High school students scout careers in medicine through WCM-Q programmes

Students from 42 high schools learned about careers in medicine and life as a medical student through two summer programmes offered by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). The Pre-College Enrichment Programme (PCEP) and the Qatar Medical Explorer Programme (QMEP) – are two-week intensive classes offered by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach & Educational Development.

The students, who have all demonstrated an aptitude for the sciences and mathematics, spent two weeks engaging with WCM-Q’s faculty and staff through a series of learning sessions that accurately reproduce the experiences of current WCM-Q students. After several cycles of the programme were held exclusively online due to Covid-19, this year’s summer programmes were held in person once again. The programmes feature classes in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, disease investigation, medical research, neurology, nephrology, pediatrics, patient-physician dynamics, and medical ethics. There are also sessions on study skills, time management, writing personal statements, applying to medical school, personal wellness at college, and careers in medicine, as well as an introduction to WCM-Q’s state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Lab and a reading workshop. Other sessions included basic life support and first aid workshops, a case study of a stroke patient, and a cardiology workshop with Harvey, a mechanised cardiopulmonary manikin capable of simulating scores of heart and respiratory conditions that students can learn to recognise and diagnose.Both PCEP and QMEP also included a presentation exercise, in which the students formed groups and researched a medical topic throughout the two weeks before presenting their findings on the final day of the program. This year, 34 students completed the QMEP, while 44 completed the PCEP.The programmes were first offered in 2008 and have been extremely successful over the years at attracting high-calibre candidates to WCM-Q. Many students who participate in the summer programmes go on to apply to WCM-Q and several gain acceptance in each cycle of the programme. Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach, and educational development said: “Choosing to study medicine at WCM-Q presents students with a vast range of possible career paths, encompassing many different medical specialties as well as opportunities in research, education and beyond. We are very pleased that so many talented high school students joined us this year to explore these possibilities through our summer programmes.” The majority of students who took part in the programme attend high schools in Qatar, but some participants are drawn from overseas schools. Student participant Waafi Awal attends Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas, and travelled to Qatar to take part. Dr Rachid Bendriss, associate dean, foundation, student outreach, and educational development, added: “It has been gratifying to see such a talented and motivated group of high school students exploring the many rewarding and inspiring career paths that can be pursued by studying medicine at WCM-Q.”