High school students dreaming of careers in medicine received a boost, thanks to the Qatar Aspiring Doctors Programme (QADP) of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).

The year-long QADP is designed to help talented high school students interested in becoming doctors, to strengthen their college applications by improving on their areas of strength in the physical sciences, biology, English for academic purposes, and research skills.

Latifa Mahmoud receives her certificate of completion with honours

This year, 28 students in Grades 9-12 from 20 high schools across Qatar participated in the programme. These students were invited, along with their families, to a closing event at WCM-Q where they received certificates marking their participation and completion of the programme.

Dr Rachid Bendriss, Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Outreach and Foundation Programmes, said that QADP is an excellent way for high school students to  acquire a solid foundation of skills that will help them become good doctors.

The programme challenges students to be self-disciplined and pro-active, and I’m pleased to say that this year’s cohort rose to the challenge extremely well. We look forward to receiving applications to join WCM-Q from a great many of them.’

The programme, now in its fourth year, also helps students prepare for the ACT college admissions test, as well as help them develop important time-management and critical-thinking skills.

The QADP course comprises a combination of face-to-face instruction, online modules and hands-on training based on a customised timetable that takes account of the students’ high school studies. QADP is self-paced, flexible and involves a full academic year of contact from September to April. Students also have the opportunity to engage directly with WCM-Q faculty, staff and students, and to use WCM-Q facilities, giving them an accurate idea of what life as a medical student at WCM-Q would be like.

Of the 28 students who participated, five students were awarded certificates for completion with honours in the Physical Sciences, Research Skills or Biology. One student – Latifa Mahmoud of Al Bayan Secondary School for Girls – was awarded a certificate of completion with honours in all modules of the programme.

Admission to QADP is based solely on merit. Students who wish to participate must have excellent academic high school performance, demonstrated a strong desire to become a doctor and be nominated by their high schools.

Information about the QADP is available at WCM-Q’s Office of Student Recruitment and Outreach. Visit qatar-weill.cornell.edu for more details.