Doha – February 5, 2023: Twelve first-year medical students from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) spent more than a week at the University of Jordan’s School of Medicine as part of the International Exchange Program (IEP).

During the eight-day trip, which was coordinated by the WCM-Q Division of Student Affairs, the students had the chance to explore another country’s medical curriculum, observe clinical encounters with students during clinical rotations, examine varying educational methods, including problem-based learning, and learn about various aspects of the country- and region-specific population health programs. 

As part of the program, the students also attended a medical camp in the Jordan Valley region, took part in a shadowing program with fourth-year medical students at Jordan University Hospital, and visited Amman’s Dar Al Ihsan orphanage.

Participating students included Aimen Javed, Azwa Dilawar, Haya Ali Al-Kuwari, Jawaher Ahmad Alemadi, Kareem Fanous, Leena Attyani, Lina Ahmed, Maryam Arabi, Shaunak Sarker, Sumaya Omar Hussein Ali, Yazan Emad Kaddorah, and Yousef Al-Najjar. The students were accompanied by Dr. Mahrukh Syeda Rizvi, assistant professor of medicine at WCM-Q, and Mr. Amjad Abdo, events & student development specialist at WCM-Q.
 
Dr. Sean Holroyd, associate dean for student affairs at WCM-Q, said: “Our International Exchange Program is part of our commitment to offer students an all-round and enriching educational journey. By providing students with the opportunity to experience some of the different approaches to medical education practiced in countries around the world, we are facilitating the sharing of knowledge and the development of a broader perspective on the medical curriculum and its many unique cultural influences.” 

During the visit, the students toured the School of Medicine and the University of Jordan facilities, including the clinical training office, scientific research office, labs, the Cell Therapy Centre (CTC), the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Genetics (NCDEG), museums, and the library. In addition, the students had the opportunity to visit some of Jordan’s most important historical and tourist sites, such as Petra and the Dead Sea.

Ms. Faten Shunnar, director of student affairs, said: “We are extremely proud that our International Exchange Program is now in its ninth year. This is a testament to the positive educational outcomes our students have experienced through the program. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with medical schools in the region for many years to come.” 

Commenting on her experience, one of the participating students, Haya Ali Al-Kuwari, said: “Our trip to Jordan was educational and community service-oriented. We spent a week with medical students from the University of Jordan, visiting college facilities, hospitals, and a health center in one of the villages. It was an eye-opening experience to provide medical care in a small village where most patients were refugees. Through this experience, we better understood the fundamentals of physicianship and were exposed to the various hardships facing healthcare professionals in such areas of the world.” 

The IEP was established in 2015 to provide first-year medical students at WCM-Q with the opportunity to learn about the education and curricula, population health, and clinical programs of different medical schools in the region. The program consists of an annual visit from a delegation of 10 regional medical schools to WCM-Q and a return visit by a WCM-Q student delegation to one of the visiting medical schools.