Global public health expert offers career advice to WCM-Q medical students

First-year and second-year medical students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) had the opportunity to hear from a global health expert about possible nonclinical career paths during the latest edition of the biannual WCM-Q Career Advising Seminar.

Speaking to the students, global public health expert Dr. Rayana Ahmad Bou Haka, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Qatar, described her own career path. She explained the influences of her experiences and how she specialized in pediatrics but shifted to public health and policy work. Dr. Bou Haka joined WHO over 20 years ago, working in emergency programs in different capacities, followed by developmental and strategic roles at the country and regional levels.

During the session, Dr. Bou Haka also provided the students with an overview of WHO, its governance model, strategic priorities, and an outline of its important work as an organization.

Titled “Global Public Health,” the seminar was attended by 91 medical students from WCM-Q and coordinated by Dr. Mai Mahmoud, assistant dean for faculty affairs, associate professor of teaching in medicine and director for student academic advising at WCM-Q.

Dr. Mahmoud said: “Our Career Advising Seminar offers students important and practical advice about the many career possibilities a medical student can choose to pursue—from both a clinical and nonclinical standpoint. We are fully committed to ensuring that our students are empowered to make well-informed decisions and embark on personally and professionally gratifying careers following graduation.”

The academic advising program is designed to help WCM-Q medical students reach their highest level of competence, provide support to overcome academic challenges, and guide students to make informed career decisions.

Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and vice dean for academic and curricular affairs at WCM-Q, said: “By providing exposure to a wide range of medical specialties and experts who can share relevant first-hand personal and professional experiences, we are enabling our medical students to fully appreciate the varied career pathways available to them. With this in mind, I am proud to say that more than 500 of our WCM-Q graduates are currently serving successful careers as physicians, scientists, and academics at leading institutions in Qatar and abroad.”