New students don ‘white coats’ at WCM-Q ceremony

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) new cohort of trainee doctors took a symbolic first step towards their chosen profession as they donned the physician’s traditional garb in a ceremony held at Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Centre. The students of the Class of 2020 took to the stage in front of an audience of their friends and family at the WCM-Q opening exercises ceremony where they were presented with their new white coats and stethoscopes. The ceremonial presentation of the white coats marks the moment students begin the four-year medical programme, which involves working directly with patients. This year, the medical programme has admitted 40 students of 14 different nationalities. In total, 35% of the students joining the medical programme are Qatari nationals. The ceremony also welcomed 50 students joining WCM-Q’s recently launched cohesive six-year medical programme, which integrates two years of pre-medical training and the four-year medical programme. The class comprises students of 12 different nationalities, and 38% of the students are Qatari nationals. The ceremony also marks the culmination of WCM-Q’s orientation programme, which introduces students joining the college’s Foundation, Pre-medical and Medical programmes to their new classmates, faculty and the facilities at WCM-Q. Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “Pulling on the white coat for the first time is a big moment for all doctors. It is the moment at which they begin to work with patients and to acquire the practical skills and know-how they need to provide real care and to start making a positive difference to the community.”