Normal life may be curtailed at the moment, but that didn’t stop 40 high school students from preparing for their future as they took part in the online Qatar Medical Explorer Program at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q).

The programme, usually held in the medical school, but is now taken online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, offers talented high school students the chance to spend a week at WCM-Q, meet students and faculty, take online lectures and learn more about the requirements if they were to pursue a career in medicine.

Doctors and professors hold classes in physics, chemistry, biology, and anatomy while participating students learn about life as a practising physician and get to quiz current students about life as a medical student – including the social aspects of WCM-Q and the demanding curriculum. Practical lessons like writing personal statements are also taught, providing students with an insight into what college selection boards are seeking.

For Lolwa Alansari from DeBakey High School for Health Professionals, who joins the programme for the second time this year, the programme made her even more sure that she wants to become a doctor in the future.

The students comprised 28 girls and 12 boys and came from 16 local schools.

According to Noha Saleh, Director of Pre-Medical Administration, Student Outreach and Educational Development, despite the limitations inherent in an online programme, the students had been inquisitive, hardworking and intelligent and the week had been very productive.

She said that the programme is a highly useful tool for students exploring their post-high school options.

Obviously, we want to encourage students to seriously consider careers in medicine or the sciences, but what is most important is that they choose a career path with which they are happy and in which they can be successful.

Saleh added that the Medical Explorer Program allows students to assess their own skills and interests within the context of the WCM-Q curriculum, ensuring that students know the dedication that a medical career entails, alongside the huge personal satisfaction of healing a fellow man.

For more information about WCM-Q, visit qatar-weill.cornell.edu.


Check out Marhaba’s FREE e-Guides for everything you need to know about Qatar.