Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar transitioned to remote learning and work on Monday due to ongoing military actions in the region, according to a Cornell spokesperson.
The decision follows the shelter-in-place directive issued by the U.S. Embassy in Qatar on Sunday. In the directive, the embassy recommended all Americans in Qatar to follow the directive “as the Iranian government and its proxies may seek to target Americans in retaliation for U.S. strikes against Iran.”
Qatar saw dozens of explosions over the past week. According to a report released by its Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, 101 ballistic missiles and 39 drones were detected flying towards its airspace since Saturday. The nation’s airspace is currently closed due to ongoing attacks and threats to Hamad International Airport, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a Cornell spokesperson, Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar campus facilities will be closed “until it is deemed safe to open.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation and following guidance from the State Department and the Government of Qatar,” the spokesperson stated. “Cornell is providing support services for U.S.-based students from affected regions. We are also maintaining communication with members of our community traveling on university business in the Middle East.”
The spokesperson did not specify what support services Cornell is providing.
The school, a joint venture between the Qatar Foundation and Cornell, opened its doors in 2001 and currently comprises 348 students, offering both six-year and four-year medical school programs. It has 89 faculty members, who teach and provide medical care at various Qatar healthcare facilities, and 31 active research laboratories.
A Tuesday statement released by President Michael Kotlikoff and Robert Harrington, Stephen and Suzanne Weiss dean for Weill Cornell, stated that the two have been communicating with Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar Dean Javaid Sheikh and “will continue to provide support to his administration as needed.”
Along with Weill Cornell, multiple U.S. higher education institutions operate campuses in Qatar, including Georgetown, Northwestern, Virginia Commonwealth, Texas A&M and Carnegie Mellon. All five are conducting campus operations and classes remotely until at least the end of this week.
Kotlikoff and Harrington’s statement stated that the “well-being of every member” of the University remains a priority.
“To our students and colleagues in Qatar, and those with friends and relatives across the region, know that you are in our hearts and thoughts during this challenging time,” Kotlikoff and Harrington wrote.
Shubha Gautam is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior writer for the News department and can be reached at sgautam@cornellsun.com.
