Doha: High school students from Qatar and abroad aspiring to pursue careers in medicine were given a glimpse of the profession and campus life through the Medical Minds Online Program (MMOP), a summer initiative organized by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).
According to Qatar News Agency, the week-long virtual event, now in its second edition, brought together 84 students from 50 local, regional, and international high schools. As one of WCM-Q's Summer Enrichment Programs, it is designed to familiarize pre-college students with the field of medicine and science through interactive sessions conducted by WCM-Q faculty and staff.
The program offered by WCM-Q's office of student outreach and educational development provides a comprehensive overview of opportunities and challenges in the medical field. It targets students who have shown academic excellence in the sciences and mathematics, possess a good foundation in biological sciences and the English language, and have an interest in pursuing a career in medicine.
Participants included students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 in the 2026-2027 academic year, hailing from various schools across Qatar, with international students joining from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Morocco, Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan, South Korea, the UK, Canada, and the US.
Simulating the WCM-Q student learning experience, participants engaged in a variety of live online sessions and self-paced modules covering topics like medical humanities, surgery, anatomy, biology, physics, and careers in medicine.
Guidance was provided on research skills essential for academic success, building a professional identity in medicine, and the WCM-Q application and admissions process. Students were also introduced to Canvas, a learning management system used in educational institutions.
Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach, and educational development, stated: 'The MMOP demonstrates our commitment to inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. By providing the students with an authentic introduction to medical education at WCM-Q, we help them better understand the academic journey, the skills required, and the opportunities available in the medical field.'
Assistant professor of education in medicine, associate dean for foundation, student outreach Dr. Rachid Bendriss noted: 'Our goal was to give the students a practical preview of what it means to study medicine. We hope this experience empowers them to make informed decisions not only as they pursue their academic and career aspirations.'
The closing ceremony was held both virtually and in person, allowing students in Qatar the opportunity to visit WCM-Q. All the students were awarded a certificate of completion.