Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) welcomed a medical student from Ain Shams University in Cairo through the Global Educational Exchange in Medicine and the Health Professions (GEMx) programme.
Mohamed Wafa Khoudeir, originally from Syria, is in his sixth and final year of the medical programme at Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine. Through GEMx, he spent four weeks at WCM-Q taking an elective course in population health and primary care perspectives.
GEMx, a programme of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), based in Philadelphia, USA, provides a platform to help match students seeking an international experience with host universities all over the world. Students can use the system to apply for electives, safe in the knowledge that the host school has signed up to the ECFMG charter, which guarantees established standards of student support and pre-agreed learning outcomes. Since 2014, WCM-Q has hosted students from Nepal, Mexico and Malaysia.
According to 24-year old Wafa, to come to WCM-Q is amazing for any medical student because the facilities and teaching are among the best in the world. He said that the US medical system is very advanced in terms of evidence-based care, and Doha is very diverse.
I have been able to develop my ability to work and communicate with colleagues and patients from many different cultures.’
During his time at the college, Wafa had the opportunity to work through patient case studies with Dr Sumeja Zahirovic, who specialises in internal medicine and rheumatology. He also observed an objective structured clinical examination – known as an OSCE – conducted by Dr Mohamad Verjee at the state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Lab of WCM-Q.
Wafa also worked in three different clinics under Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation (clinical affiliates of WMC-Q), engaged with the school’s Center for Cultural Competence in Healthcare team, and worked on a research paper regarding the effect of war on the mental health of Syrian child refugees.
Dr Sohaila Cheema, Director of the Institute for Population Health, said that it has been wonderful having Wafa.
He has brought huge amounts of energy and enthusiasm to every aspect of the experience and he has helped both students and faculty at WCM-Q broaden their understanding of global healthcare.’
Wafa said he spent four weeks in Qatar working with absolutely amazing doctors and being made very welcome by fellow students.
For more information about WCM-Q, visit their website at qatar-weill.cornell.edu.