WCMC-Q welcomes 58 freshmen in incoming pre-medical class

WCMC–Q welcomed fifty–eight freshmen at Pre-medical Program Opening Exercises on August 30th, a tally that brings pre–medical student enrolment near to capacity as the Medical College goes into its fourth year of operation.

The number represents an increase of 23 per cent over the previous year’s intake. With students from twenty–eight countries across the world including Algeria, Egypt, India, Lebanon, Mauritius, Russia and the U.S., quite apart from the ’home-grown‘ students from Qatar and elsewhere in the Gulf region, the latest Class to join the WCMC–Q community is typical for its international diversity.

Welcoming the new students and their families, Dean of WCMC–Q, Daniel R. Alonso, M.D., congratulated them for their achievement, and encouraged class members to look ahead some two years, when they may, with effort and perseverance, enter the Medical Program and become part of the medical profession, with its privileges and responsibilities.

In his address to the assembly, Associate Dean for Pre–medical Education, David Robertshaw, Ph.D. surveyed the development of the scientific method in medicine from Hippocrates to the present day.

He noted both the contribution of many different fields of science to advances in medicine and their increasing interdependence. Dr. Robertshaw went on to urge the incoming class members to offer guidance and "a helping hand" to those who came after them.

Orientation mixes business with pleasure

Opening Exercises was the culmination of a packed three days of orientation activities that introduced the incoming class to life as part of Cornell University.

Parents had a separate orientation session, an occasion where faculty and staff could explain some of the demands of studying at WCMC–Q, clarify policies relating to the students, and answer questions.

Among the sessions for students were introductions to academic courses, and policies, and to support systems such as IT and the Distributed eLibrary. They were also familiarized with laboratory safety, and given an overview of student life from the Medical Student Executive Council (MSEC-Q).

But these business–like meetings were complemented by fun activities outside the Medical College, with a treasure hunt, and an evening of bowling and ice-skating, in a prime downtown mall.

The response from students was enthusiastic. "It has given us an overall view of how the University runs, what the grading systems are, who the professors are, the clubs and the student body," Eshanjit Sapra commented, "and it was good meeting the professors and talking to them on a more personal level."

For Qatari Essa Abuhelaiqa, the social events were a great way to help the students bond. "I had a good introduction with the students here....Giving us a chance to go bowling and skating was a good way to get to know them."

Reading project brings Cornell closer

For the third successive year, WCMC-Q’s pre–medical freshmen took part in the Cornell University reading project, just like their colleagues on the Ithaca campus. With Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart the focus of their attention, they listened to a panel discussion by second year pre–medical students, and took part in discussion groups that analysed some of the writer’s themes.

If some students were a little shy to take part, others took to the activity eagerly. Coming together for a humanities–based activity was definitely worthwhile, said Eshanjit. "Medicine involves the humanities as well. You need to be a rounded person and you need to know about other cultures."

Reading project brings Cornell closer

For the third successive year, WCMC-Q's pre–medical freshmen took part in the Cornell University reading project, just like their colleagues on the Ithaca campus. With Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart the focus of their attention, they listened to a panel discussion by second year pre–medical students, and took part in discussion groups that analysed some of the writer’s themes.

Helping international students feel at home

The three days of events at WCMC-Q followed an earlier orientation, organized by Qatar Foundation, for international students at all five universities in Education City. This offered freshmen from outside Qatar a chance to get to know the campus, to understand procedures and regulations, and to find out how to organize their lives, from banking to shopping to transport services. They also heard about the broader aspects of student life, including sports and leisure activities and participating in the Doha Debates.

For more on Qatar Foundation, click here

For the Doha Debates, click here