Sidra Medical and Research Center, a leading hospital, research and education institution, honoured 32 students for their record of academic excellence.

The inaugural Sidra Excellence Awards Ceremony for the next generation of healthcare professionals, who are part of Sidra’s Scholarship Program, took place at the Four Season Hotel in Doha.

The president of Qatar Foundation, Dr Mohammad Fathy Saoud attended the ceremony with over 250 other guests.

During the evening, hosted by Haitham Abou Saleh, a journalist from Al Jazeera Arabic, students were presented with certificates and academic bonuses in recognition of their academic achievements.

They were given the opportunity to share their experiences, meet the Sidra team, as well as showcase the success and future potential of the Program.

Sidra’s CEO Dr William F Owen Jr said, “The recognition and celebration of academic achievement by our young talent is an important activity. Sidra is a healthcare delivery organization comprised of the best, the brightest, and the nicest.

“To us, these scholars are the embodiment of what Sidra represents. They are the greatest future resource in Qatar, and we are proud and honored to support the development of these wonderful future leaders.”

This year, nine students graduated from the Scholarship Program and joined Sidra’s JANA trainee program, with two medical graduates sent for residency in the US.

The majority of the students in the Program are in medical roles, with another large portion studying allied health and business management professions. Both Nationals and long-term resident non-Qataris can apply for the scholarships.

“The Sidra Program has been oversubscribed for two consecutive years now, encouraging competition and passion from the students to be the very best they can be,” said Sidra’s Head of Scholarship Office Noora Al Fadala.

“Congratulations to those who have graduated, and to all our students who are setting an excellent example of the standards we can expect from healthcare in Qatar for the future.”

The Sidra Scholarship Program is founded on the idea that education is the key to building a highly-skilled workforce in Qatar. Established in 2009, the Program helps prepare those interested in a career at Sidra, equipping them with the necessary skills and experiences.

Scholarships are offered for bachelor and post-bachelor degrees, PhDs, residencies, fellowships, and research programs are also available for a variety of specific academic disciplines.

Sidra welcomes its next class of applicants starting April 1. – TradeArabia News Service