Neuroscience Education in the Medical College: The Qatar Experience (P6.041)

OBJECTIVE:To introduce a Neuroscience curriculum with in a Middle East medical college capable of preparing its students for US and foreign Clinical Neuroscience residency training programs. BACKGROUND:In 2008 Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) graduated 15 physicians. This was the first time medical students studying outside of the United States had received a US medical degree. The curriculum consists of 2 years of pre-medical education followed by a 4-year medical program that mirrors the one in New York (WCMC) in content, sequence of lectures, and other teaching activities. Instruction is carried out by on-site WCMC-Q faculty, visiting faculty from the WCMC mother campus, and video streaming using state-of-the-art teleconferencing technology. DESIGN/METHODS:The Neuroscience curriculum in the preclinical years draws faculty from Neurology, Neuroscience, Neuroanatomy, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Psychiatry, and Radiology. The teaching modalities emphasize active student participation. Important features include problem-based analysis of classical neurological and psychiatric disorders, and the opportunity to examine both standardized and individual patients in clinical settings. Information is provided in the form of lectures, patient presentations and small-group tutorials, as well as laboratory sessions on neuroanatomy, gross anatomy of the head and neck, and neuropathology. Journal club sessions that review papers from the current Neuroscience literature, foster an understanding of contemporary research ideas and techniques. In conjunction with our clinical teaching facility in Qatar, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), clinical training have two clerkships are required in neurology (4 weeks) and psychiatry (6 weeks) during the third and fourth years of medical school. Here students practice the rudiments of the neuropsychiatric evaluation of patients. WCMC-Q provides trained medical interpreters for students to elicit neurologic histories as accurately as possible. CONCLUSIONS:At WCMC-Q, we believe it is possible to conduct a continuum of neuroscience education necessary to prepare international medical students for their graduation to US and foreign residency training programs. Support:Sponsorship from Qatar Foundation with clinical support of Hamad Medical Corporation and staff. Disclosure: Dr. Streletz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haddad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kronfol has nothing to disclose. Dr. Safdieh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Uthman has nothing to disclose.