The new class of trainee physicians at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) donned the white coats of their future profession for the first time in a symbolic ceremony marking the start of the college’s medical curriculum.
There are 44 medical students in this year’s intake, and 22 of them are Qatari nationals. In total, 41 members of the class were promoted after completing the two-year WCM-Q pre-medical curriculum, while three have joined from other universities.
The White Coat Ceremony marked the culmination of a three-day orientation programme, during which the students were fitted for their scrubs, met with faculty and peers, and learned about the four-year medical curriculum. The event featured a keynote speech by WCM-Q Class of 2011 alumnus Dr Essa Abuhelaiqa, now a nephrology consultant at Hamad Medical Corporation.
WCM-Q also inducted 55 new students to its pre-medical curriculum, with 18 Qataris, while a further 15 are long-term residents of Qatar. WCM-Q also welcomed 21 high school graduates, including 19 Qataris, to its one-year Foundation Programme.
The pre-medical and foundation students had a separate orientation programme, which included a tour of WCM-Q’s state-of-the-art campus followed by sessions on time management, academic expectations and integrity, student health and wellness, plus a reading project and opportunities to get to know the faculty and fellow students. There was also a completion ceremony for returning Foundation Programme students entering the pre-medical curriculum.
Combined, the two-year pre-medical curriculum and four-year medical curriculum form the WCM-Q integrated Six-Year Medical Programme and its successful completion leads to the Cornell University MD degree.
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, coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs, are designed to help students become familiar with the curriculum, facilities, people and processes of WCM-Q so they can quickly begin learning the material they need to master to thrive at the college.
For the students beginning the two-year pre-medical curriculum, the orientation programme concluded with the Ibn Sina pinning ceremony, named after one of the most influential scholars of the Islamic Golden Age.
Qatari first-year medical student Fatima al-Mohammed said: “Receiving my white coat is an incredibly meaningful moment in my journey as a medical student. This remarkable milestone marks the beginning of my journey into the medical field, filled with dedication and hard work to give back to my country, Qatar. As I go up the stage, I shall embrace the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes with this important step forward.”
Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q said: “We extend our warmest welcome to our new students as they begin learning the skills to provide world-class patient care, make new discoveries in biomedical research, and become the next generation of leaders striving to enhance healthcare for all.”