Read the Chairman’s, Khaled Dawas, update on our projects:
“We, at FQMS, are gearing up to the busy time in our calendar. The annual FQMS fundraising dinner is on Friday the 2nd March 2018 in central London. The dinner planning committee is led by Dr Ahmed Massoud this year and he already has his hands full.
Electives
This year many of the elective students from Palestine were unable to travel for various reasons. The UK visa requirements have become more stringent and none of the 6 students I expected in our surgery department at University College London Hospital made it. The situation for the Gaza students has been as difficult as ever, as the closure of the Gaza strip continues. The few students who managed to get out then had delays of many weeks trying to get home. This was also the case for the IUG Medical School Vice Dean, Dr Anwar Al Sheikh Khalil, after attending a conference FQMS supported him with.
Oxford doctors trip to Gaza
On a positive note our partners, the Oxford University Surgeons and Physicians were in Gaza in October on their annual teaching week. Not only do they deliver excellent teaching, they also give the students and faculty a much-needed show of moral support. A message that they are not forgotten.
Postgraduate trainees
Of our most recent postgraduate trainees, Dr Najib Salameh has embedded smoothly into the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College London and Dr Maha Akkawi is enjoying her training at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Madrinha Trust partnership
The partnership we have with the Madrinha Trust continues to blossom. We are very grateful to them for providing 4 new full scholarships to medical students from Al Azhar Medical School in Gaza. These very generous scholarships cover existing debt as well as future tuition fees. A further student has been sponsored fully by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. I have succeeded in convincing a key Madrinha trustee to join Dr Lina Nashef and I on our upcoming visit to the West Bank. Sui Chin McKeand will meet the deans at Al Quds and An Najah Medical Schools in Jerusalem and Nablus respectively, plus doctors financed by the Trust in the past.
Additional updates
The AGM this year was held in October at Dr Jeanne Frossard’s beautiful home in Maida Vale. On a final note, we are so delighted for our trustee Dr Rawya Charif who got married recently. Alf mabrook (a thousand congratulations) Rawya!
I look forward to seeing you in March.”
