WCM-Q’s latest Careers Seminar Series held recently.
Doha: Experienced healthcare professionals shared their insights into the many paths open to Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s foundation program students in the latest Careers Seminar Series.
Taking place entirely online for the first time this semester, the seminar series featured presentations by eight qualified physicians who explained how they developed their careers after graduating from medical school.
Each seminar was followed by an informal Q&A session, giving the students an opportunity to delve deeper into the career progression of each speaker while also helping them begin to think about their own plans for the future.
The Fall series began in August with a talk by WCM-Q’s Associate Professor of Family Medicine in Clinical Medicine/Assistant Dean for Medical Student Affairs, Dr. Mohamud Verjee and concluded in mid-November with a presentation by Dean of WCM-Q, Dr. Javaid Sheikh.
Dr. Sheikh said, “Choosing a career path can seem like a daunting prospect, but I believe it should be approached as an inspiring and exciting journey. As you progress through medical school, take note of which parts of the curriculum fire your imagination and pursue them. Be open-minded and allow yourself to follow a path that brings you satisfaction and joy and you will find your calling.”
Dr. Sheikh explained that his interest in psychiatry had developed into a passion for understanding the psychology of health advocacy, education and leadership, which in turn led him to pursue a career as a healthcare executive while simultaneously remaining active in research.
The students also heard from Dr. Nora Al Jefairi of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the first native Qatari female cardiologist and electrophysiologist. She explained how she won a scholarship to study medicine in
Bahrain and subsequently was sponsored by HMC to study General Cardiology at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland.
This semester’s series featured five WCM-Q alumni as speakers: ophthalmologist and fellow in corneal and refractive surgery at HMC, Dr. Nour Barakat; internal medicine specialist/general medicine fellow at HMC, Dr.
Shaikha Al Shokri; attending OB-GYN at HMC, Dr. Bothaina Al Mulla; internal medicine resident at HMC, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Abdulmalik; and psychiatry resident at HMC, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Thani.
Of those, Dr. Al Abdulmalik, Dr. Al Shokri and Dr. Al Thani completed the Foundation Program at WCM-Q, which was established in 2007 to provide a bridge from high school to medical school for talented Qatari nationals.
The program, which lasts for one academic year, provides intensive tuition in math, the basic sciences and English to prepare students for the rigors of the WCM-Q Six-Year Medical Program.
