On Thursday, August 31st, the College of Pharmacy welcomed its newest cohort of Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development (MDD) students with a comprehensive orientation session. Held at the GMU Campus, the event was designed to provide valuable insights and resources to kickstart the academic journey of these aspiring pharmaceutical scientists.
During the orientation, students had the privilege of receiving guidance from esteemed faculty members and current senior MDD students. The session began with an inspiring address by Prof. Sherief Khalifa, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Vice-Chancellor for Quality and Institutional Effectiveness, followed by a session that outlined the program’s study plan and essential policies given by the program director, Dr. Ahmed Thabet. Dr. Samiullah introduced students to the Learning Management System (Moodle) and the E-library Portal. Furthermore, Dr. Muhamed Abdullatif, Director of The Students Happiness Center, shed light on the diverse support services and opportunities available to students.
Ayesha Rifath and Marium Ansari, Year-2 MDD students, shared their invaluable experiences, providing new students with a glimpse into the exciting journey ahead and tips on surviving in the first year in the program. The event concluded with a coffee break for students to interact with faculty members, followed by a campus tour to explore various facilities.
This orientation session not only equipped the MDD students with essential information but also fostered a sense of community and belonging within the College of Pharmacy, setting the stage for a promising academic journey filled with knowledge, discovery, and growth.