A JOURNEY OF FIRSTS

As the first batch of 16 students graduated from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar in 2008, only four Qatari students stood among them. Dr Yousuf was one of them. She soon went on to obtain the first residency position for a foreign student at the University of Michigan. She is today the first female physician of the Obstetricians and Gynecologists department at Sidra Medical and Research Center, Qatar.

“Shortly after completing high school, a few honours students were invited to a private meal by HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser. I still remember the feeling of pride sitting right next to her as she described her vision about the Education City. She specifically spoke about education and health and mentioned Weill Cornell Medical College.” This was the turning point for the young Yousuf who decided to dedicate her life to medicine.

At the University of Michigan Hospital she conducted extensive pelvic floor research and was selected for its residency programme. “In more than 50 years of its operations, I was the first foreign graduate and first Qatari national to be selected,” says Dr Yousuf. Despite her achievements she is reluctant to dwell on herself and more on the experience. “Though it was a tough residency programme, I think in terms of just fitting in, my peers were a big help,” says Dr Yousuf who was appointed as chief resident at the American hospital.

When one of her patients lost twin babies and went through an emotional roller

You could call Dr Aisha Ahmad Yousuf a super achiever. At 30, she has reached milestones that many would hope to emulate in a lifetime. Speaking exclusively to Qatar Today, she shares a hope of encouraging other young Qatari women in her field.