So the 7th Scientific Conference for Medical Students in the GCC Countries (a.k.a. GCC7) came to an end. I personally believe and hopefully most attendees will agree with me, it was a great success.
Now I’m sure there were a lot, and let me say it again, A LOT of mistakes and miscommunication throughout the entire preparatory stage and the days of the conference, but I still do maintain that it all turned out well in the end.
Over 400 students from KAU Medical School with the help of their fellow students at UQU worked very hard for over a year in making this conference happen. I remember the first meeting back in Feb 2009. We had a lot of expectations and hopes for the conference and thankfully we managed to achieve most of them.
Nearly 1500 students from the GCC countries and a few places far beyond too attended the conference. 110 Oral and Poster research projects were presented. 94 workshops took place.
I came back from NYC one week before the conference and needless to say, didn’t sleep or rest till it was over.
I still have this bittersweet taste in my mouth. We shared a lot of laughs and some tears. We got upset and angry and yelled sometimes. We were proud and happy and gave plenty of hugs! Met a lot of wonderful people. Can we say that the future of our college is in safe hands? I guess only the future can tell.
On a personal note, I have decided that GCC7 was going to be the final student activity I participate in. After a long history of being involved in many volunteer and student activities throughout the years, I have decided that this was going to be the cherry on top of what I hope is a big and lasting cake! Now I need to turn my focus towards other things. I’ll be around of course to assist anyone who needs anything, just not in the lime light anymore. Good luck to all the new guys and girls taking over!
At the closing ceremony, being honored by Prof. Mahmoud Shaheen Al-Ahwal, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, and Dr. Abdullmonem Al- Hayani, VD for Basic Medical Sciences. (By Ziad Siyam)
At the opening ceremony, giving the scientific committee speech and an overview of the conference’s program. (By Asma’a Mohurji)
KAU Medical School Newsletter released a special edition for GCC7 that was distributed on the attendees at the closing ceremony documenting the conference and the activities that took place. It was distributed at the KAU Uni. Hospital too in the week afterwards.
The online version should be available on KAU’s website next week inshallah.
As usual, I apologize for not posting as regularly as I would like. Hence, I added the Twitter widget on the side bar in hopes that at least there would be some sort of an “update” whenever you visit this place!
Thank you and wish me luck!
