During their first official visit to WCMC-Q in November, leaders of the Cornell University Weill Medical College Alumni Association met with medical students to explain the breadth of purpose of the Association, and to extend a warm welcome to the young physicians-in-training ahead of their graduation in 2008 and 2009.
They discussed ways to bring the students more closely in touch with the work of the Association, including a proposal to change the by-laws of the Board so that each medical class at WCMC-Q would have a representative at Board meetings. The arrangement could be accommodated if meetings were conducted by videoconferencing.
President of the Alumni Association Dr. Kenneth Swan, '60, and vice president Dr. Gene Resnick, '74, were accompanied on the visit by their wives, Betsy and Susan, and by Larry Schafer, vice provost of development at Weill Cornell, and Adee Shepen, director of alumni relations and giving at the Medical College in New York.
Dr. Gene Resnick tries out the virtual microscope system, guided by associate professor of pathology Dr. Powers Peterson, while dean of WCMC-Q, Dr. Daniel Alonso, looks on.
During the three-day visit, they also met with faculty, toured the facilities, tried their hand at some of the high-tech learning tools, notably the virtual microscope system, and explored some of Qatar's attractions.
Interviewed following a luncheon with the medical students and faculty, Dr. Swan noted the importance of opening the channels of communication with the WCMC-Q community: "The sooner the medical students become aware of the importance of the Alumni Association, not only to them but also to their alma mater, the better. Hopefully, we can attract their interest in participating while they are still students."
Alumni Association a Trendsetter at Cornell
Drs. Swan and Resnick gave a presentation outlining the structure and work of the Association, which was formed in 1904—the first purely professional alumni association of Cornell University—"to support and promote the mission of the College and students, and to sustain the collegiality of the alumni."
With 5,000 alumni who are graduates of the Medical College, the Association has members who live and work in all parts of the United States and in many areas overseas. Extending the offer of membership to graduates of WCMC-Q would be a logical step.
Among the benefits that membership brings is access to the host program, which offers local contacts when a member goes for an interview or takes up a new post; regular class reunions; and the chance to exchange notes and advice with colleagues.
The Alumni Association also works hard to advise and support succeeding generations of medical students, and this could be a role of central importance for WCMC-Q's graduates, who will be the first "home-grown" physicians in the State of Qatar.
Part of this work is fundraising: $3.4 million was raised last year to assist students in New York through loans and scholarships. In addition, there are social events, a Family Day, where parents experience a day in the life of a medical student, advisory sessions on managing money, and a series of careers nights each year.
Advice and Encouragement to Medical Students
Dr. Resnick, who is president and CEO of a company specializing in translational research, as well as adjunct assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell, suggested that the careers nights could be recorded and sent to WCMC-Q.
Getting the full picture from experienced professionals is useful, he said: "The careers nights are a chance to interact with people who have had positive and negative experiences."
Dr. Swan, who is professor of surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, said that he was questioned by a female student at WCMC-Q about the challenges faced by women who combine a career in surgery with family commitments.
"I responded that 'Yes, it is challenging, no question about it,' but I also told her that half of our residents in surgery are women, and most women want to have children and they do, including during their residency. I tried to emphasize that you should never be restricted, or say 'I can't be a surgeon because I'm a woman.'"