Senior Honors Convocation

Sharon King, seen with Dean Alonso, won no fewer
than eight awards for academic and clinical excellence,
and for exemplifying the qualities of the "good
physician" - including humanism in medicine.

Gathering at the Diplomatic Club for the Senior Honors Convocation, May 7, the WCMC-Q community recognized outstanding achievements by the Class of 2008, as well as the contributions of faculty at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and in Qatar, and at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).

There were special presentations to leaders of the Medical College, notably Dr. Maya Hammoud, Senior Associate Dean for Education; and Dean Alonso, who was presented with a gift by Chairperson of the Board of HMC, Dr. Latifa Al Houty, in recognition of his significant contribution to building the partnership between the two institutions.

From the outset, the occasion mixed the formal with the humorous. In her video tribute to the Class of 2008, Jehan Al Rayahi created finely tuned vignettes of her classmates, mixing appreciation of their qualities with gentle satirizing of their foibles, and complementing them with some bons mots from faculty. It set the tone, and it worked admirably well.

Presentation of awards

The main event featured presentation of awards by Dean Alonso. The lion's share of the honors for outstanding performance in the basic sciences curriculum, as well as several clinical awards, went to Sharon King.

The hospital setting was where "I felt I was able
to be the person and the doctor that I wanted to be"
said Rana Biary, who received four awards for
clinical excellence.

Rana Biary carried off several awards in the clinical curriculum. Interviewed afterwards, she said this was the stage in her education when she felt most at home: "When I went into the hospital, I felt I was able to do what I wanted to do, and to be the person and the doctor I wanted to be."

Also noteworthy, Amila Husic won the overall awards for scholastic performance in both the basic science and the clinical curricula.

Senior Awards for leadership in medicine and for community service went to Jehan Al Rayahi; meanwhile, Subhi Al Aref, who graduated with Honors in research, carried off the Biomedical Research Award; and King was once again recognized, this time by her classmates, as best exemplifying the qualities of the "good physician."

Among faculty, Drs. Estomih Mtui and Mark Pochapin from Weill Cornell in New York City were honored by inclusion in the Senior List for their excellence in teaching, as were WCMC-Q faculty members Drs. Nady Mohamed, Nithila Isaac, Nounou Taleghani, Bakr Nour and Mohamud Verjee; and HMC faculty-physicians Dr. Mohamed Asif and Dr. Abdallah Khairi.

WCMC-Q faculty members selected for the Senior List,
seen with Dr. Maya Hammoud (left) and Dean Alonso
(right), were: Drs. Nounou Taleghani, Nady Mohamed,
Mohamud Verjee, Nithila Isaac and Bakr Nour.

Welcome to the Alumni Association

To end the proceedings, there was a welcome to the Weill Cornell Alumni Association from its president, Dr. Gene Resnick '74. Founded in 1904, and with a membership roll currently above 5,000, the Association reaches around the globe and beyond - three members are astronauts.

Ambassadors of the Medical College, the alumni provide a network of professional contacts and friends, and support to students enrolled in Weill Cornell, for example through scholarships, he said.

[For a full list of awards made at Senior Honors Convocation Class of 2008, click here ]

Report by Sylvia M. Ismail