High school students explore careers in medicine on WCM-Q Online Summer Programs
High school students completed WCM-Q’s Online Summer Programs to sample what life is like as a medical student, learn about college applications, and explore careers in medicine.
Eighty-four ambitious high school students with a passion for science had the chance to sample life as a medical student when they joined Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Online Summer Programs.
The two Online Summer Programs – the Pre-College Enrichment Program (PCEP) and the Qatar Medical Explorer Program (QMEP) – are weeklong intensive courses offered by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach & Educational Development and are designed to give students with an interest in medicine a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by a career as a physician-scientist.
Both programs provide the participants with online learning sessions that accurately reproduce the experiences of current WCM-Q students, with classes in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy, disease investigation, medical research, patient-physician dynamics, and medical ethics. There are also sessions on study skills, time management, writing personal statements, applying to medical school, 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. The PCEP also included a presentation exercise, in which the students formed groups and researched a medical topic throughout the week before presenting their findings on the final day of the program. A total of 56 students completed the PCEP, while 28 completed the QMEP, with students hailing from a total of 34 schools.
Ms. Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach, and educational development said: “I am very pleased to say that the Online Summer Programs have once again been a huge success, with all of the participating students, faculty and staff bringing a great spirit and enthusiasm to the online sessions, which helped to create a truly vibrant and exciting atmosphere. The students demonstrated exceptional talent and motivation for learning about medicine and becoming physicians, and we are certain that many will apply to join WCM-Q as students and go on to have extremely successful and rewarding careers in medicine.”
Minatullah Alani of Qatar International School was the student speaker for the QMEP program at the closing ceremony. She said: “If asked to describe this program in three words, I would say it is insightful, engaging and exciting. Studying the anatomy of the heart in exceptional detail really helped consolidate my decision to go into medicine, and the careers and admissions sessions gave me the final push I needed to start my application process. I think I speak on behalf of all the other students when I say that I have learnt some very valuable lessons which I will use not only in my application, but throughout my journey into medicine.”
Dr. Rachid Bendriss, Associate Dean, Foundation, Student Outreach, & Educational Development, said: “We are extremely happy that so many enthusiastic, intelligent and energetic high school students took part in our enrichment programs this year. The standard was very high and the online format once again proved extremely effective at providing students with rich learning experiences and an accurate impression of what life as a medical student is really like. I am thankful to the participating students, faculty and staff for making this such a successful event.”