Eighty-three students from 46 local and international high schools had the opportunity to explore potential careers in medicine and experience campus life as medical students through Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Summer Enrichment Programs. The Qatar Medical Explorer Program (QMEP) and the Pre-College Enrichment Program (PCEP) offer two weeks of immersive training based on WCM-Q’s real curriculum.
These programs, available in both summer and winter, are organized by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach & Educational Development. They are designed for students who have shown exceptional academic performance in sciences and mathematics, both in Qatar and globally. Participants, who will be entering grades 10, 11, and 12, included students from various schools across Qatar, as well as international students who traveled from Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to take part.
This year, 41 students completed the PCEP and 42 students completed the QMEP. Both programs aim to provide students with a keen interest in medicine and the sciences with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the medical field. Both programs provide college-bound students with sessions that closely replicate the experiences of current WCM-Q students through a series of lectures, clinical skills workshops, and basic lab sessions. Classes cover a wide range of subjects, including biology, chemistry, anatomy, artificial intelligence in medicine, medical ethics, research, cardiology, and surgery.
Students also have the opportunity to explore WCM-Q’s cutting-edge Clinical Skills and Simulation Lab, where they interact with standardized patients and practice basic life support and first aid techniques through diverse case scenarios. A key feature of the program is the cardiology workshop, where students learn to recognize heart sounds and get acquainted with "Harvey," a cardiopulmonary simulation manikin that replicates a range of heart and respiratory conditions.
The programs wrapped up with a ceremony where all participants were awarded certificates of completion. The event also honored the recipients of the JO Achievement Award, Excellence Award, and Best Presentation Award. The JO Award, named in honor of Dr. Jehan Al Rayahi and Dr. Osama Al Saied—graduates from the Class of 2008 who founded the first Summer Explorer Program—recognizes students who demonstrated the most significant improvement during the program.
Noha Saleh, director of pre-medical administration, student outreach, and educational development, said, “We are thrilled to see how these summer programs have gained popularity since WCM-Q began offering them in 2008. It’s wonderful to see the students eager to learn new things, especially in the sciences, and we are proud to showcase potential career paths in various medical specialties, research, and education that these students can choose from”.
Dr. Rachid Bendriss, associate dean for foundation, student outreach, and educational development programs, said: “It has been incredible seeing pre-college students yearning to learn about new concepts. The programs have equipped them with knowledge and skills that will benefit them not just in school but in any environment they encounter”.
