WCM-Q wins bronze at 2026 MENASA Merit Awards

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has been named a bronze winner of the 2026 MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) Merit Awards in the Student Success category.

The MENASA Area of NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) was established to foster engagement and collaboration among student affairs professionals and to strengthen services to students and campuses through a range of resources and activities.

The MENASA Merit Awards highlight best practices and initiatives that are reshaping higher education across the region. They recognize the achievements of both institutions and individuals, promote the exchange of knowledge and effective practices among student affairs professionals, and celebrate outstanding contributions across the MENASA community.

The awards cover five categories critical to student success and the continued growth of the student affairs profession: Student Success, Collaborative Partnerships, Innovative Practices, Research, and Dedicated Professional (Commitment to the MENASA Area).

Titled “From Aspiration to Identity: Building Tomorrow’s Physicians Through Mentorships,” WCM-Q’s award-winning submission focused on its Alumni Student Mentorship Program, an innovative pre-medical division initiative designed to support the professional identity development of foundation and pre-medical students. It was established in 2024 by Dr. Rachid Bendriss, associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programs at WCM-Q, and is coordinated by Ms. Dina Bamieh, student programs specialist at WCM-Q.

The program connects new students with alumni mentors representing a wide range of specialties and experiences in Qatar and internationally. It provides early exposure to career pathways, fosters professionalism in medical education, and supports students in developing their professional identity.

After mentees are matched with alumni physicians, participants engage in a range of activities, including in-person and virtual meetings, visits to mentors’ practice sites, and shadowing opportunities in clinics and hospitals. WCM-Q mentees who complete at least three encounters and submit written reflections on their experiences receive a certificate at the end of the program.

Commenting on her experience, pre-med 1 student Noof AlMalik said: “The mentorship program has been a staple in my journey at WCM-Q ever since I started my foundation year in 2024. While I was somewhat hesitant to become a mentee early on, it became one of the most influential aspects of my educational journey.”

WCM-Q alumna Dr. Ghadeer Abdelwahab, a resident in emergency medicine at Hamad General Hospital, said: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible program and to mentor such talented students. The mentees have impressed me with their professionalism, initiative and eagerness to learn. Their dedication and enthusiasm for medicine have been both inspiring and a powerful reminder of why I chose this career.”

Since its inaugural graduation ceremony in 2008, WCM-Q has graduated 693 medical doctors, many of whom are in active practice in Qatar. These graduates have excelled across a wide range of specialties, contributing to research, clinical practice and education. The mentorship program reflects the commitment of WCM-Q alumni to serving the local community and upholding the highest standards of patient care as they guide and inspire the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Bendriss said: “We are truly honored to receive this recognition, which reflects our commitment to supporting students from the start of their academic journey and helping them build their professional identity and excel in higher education. I sincerely thank our dedicated alumni mentors, whose contributions have been central to the program’s success. We look forward to celebrating many more achievements in the future.”