Students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) had a glimpse of what life as a practicing physician is really like, thanks to the school’s Pre-Medical Education Division’s Clinical Observership Program.

Under the programme, 14 students from WCM-Q Foundation and Pre-Medical Programs completed two weeks in clinics at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Sidra Medicine, observing the work of doctors and interacting with patients under supervision.

The programme is designed to give students first-hand experience of the reality of life as a doctor, helping them put their studies in context and to begin developing the ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with patients – a key skill for any doctor. Of the four students who took their observership at HMC, three joined the anaesthesia clinic, and one joined the urology clinic. Of the ten students who went to Sidra Medicine, five went to the paediatric clinic, three to the emergency clinic, and two to the obstetrics and gynaecology clinic. The students who participated in the programme, which is a voluntary undertaking, were presented with certificates at a ceremony held to mark its conclusion.

WCM-Q pre med programme 1
Faculty and staff with Foundation and Pre-Medical students who participated in the Clinical Observership Program

Dr Rachid Bendriss, Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Outreach and Foundation Programs at WCM-Q, said they are very pleased that all of the students who participated had such rich and rewarding experiences in the clinics

These will be of great use to you as you progress onto the Medical Program. To actually be in the clinics to see the work that doctors do first-hand, being able to ask questions and interact with patients, tells you a great deal more about the medical profession than you could learn from reading a book or an article.’

Dr Marco Ameduri, WCM-Q Associate Dean for Pre-Medical Education, then spoke to congratulate the students for completing the programme and thanked the physicians and staff at HMC and Sidra Medicine, as well as the administrative staff and faculty at WCM-Q for making the programme possible.

One second-year pre-medical student Ibrahim Laswi who spent two weeks in the anaesthesiology clinic at HMC has this to say about the programme.

The experience really opened my eyes. Seeing the way the doctors interacted with patients and students gave me a great insight into their roles, not just as physicians, but also as teachers. I also learned so much about anaesthesiology as a specialty, which was great because I never realised before what an interesting and challenging field it is.’

To know more about the pre-med programme at WCM-Q, visit their website at qatar-weill.cornell.edu.