Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Since it started academic operations in 2002, the college has created 112 new doctors, established a world-class biomedical team and contributed to further Qatar’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy, a statement from WCMC-Q said.

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, said: “A decade ago, we welcomed Weill Cornell to Qatar, to be part of our vision for an innovative, healthy future for the people of Qatar and the region. Today the college is successfully delivering on its commitment to produce world-class doctors and to become a centre of excellence in education, research and clinical training.”

The college was established with the aim of acting as a beacon of academic excellence in the region. WCMC-Q remains the only college to offer a United States MD degree outside of that country, the statement said. It has been able to do this by applying the same rigorous admissions standards and curriculum as its parent campus in New York.

The college has entered into partnerships with Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medical and Research Center and Aspetar sports and orthopedic hospital. These relationships ensure that students gain practical experience of treating patients but also encourage them to remain in institutions in Qatar, ensuring the knowledge they have remains in the country.

WCMC-Q also has a strong research programme comprising 28 active research laboratories that target multiple areas of biomedical research. This provides significant breadth to tackle complex diseases such as diabetes, obesity and related cardiovascular illnesses. The research division successfully bids for millions of dollars of funding annually and is already producing cutting-edge results with work published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr Javaid I Sheikh, Dean of WCMC-Q, said: “The establishment of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was always going to be a challenge, but everyone involved in this great adventure has risen to that challenge and surpassed all expectations.”

“The progress that has been made in the last 10 years is quite astounding. A decade ago we did not even have a building to call our own and now we are here having graduated 112 doctors and with a fully-fledged research program.”

“The goal for Qatar to become a knowledge-based economy rather than being based on hydrocarbons was always ambitious. However, I believe the country’s leaders have been justified in that ambition and that Weill Cornell is helping to lead the way towards a new future.”

Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, PhD, president of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and vice president of education, Qatar Foundation, said: "During the past 10 years Weill Cornell Medical College has played an important role in the establishment of medical education in Qatar through its collaboration with a number of local organisations. As we move into the second decade of our partnership, it will continue to support us in strengthening our research activities and attracting increased numbers of Qataris into the medical profession."

When students were first admitted to WCMC-Q in 2002, they were taught in a section of Qatar Academy’s building. In 2003 the new state-of-the-art college was officially opened. With its laboratories, lecture halls, clinical skills area and classrooms, it provided world-class academic facilities for the faculty and the doctors of the future.

Dr Fathy Saoud, president of Qatar Foundation, said: “The signing of the partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation was significant for two reasons. Firstly it demonstrated the faith that an Ivy League university had in Qatar Foundation and this encouraged others to follow Cornell’s lead. Secondly a medical degree was considered a joint top priority for Qatar Foundation along with engineering.” – TradeArabia News Service