Dr Maha al-Asmakh at the event. Right: Students at the workshop.
QU medical journal urges students to publish
Qatar University Student Medical Journal (QUSMJ) has organised a workshop on ‘How to Review Articles’, in order to encourage students to publish their research projects.
The event was also meant to familiarise them with the rigourous scientific publication procedure, starting from writing and submitting papers, sending to reviewers, addressing the reviewer comments, and resubmitting the paper to the journal for publication.
The exercise also highlighted the importance of scientific rational thinking and the features that editors look at while reviewing a scientific paper and provided tips to analyse and assess a scientific paper.
Initiated by students from QU College of Medicine (CMED), the event drew the participation of 74 faculty and students across QU Health colleges – Health Sciences (CHS), CMED, and Pharmacy (CPH).
The programme included presentations delivered by CHS assistant professors Dr Maha al-Asmakh and Dr Kendra Guilford, CPH associate professor Dr Ahmed Nadir Mohamed Kheir and CMED assistant professor Dr Farhan Cyprian. They discussed many topics such as ‘Types of articles’, ‘Journal review process’, ‘The Editor-in-Chief: What Exactly Does S/he Do? and ‘Peer-review process’.
QU vice president for Medical and Health Sciences and CMED dean Dr Egon Toft was of the opinion that the early exposure and engagement of students in scientific research and its publication will definitely distinguish them and encourage them to become life-long learners and leaders.
“The workshop comes in line with QU Health learning approach that integrates research, education and clinical care in a unique manner, which contributes to providing the healthcare sector in Qatar with highly-competent health professionals.”
Dr al-Asmakh pointed out that ‘in science, no matter how spectacular the results are, the work is not complete until the results are published’.
QUSMJ was founded by students and is run by them under the supervision of faculty advisers and with the approval of QU Health Cluster. The journal will publish research papers authored by undergraduate students in Qatar and the region in the field of medicine, pharmacy, and health sciences. Undergraduate researchers are encouraged to submit their papers online at the link: http://www.qu.edu.qa/qusmj/for-authors.php
