Life as a doctor: 33 high school students spend a week at WCM-Q

Published: 19 March 2025

NT Bureau

DOHA: Thirty-three high school students spent a week at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) discovering careers in medicine during the winter session of the Qatar Medical Explorer Program (QMEP).

QMEP, an immersive enrichment program offered by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach & Educational Development, provides a snapshot of life as a student at WCM-Q and detailed information about careers in medicine.

The program is open to grade 10 and 11 students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a particular aptitude for the sciences and mathematics.

During the weeklong program, the high school students took part in a carefully designed series of sessions designed to accurately reproduce the experiences of current WCM-Q students, with classes in biology, chemistry, anatomy, surgery, and research.

There was also a presentation on the life of a practicing physician by a member of the WCM-Q faculty, plus opportunities to meet admissions officers, and a mock admissions interview to help the students prepare for applying to college.

Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “We are very happy to provide this chance for students to explore WCM-Q and we are certain that a great many of this year’s cohort left feeling very inspired about pursuing a career in medicine.”

WCM-Q also runs QMEP sessions in the summer to provide more opportunities for students to explore careers in medicine. Entry to the program is based upon academic performance and nominations from high school counselors and teachers.