As many as 12 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 Programme (IEP).
During the eight-day trip, co-ordinated 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 programmes.
As part of the programme, the students also attended a medical camp in the Jordan Valley region, took part in a shadowing programme 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 Amjad Abdo, events and student development specialist at WCM-Q.
Dr Sean Holroyd, associate dean for student affairs at WCM-Q, said: “ By providing students with the opportunity to experience some of the different approaches to medical education practised 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, the National Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Genetics, 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.
