JOSEPH VARGHESE

DOHA INTEREST in medical studies is on the rise in Qatar as the number of people registering for the annual ‘Medicine Unlimited’ event has been increasing every year, said Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMCQ) Dr Javaid Sheikh on Saturday.

He was speaking at the fourth ‘Medicine Unlimited’ an annual event to showcase the facilities offered by the WCMCQ for students who want to pursue their higher studies in medicine.

Addressing hundreds of parents and students, Sheikh gave details of the programmes taught in the university as well as the WCMCQ’s partnership with various international organisations. He also gave a comprehensive picture of the students’ life in the university as well as details of the six-year programme of study that leads to the MD degree from the Cornell University in the USA.

“WCMCQ’s programme equips the students with a world-class education which can enable them to create a fulfilling and exhilarating career,” he said.

He disclosed that 269 students are currently pursuing programmes in the WCMCQ out of whom 109 are in the premedical studies and 160 are pursuing medical programme.

Speaking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the event, Sheikh said the number of students who registered for the event was high compared to the previous events.

He said, “The growing participation in the event every year is a clear indication of the quality of programmes offered by WCMCQ. Our students not only excel in their studies but engage in different research activities which make the programmes more exciting and engaging.

The research outputs are greatly contributing to the betterment of public health in the country and the region.” A number of booths were set up to explain various aspects of medicine to the visiting students and parents. The WCMCQ faculty and students interacted with the curious guests and explained to them the various aspects of medical studies.

Ahmed al Malki, a Qatari high school student, said, “I will graduate from secondary school next year and I am highly interested in medicine. If everything goes well, I wish to enroll in the WCMCQ once I am out of secondary school in 2013.

This event will help me to be more focused on my goal.” Another student, who is in 12th grade in one of the Indian schools, said one of his relatives is already studying in the university.

“My cousin is a source of inspiration for me. I have learned a lot from him about the university and would like to join the institution after my secondary school education. I know that it is highly competitive and I thought of having a first-hand experience of the programme by attending this event,” he said.