Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of Weill Medical College in New York, being interviewed by NY1 TV.
Officials and dignitaries from Qatar joined officials from Cornell University and faculty and staff from Weill Cornell on April 9 for a day of festivities to celebrate the establishment of the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.
The day began with a breakfast reception in the Griffis Faculty Club at which Cornell University President Hunter Rawlings and Weill Medical College Dean Dr. Antonio Gotto introduced to faculty and staff Her Highness Sheikha Mouza bint Nasser Al-Misnad, chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and wife of Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
From left: Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Sue Kelly (R-NY) with Sanford Weill, chairman of the Weill Medical College Board of Overseers; Harold Tanner, chairman of Cornell University's Board of Trustees; and Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of Weill Medical College.
Following the reception, Mr. Rawlings joined Her Highness Sheikha Mouza in signing commemorative proclamations marking the establishment of the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Also attending were Congresswomen Sue Kelly (R-NY) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who had previously visited Qatar as observers of the first elections there in which women were able to vote and run for office.
The signing ceremony was followed by a press conference attended by many members of the local, national and international press corps. Establishment of the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was featured in a front-page article in The New York Times (April 9) and received major news coverage worldwide.
The signing ceremony and press conference were also simulcast for viewing by Weill Cornell faculty and staff in Uris Auditorium.
Dr. Hajar Hajar, minister of public health for Qatar and chairman of the Hamad Medical Corporation, received his medical education in the U.S. He noted that Qatar chose an American medical school because the U.S. has the best medical education system in the world.
Abdulredha Abdulrehman (left), managing director of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, with Cornell University President Hunter Rawlings.
Cornell University to Establish Medical School in Qatar - Read the Press Release.
Proclamation - See the signed proclamation between Cornell University and the Qatar Foundation to establish the new Medical College.
Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar - Visit the New WCMC-Q Web Site. --------
