(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Four Qatari high school students will head off for a research experience in some of the world's top laboratories after winning a competition run by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q).
They competed in the annual Healing Hands essay contest that asks students to write an article about a given topic.
This year the theme was 'Coping with Disability' with the contestants having to write an 800-word essay on a particular condition and what could be done to improve the lives of those with that condition.
Over 30 entries were received and Wadha Abdulrahman Al Nabti, Shahad Abdula Al Sulaiti and Aliyaa Mohsin Haji (all from Qatar Academy) and Hend Nasser Al Naimi (Al Bayan Educational Complex for Girls) were chosen.
Wadha wrote about autism, Hend about blindness, Shahad chose epilepsy and Aliyaa's essay was on blindness.
Wadha said, "I want to be a doctor and this is key to fulfilling that. I hope to achieve this dream through Weill Cornell and this is just the start. My parents are doctors, my grandmother wanted to be a doctor and my sister is at WCMC-Q and will become a doctor.
"I hope through this opportunity I will understand more about medicine € I want a first-person view so I can understand what it's like to be a doctor."
Aliyaa's brothers have already won the competition.
She said, "I'm thinking of going into a medical career as I believe it will have a big impact on Qatar's development. I think working in laboratories with microscopes and understanding what causes illnesses we are focusing on will be the most interesting aspect of the trip."
Over summer, the four students, with one of their family members, will spend two weeks learning in research laboratories at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
Dr Javaid Sheikh, Dean, WCMC-Q, said the competition is an opportunity to inspire young people to consider a career in science and medicine.
"This will be the experience of a lifetime for the winners. The opportunity to work in a professional research laboratory is one few people will be exposed to. Students will gain understanding about what the research process involves, the intellectual acuity required and time and effort put in by research staff. I think they will find it inspirational."
The students and family members will leave for New York in July.
Everyone who took part in the contest received a certificate of appreciation. The competition is in eighth year with essays judged by a team of faculty members.
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