Eighty-four students from local, regional, and international high schools participated in the event.
Doha, Qatar: 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 Programme (MMOP), a summer initiative organised by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).
In its second edition, the week-long virtual event brought together 84 students from 50 local, regional, and international high schools.
The event is one of WCM-Q’s Summer Enrichment Programs, tailored to familiarise pre-college students with the field of medicine and science through interactive sessions conducted by WCM-Q faculty and staff. Offered by WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach and Educational Development, the program provides a comprehensive overview of the 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.
The participants were students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 in the 2026-2027 academic year, and came from various schools across Qatar, while international students joined the sessions from 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 took part in a variety of live online sessions and self-paced modules covering medical humanities, surgery, anatomy, biology, physics, and careers in medicine. The students received guidance on research skills essential for academic success, building a professional identity in medicine, and the WCM-Q application and admissions process. They were also introduced to Canvas, a learning management system used in educational institutions.
The closing ceremony was held both virtually and in person, providing students in Qatar with the opportunity to visit WCM-Q. All the students were awarded a certificate of completion.
Student participant Hans Park of Daegu International School in South Korea, who is heading to grade 11, said, “The MMOP was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to connect with other students who share my vision of making the world a better place. It was single-handedly the most enjoyable part of my summer break, pushing me academically while providing an incredibly motivating environment where we all challenged ourselves together.”
Participant Ali Al Lawati, a grade 12 student at Azzan Bin Qais International School, Oman, said, “This program was one of the experiences that truly opened my mind. Beyond learning valuable medical skills, I had the privilege of interacting with renowned doctors from around the world and hearing stories that positively shaped my perspective on medicine at a top institute. As the saying goes, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,’ and I am confident to say that this program was my tremendous first step.”
Director of premedical administration, student outreach, and educational development, Noha Saleh said, “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.”
