WCMC-Q students take symbolic first step to becoming doctors

September, 2013

Students of the Class of 2017 took their first steps on the long road to becoming doctors at the 10th annual White Coat Ceremony of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

The 41 students entering the 2013 medical class took to the stage at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Student Center on September 12 to receive their white coats and stethoscopes in front of their proud parents and family members.

Accepting the traditional white coat is a symbolic act that marks the induction of students to the world of medicine and healing. Having completed their largely theoretical pre-medical training, the new cadre of students will now begin to learn the hands-on practical skills and advanced material of the college’s medical program.

Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q, said: “Donning the white coat of our profession for the very first time is a moment of great significance in the life of every young doctor-in-training. With this gesture, our students accept the historic responsibility of healing the sick and showing compassion to the vulnerable, and at the same time dedicate themselves to the pursuit of the very highest standards of excellence in the practice of medicine.”

The ceremony, held on Thursday 12 September, marked the completion of the college’s four-day orientation program in which the students met their classmates and faculty, learned about the standards of professional conduct expected of them and received training on standard medical safety procedures. The event was introduced by Dr. Stephen Scott, acting associate dean for student affairs, and with the keynote speech being given by Dr. Abdulla Mohd Alkaabi, executive vice chief medical officer of Sidra Medical and Research Center, and deputy chairman of pediatrics and head of pediatric nephrology at Hamad Medical Corporation.

The Class of 2017 is drawn from 19 countries, and nine Qatari nationals are enrolled on the course. In total, 33 students were admitted upon completion of the WCMC-Q medical program, while four students completed the biological science’s bachelor’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and four completed their training at other institutions.

Geraldine Kong Wai Jin joins WCMC-Q from the National University of Singapore. She said: “Starting the medical course is like a dream come true for me, something I have been looking forward to for a very long time. I want to practice medicine because the amount of conflict and illness means that the world needs doctors and I feel compelled to help.”

Qatari national Khalid Albureshad completed both the foundation program and the premedical program at WCMC-Q.

He said: “I am very excited about wearing the white coat for the first time because it feels like I am making progress towards my goal of becoming a doctor. This is what I have wanted ever since I was a child when my mother was unwell and I wanted to help her.

“With my parents support I have got this far and I am looking forward to the challenge of learning more about the human body and interacting with patients. I’m ready to take the next step.”