So Glad To See You Here

October,2008

A group of 16 students from the Al-Ieman Secondary Independent School for Girls in Doha visited WCMC-Q on September 24 for a tour of the facilities and a presentation by the Office of Admissions. Dr. Imad Makki, Director of the Foundation Program, initiated the visit to inspire these young students to consider WCMC-Q and a career in medicine.

The young students and their teachers viewed the lecture halls, the Distributed eLibrary Reading Room, and the computer Pods, and they talked with current Foundation Program students in their classroom.

"Everything is well-equipped," one student commented. "And the campus seems very comfortable - like home."

A high point of the tour was an introduction to the Clinical Skills Center (CSC) in the North Hall. Assistant Professor of Family Medicine in Medicine, Dr. Mohamud Verjee demonstrated to the students the educational benefits of the Center's various medical mannequins.

The students donned stethoscope-like wireless headsets and listened intently as Dr. Verjee used "Harvey", a sophisticated teaching mannequin, to emit different cardiac and respiratory sounds. He demonstrated the thumping of a healthy beating heart, and then contrasted that sound to one with a murmur, asking the students to identify the telltale "sloshing" of the defect. He also used Harvey to illustrate the sounds of breathing and the correct way to take a patient's blood pressure.

In the next room, the students practiced with another set of mannequins which WCMC-Q faculty use to teach the proper way to inspect a patient's eyes and ears, and another showing the right way and location to administer shots - red or green lights tell if the needle is entering in the right place. "It looks like it would hurt," Dr. Verjee explained, "but if you do it in the right place, there is no pain."

Then the students were treated to a demonstration of the CSC's simulated doctor's offices where WCMC-Q students are trained and assessed in the art and science of patient care. The students watched and listened on monitors just outside the room as Dr. Verjee interviewed a mock patient, gathering all the necessary information while demonstrating to the students the appropriate "bedside manner".

When asked what they thought of WCMC-Q, one student simply said, "Impressive". Others commented about the "friendly staff", saying they were "very welcoming".

After their tour, Admissions Specialist Maysoon Dalees conducted an information session for the students where she reviewed the online application process and answered the students' questions.

The tour and presentation are designed to give potential students an overview of the Medical College, its academic expectations and admissions requirements, so they can better identify their own weaknesses and strengths in those areas. It also teaches them about the Foundation Program at WCMC-Q, which provides an additional year before application to the Medical Program for those students who feel they would benefit from the added preparation time. Throughout the visit, Dr. Makki and the other presenters emphasized the amount of support WCMC-Q students receive to help them succeed.

"We are excited to be here in the future," one of the students said, and several of her classmates voiced their agreement.

Report by Chris Gibbons