WCM-Q students publish e-book showcasing trip to Tanzania

Students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have published an interactive e-book recounting their experiences exploring Tanzania during a medical service-learning trip.

The e-book, which is published by Qatar National Library (QNL), features a wide selection of images, videos, and written accounts produced by students and faculty as they travelled through the country, providing free health checks for local people, visiting hospitals and community centers, and discovering the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the picturesque East African nation.

Dr. Dietrich Büsselberg, professor of physiology & biophysics and associate dean for admissions, who accompanied the students to Tanzania as a faculty mentor, said: “I am immensely proud of the way the students conducted themselves in Tanzania, and very happy that the experience was so profound for them that they were inspired to share their memories through this wonderful publication. We believe it is the first e-book published by WCM-Q students and has proved to be an excellent format for capturing the beauty of Tanzania.”

Ten students participated in the medical service-learning trip, which took place in July/August 2024. During the trip, they traveled to remote communities to set up field clinics, visited a local hospital and an orphanage, worked with resident healthcare professionals to provide health advice, and met representatives of the Maasai and Hadza tribes. Other highlights included trips to local waterfalls and hot springs, shopping at a local Maasai market, and safari trips, which enabled encounters with a rich diversity of wildlife, including lions, rhinos, leopards, buffalo, hippos, zebras, and giraffes.

The e-book features a selection of inspiring and informative video pieces, including ‘Exploring Ngorongoro, Arusha, and Tarangire National Parks’; ‘Health Care in Tanzania’; ‘Agriculture in Tanzania’; ‘Education in Tanzania’; and ‘Cultural Heritage’.

Student Huda Salameh said: “The Tanzania Service-Learning Trip was an unforgettable experience; it allowed me to immerse myself in a rich and inspiring culture while gaining invaluable lessons through the privilege of serving the community with medical care. I look forward to returning in the future to give back once again.”

The trip was organized by WCM-Q’s Division of Student Affairs, which sponsors several WCM-Q students to visit Tanzania each year to help them gain a new perspective of global health issues and contribute to health outreach programs. The authors of the book are Dr. Dietrich Büsselberg, Christine Gaskell, and Armando M. Raysang Jr., all of WCM-Q, and Benjamin Gaskell. Students who contributed were Huda Salameh, Zena Sinan, Jane Manyama, Ahmad Saeed, Muhammad Abdullah Chattha, Joytish Ramesh, Noor Rob, Reel Abubakerelsidig Elmasri Elfaki Yousif, Ubaida Alaani, and Michael Mina.