Graduation 2008: Inaugural Class makes history

May,2008

May 8: A day as joyous as it was historic for Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and for the State of Qatar. Fifteen young men and women - the inaugural Class of 2008 - emerged as the first physicians to graduate from this pioneering Medical College, following a ceremony that brought the personal and touching together with a sense of history in the making.

Guest of honor at this unique Commencement, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, was joined on the dais by leaders of Cornell University and its Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and Qatar, as well as by leaders of Qatar Foundation, the National Health Authority and Hamad Medical Corporation.

There was pomp and pageantry: The proceedings opened with the music of Elgar and the Academic Procession of faculty members in full robes, led by professor of physiology, Dr. David Robertshaw acting as University Marshal, and professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery, Dr. Bakr Nour bearing the University mace. But as the young physicians entered, they stole the show - both for the brilliance of their red robes, and for the warmth of the cheer that greeted them.

Throughout the event, the personal was there, and touchingly so: In the words of the student speaker, Jehan Al Rayahi, who chose to "tell the story" of the class; and in the reciting of the Hippocratic Oath by the class members. Caps off and right hand raised, they followed Dean of WCMC-Q, Dr. Daniel R. Alonso, as he read the Oath aloud, section by section, thereby publicly accepting the responsibilities of their profession.

Then, after she had formally placed the hood of the academic robe around each graduate, assistant professor of medicine and former Associate Dean for Clinical Curriculum, Dr. Nounou Taleghani patted each one on the shoulder; not just a sign that she had completed the task but also a gentle sending-on-the-way, and a "bittersweet" moment, she said afterwards.

And as each one went up to receive the Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell University president, Dr. David J. Skorton, the first physicians ever trained in Qatar were stepping up - here, now, before us - to become full members of the profession. It was truly a moving moment.

Unique occasion - for Cornell and for Qatar

In his address, Dr. Skorton recognized the extraordinary nature of the achievement.

"Today is a historic day for Qatar Foundation, which, with today's ceremonies, achieves an important milestone in its vision for Education City," he told the assembly. "It is a very proud day for Cornell University, as we celebrate the successful culmination of the first phase of a grand experiment. In this experiment we have sought ... to transplant the fragile seed of American style medical education to another culture, another country, another context."

Praising the graduating class for their "extraordinary commitment and a high and admirable level of achievement," Dr. Skorton went on: "Their scores on standardized tests are indistinguishable from those of our students at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. They did very well in the competitive "match" program for residencies."

He ended by charging the graduates to maintain the pioneering spirit and a willingness to take risks for the greater and personal good throughout their career, and to work in partnership with their patients: "Always remain humble and grateful," he advised.

For Al Rayahi, elected by her classmates to give the student speech, it was an occasion to reflect on the path they had taken together. She looked back to the early days when they began pre-med studies in temporary accommodation - "we had one classroom, one biology lab, one chemistry lab and, fortunately, a couple of restrooms" she quipped.

She discussed how much she had gained by staying in Qatar and studying medicine in her home country; and she went on to describe her vision, shared by her classmates, of serving Qatar, "this magnificent country," in the future.

Special presentation

As the ceremony neared closure, Dean of the Medical College in New York, Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., led three students in presenting Her Highness Sheikha Mozah with a proclamation from Cornell University in recognition of her leadership and support, and with a doctor's coat and leather bag. A surprise to the audience, the gesture was all the more appreciated as Her Highness joined in the spirit of the occasion by placing the coat around her shoulders.

Delivering his farewell message to the graduates, Dr. Gotto welcomed them to the Weill Cornell family and wished them well in the next stage of their careers. He commended their "spirit of adventure and willingness to take on new challenges" and noted that they were "poised to make a great difference to global medical education."

Sharing - or, more accurately, participating enthusiastically - in the historic occasion were many guests, family members, friends, and almost the entire WCMC-Q student body. Cheering as they applauded, they came close to raising the roof of the Ritz-Carlton's Wosail Ballroom as the event drew to a close.

The Class of 2008 may not have had upperclassmen to guide or advise them as they pursued their studies at WCMC-Q; but they certainly had a following.

Report by Sylvia M. Ismail