WCM-Q Foundation Students Inspired by Career Seminar Series

Foundation Program students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) had a chance to hear from qualified physicians, a WCM-Q alumna and current medical students about the training and career paths open to them in a series of inspiring and informative seminars.

The Career Seminar Series is run each semester at WCM-Q to provide Foundation students with both inspiration and practical advice about the many opportunities offered by a career in medicine. The seminars, which were previously held at the college, have been moved online during the pandemic. 

In the first seminar of the new series, the Foundation students heard from a panel of current WCM-Q medical students comprised of fourth-year student Ramez Bodair, third-year Kawthar Al-Najar and first-year Tala Abu Samaan, all of whom are graduates of the Foundation Program. The guest speakers provided insights into the challenges of the curriculum, offered study tips, and fielded questions from the attendees. 

Dr. Rachid Bendriss, Associate Dean for Foundation, Student Outreach and Educational Development Programs, moderated the seminars. He said: “Deciding on a career in medicine can be slightly daunting, but our current medical students did a great job of showing just how rewarding it can be. Their positive attitudes, obvious passion for the art and science of medicine, and extremely useful practical advice provided great encouragement to our Foundation students.” 

The students then heard from Dr. Khaled Machaca, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Innovations, and Commercialization. He said: “The beauty of a career in medicine is that one can incorporate a wide range of interests and disciplines, so that it is possible to see patients in the clinic, conduct research at the bench, work in the academy as an educator and even pursue senior executive pathways. It is a fantastically varied, rewarding and inspiring profession.” 

The students also heard from WCM-Q alumna Dr. Sarah Salameh, who graduated in 2012 and is now Associate Consultant in Adult Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation. 

The Career Seminar Series forms an important part of the WCM-Q Foundation Program, a one-year course of study that provides a thorough grounding in English, the basic sciences and maths to prepare talented Qatari high school graduates for the rigors of the WCM-Q Six-Year Medical Program.