Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar has welcomed 60 new students into its Premedical and Foundation programmes at the opening ceremonies for the new academic year. The Premedical Programme is a two-year course that focuses on the sciences relevant to medicine, as well as psychology and medical ethics. Among the 43 students on the Premedical Programme, 12 are Qataris with the others being citizens of 16 different countries. The Foundation Programme is a yearlong course that covers basic sciences, math and English.It is designed to build critical thinking and problem solving skills and encourages full participation among students. WCMC-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh welcomed these new students into the university. “WCMC-Q facilities and resources are among the best in the Middle East and we produce the most skilled medical professionals in the region,” he said. During the opening ceremony, new students were introduced to WCMC-Q faculty members and given brief highlights about some of the activities of the Medical College. The programme ended with an Iftar for students and their families.Established in partnership with Qatar Foundation, WCMC-Q is part of Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, the first American institution to offer its MD degree overseas.