Doha – August 25, 2026: Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) cohort of first-year medical students received their first white coats and stethoscopes at a ceremony celebrating the start of the medical curriculum.
The White Coat Ceremony marked the culmination of a three-day orientation program, during which the students learned about the four-year medical curriculum, met with faculty and peers, and were fitted for their scrubs. This year’s intake of medical students numbers 55, of whom 22 are Qatari nationals.
The traditional White Coat Ceremony, officially known as the Opening Exercises Ceremony, is an important rite of passage for students as they make the transition from pre-medical studies to the medical curriculum. The ceremony, presided over by Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, featured a keynote speech by WCM-Q Class of 2018 alumnus Dr. Ahmed Al-Qahtani, now a cornea and external diseases specialist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
The students were presented with their stethoscopes by Dr
Thurayya Arayssi, vice dean for academic and curricular affairs and professor of clinical medicine at WCM-Q; Dr. Mai Mahmoud, associate professor of teaching in medicine and assistant dean for faculty affairs at WCM-Q; Dr. Abdelkareem Alhyari, program lead, clinical attachment and elective office at HMC; and Dr. Ali Hallal, assistant dean for clinical learning and associate professor of clinical surgery at WCM-Q.
WCM-Q also inducted 55 students to its pre-medical curriculum, of whom 15 are Qatari nationals. Additionally, WCM-Q inducted 26 high school graduates to its one-year Foundation Program, of whom 22 are Qatari nationals.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Al-Qahtani said: “You are entering a very exclusive club: one built on humility, discipline, and unwavering dedication. Never forget what a profound privilege that is. Titles may open doors, and achievements may earn recognition, but neither compares to the honor of being entrusted with another human being at their most vulnerable. That trust is sacred. Carry it with humility, protect it with integrity, and let it always remind you of why you chose this path.”
The ceremony was convened by Dr. Dietrich Büsselberg, associate dean for admissions and student affairs. He said: “All of the students beginning new programs have worked with great dedication and perseverance to reach this point. With these qualities, combined with their love for science, their instinct to heal, and their intellectual curiosity, we are certain they will one day become excellent physicians.”
The pre-medical and foundation students had a separate orientation program, which included a tour of WCM-Q’s state-of-the-art campus followed by sessions on time management, academic expectations and integrity, student health and wellness, plus a reading project and opportunities to get to know the faculty and fellow students. There was also a completion ceremony for returning Foundation Program students entering the pre-medical curriculum. Combined, the two-year pre-medical curriculum and four-year medical curriculum form the WCM-Q integrated Six-Year Medical Program, successful completion of which leads to the Cornell University MD degree.
The Foundation Program provides intensive instruction in the basic sciences, English and mathematics to prepare students for the rigors of the Six-Year Medical Program. The orientation programs, coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs, are designed to help students become familiar with the curriculum, facilities, people and processes of WCM-Q so they can quickly begin learning the material they need to master to thrive at the college
For the students beginning the two-year pre-medical curriculum, the orientation program concluded with the Ibn Sina pinning ceremony, named after one of the most influential scholars of the Islamic Golden Age. The Ibn Sina pins were presented by Dr. Marco Ameduri, senior associate dean for pre-medical education, and Dr. James Roach, associate dean for pre-medical education.
Dr. Sheikh said: “It is a great pleasure to mark this joyful occasion for those of our students who are opening exciting new chapters in their careers in medicine. All of us at WCM-Q look forward to helping these extremely talented and committed young people realize their wonderful potential. We have no doubt that they will all go on to make great contributions to the pursuit of excellence in medicine and patient care.”