A record 41 students enter the WCMC Q medical program

Forty-one students participated in the ceremony, considered a traditional rite of passage where the new doctors-in-training first don the symbolic emblems of their new roles as doctors.

"When the students wear the white coat for the first time, they are actively committing themselves to the cause of excellent patient care and dedicated research. They are joining the ranks of doctors, who live by time-honored principles of the profession."

said Dr. Javaid Sheikh, interim dean of WCMC-Q.

Among this new class of medical students is Iqbal Assaad, 16, the youngest medical student in the college's history, who is sponsored by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned. Hailing from Lebanon, Assad entered WCMC-Q's Pre-medical Program from high school at the age of 12.

"After studying really hard for two years, it's just nice to know that your dream is coming true," Assad said.

The event took place in a lecture hall filled to capacity with faculty—including WCMC-Q faculty at Hamad Medical Corporation—staff, family, friends and guests gathering to witness the occasion.

A break in the talks marked the most poignant moment—the audience watched with rapt attention as Dr. Sheikh assisted each student in putting on a white coat, marking the passage into the medical community.

Each student received a stethoscope presented by a member of the faculty, and the ceremony ended with the Hippocratic Oath—a passage that further instilled upon the students their upcoming roles as doctors.

Since this year's ceremony took place during the holy month of Ramadan, it concluded with an Iftar dinner, where students, their families, faculty and deans of the college joined together to break the day's fast.

The evening's events were part of a three-day orientation for the new WCMC-Q medical students. Other orientation activities include introductory and social meetings to help the students get to know each other and the college community at large.