"Achieving the Dream" -Two Qatari students win scholarship to New York City to learn from world class researchers

June, 2011

Two lucky Qatari high school students will soon be jetting off to the USA after winning the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar annual Healing Hands Essay Competition.

Faten Faisal Aqeel, an 11th grade student at Al Bayan Independent School, and Fahad Hamad Al Marri, a 12th grader from Al Shahanya Independent School, were each awarded the top prize - a Doctor of the Future Scholarship for presenting very creative entries in the annual essay competition organized by WCMC-Q for the fourth year.

The prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip to Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City to spend time in WCMC's research facilities and learn from their world-class physicians and researchers. Students will be introduced to basic research lab techniques and work as members on the big research teams in one of the most prominent labs in Cornell New York.

Winners of the competition were announced at a ceremony at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) on Thursday June 9, 2011.

Presenting the awards Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these young students, where they get early exposure to the world of cutting-edge biomedical research. Our hope is that opportunities such as this will inspire more Qatari students to consider careers in the healthcare and research professions."

Many students wrote about their dreams of becoming doctors to serve the country and to provide all the support during the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Others wrote about how to provide the finest health care to Qatar’s guests and to be prepared for the huge number of people expected to visit Qatar in 2022.

"My essay was inspired by Qatar's rapid development in all areas that have paved the way to win the World Cup in 2022," said Aqueel whose essay focused on strategies and refinements to Qatar's health care system to help prepare for potential outbreaks of disease stemming from the country's high influx of expatriates and visitors.

Al-Marri's essay discussed the ambitious plans Qatar has set for hosting the World Cup in 2022 and the emergency measures he would take as a future doctor to ensure a safe event. "I am honoured to have won this competition and to have the opportunity to learn from the worlds most highly respected and qualified physicians."

In addition to the two top winners, honorable mentions went to Heitham Saad Al-Suwaidi (Cambridge School), Dana Abdullah Al Jufairi (Global Academy),Maryam Mohammad Saeed Abdulla (Al Bayan School), Ahmad Majed Al Malki (DeBakey School), Sahrifa Mohammed Al Marri (Amna Bint Wahab School), Shaikha Omar Al Misned (Al Khor Independent School), Khalid Hamad Al-Marri (Al Shahaniya Independent School), Maryam Abdulrahman Al-Abdulla (Al Bayan School) and Radoa Abdulla Al-Ansari (Al Ieman School).

High school students from all across Qatar took part in the contest, from Doha to outlying schools such as Ash Shamal municipality, and from government, independent, and international schools alike. The youngest participant being just 14 years old, Shaikha Omar Al-Misned from Al Khor International (Community) School.

" I would like to thank all the students participating in the competition who, in my view, represent some of the best future national capacity of Qatar. The selection committee was particularly pleased with the ideas, motivation and creativity of these young essayists and we hope to see most of them pursue a career in medicine in the near future," said Noha Saleh, WCMC-Q director of student recruitment.

The two winners are expected to travel to New York from July 10 to July 23, 2011, each accompanied by a family member.