The Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)
enjoyed a tour of WCMC-Q earlier this month. Pictured are
some of the members.

A group of second-year medical students welcomed members of the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) as they toured WCMC-Q on January 9.

In Qatar for their annual continuing medical education convention, Innovations in Medicine, Islamic Medical History and Ethics (January 6-14), the 45-member group was visibly impressed by what they saw.

"The most exciting thing is to see what facilities and programs Cornell has in Qatar because it's a prestigious name," said board member Dr. Parvaiz Malik, as he walked the north hall corridor.

Another IMANA member, cardiologist Dr. Mowaffak Atfah, said he was astonished at the speed of development in Qatar and in Education City.

Inside and out: IMANA members
tour the WCMC-Q building.

Members asked the students a variety of questions, ranging from delivery of the curriculum and academic standards to what it was like being a medical student at WCMC-Q.

Former president of the Medical Student Executive Council in Qatar (MSEC-Q), Imran Farooq (Class of 2009), said he helped arrange the tour after learning about the association's planned visit during his presidency last year.

"The group was interested in seeing the Medical College as well as Hamad Medical Corporation, so I arranged a meeting with the Dean (of WCMC-Q, Dr. Daniel R. Alonso), and Dr. Hussain Nagamia (from IMANA), he said."

I called upon my colleagues, Sara Hassan, Fouad Otaki, Yasir Tarabichi, Marwa Ahmed, Zaineb Ammous, Aalia Al Barwani and Muhamed Baljevic (Class of 2009), to help give IMANA a tour of the building - they were great help.

"The guests enjoyed not only meeting the students, but the diversity of the student community."

"They loved the school and were fascinated with the technology. The Clinical Skills Center put smiles on their faces, while the seminar rooms and lecture halls left them in awe."

"They appreciated the hospitality show to them by the second-year medical students. It was a quick, fun and definitely informative event."

The technology in WCMC-Q's seminar rooms left visitors
from IMANA in awe, said second-year medical student
Imran Farooq.

Overview of IMANA

IMANA is a not-for-profit, professional association that provides a platform for Muslim physicians and students to discuss issues and share ideas relevant to Muslims in North America and around the world.

It promotes a greater awareness of Islamic medical ethics and values among Muslims and the community-at-large and provides humanitarian and medical relief.

IMANA's continuing medical education conventions offer physicians and their families an entire week of learning, social activities, sight seeing and youth programs. Every alternate year IMANA holds its convention outside North America in a country with a significant Muslim population or heritage, such as Qatar.

Report by Krista Dobinson, Assistant Editor/Writer