed Hasnain, the programme manager, students from 11 schools took part in this year’s QMEP winter session.

The participating schools were Al Arqam Academy for Girls, Al Bayan Independent School for Girls, Amna Bint Wahab Independent School for

Girls, DeBakey High School for Health Professionals at Qatar, Doha British School, Qatar Academy Al Wakra, Qatar Academy Doha, Qatar Academy for Science and Technology, Tariq Bin Ziyad Independent School for Boys, The Gulf English School, and Academic Bridge Programme. Fahad Faisal al-Dosari, from Qatar Academy – Al Wakra, said: “The programme gives insight into medical careers and offers realistic information on pre-medicine and medicine,

where you start understanding if you are really a great fit for medicine or not. I enjoyed the programme because it helped me develop my skills and gave me an insight into the knowledge and aspects I need to be aware of, to hopefully join WCM-Q.”

Dr Rachid Bendriss, professor of English as a second language, assistant professor of education in medicine, and associate dean for foundation,

student outreach and educational development programmes, added: “By inviting prospective students to spend a week within our reputable medical college setting and gain hands-on experience of what a medical education entails, we are offering a truly unique opportunity for students to make well-informed decisions about the possibility of pursuing a career as a physician-scientist.”

WINTER MEDICAL EXPLORER PROGRAM