Most students chasing a healthcare career assume the best training carries the steepest price tag. Joebert Abenes Buenaventura bet the other way. The graduating BS Medical Laboratory Science student at Gulf Medical University in Ajman picked his school partly because his family could afford it — and in February, that choice helped carry GMU to its first championship at LabQ, the inter-university quiz competition staged at WHX Labs Dubai 2026.
“I believe that receiving a quality education does not always require attending the most expensive institution,” he shares with TGFM. Top of his class since 2022, he has spent four years backing up that claim.
Why the lab
Buenaventura was drawn to biology and chemistry early, but what held him was the role the laboratory plays behind every diagnosis. “I have always been interested in science, particularly how laboratory testing helps doctors diagnose and treat patients,” he says. The work appealed to him because it sits at the point where scientific knowledge turns into something a physician can act on.
Gulf Medical University fit both his ambition and his circumstances. The program offered the academic training and lab experience he wanted without straining his family’s finances. “By choosing a more affordable option, I can focus on my studies and professional development without placing a significant financial burden on my family,” he says.
Four days under pressure
LabQ, now in its third edition, pulled together teams from across the region: Higher Colleges of Technology, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Liwa University, Qatar University, and the University of Sharjah, with GMU among them. Students were tested on pathology and laboratory medicine by a jury of health-industry figures, and the format left little room to think slowly.
“One of the biggest challenges my team faced was managing the pressure of answering complex questions within limited time,” Buenaventura says. The competition forced quick decisions and tight coordination — figuring out, in the moment, who on the team knew what. They got through it by leaning on each other. “We overcame these challenges by communicating effectively, trusting one another’s knowledge, and staying focused throughout the competition.”
When GMU was named champion, the result landed harder because of who they had beaten. “Winning as champions was an incredible and humbling experience,” he says. “Knowing that we were competing against talented students from schools across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia made the achievement even more meaningful.” For a first-time win, it doubled as proof that his school belonged on that stage.
The people who moved cities for it
Behind the standing and the trophy is a family that rearranged its life around his education. His parents work in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the household moved to Ajman to put him closer to campus — a logistical sacrifice that meant a longer reach for the people footing the bill.
“Whenever I faced academic pressure or self-doubt, they reminded me why I started and encouraged me to keep going,” he says. He doesn’t frame his record as a solo achievement. “I consider my achievements not only my own but also a reflection of their support, encouragement, and sacrifices.”
That sense of accountability — to them, and to the goal — is what he credits for keeping his grades where they are. “Each achievement reminds me that hard work and consistency bring me closer to my goals.”
What comes after the diploma
Graduation, for Buenaventura, is a starting line. He wants hands-on work in a clinical laboratory first, contributing to diagnosis and patient care through reliable testing, before specializing. Microbiology, hematology, molecular diagnostics, and clinical chemistry are all on the table, and he plans to keep adding certifications as the field shifts under him.
The longer arc points past the bench. “Ultimately, I hope my career allows me to make a meaningful contribution to healthcare, improve patient outcomes, and take on leadership roles where I can mentor future laboratory professionals and help advance the field.”
It’s an ambitious finish line for someone who started by choosing the practical option. But Buenaventura has spent four years showing that the two were never in conflict.
