The Hanoon Foundation has supported Al-Quds University Medical School in strengthening anatomy teaching through the use of modern, technology-based learning tools.
The Medical School was the first locally to introduce Anatomage tables, funded through earlier fundraising efforts by the Foundation (formerly FQMS). These tools have allowed students to explore anatomical structures in three dimensions and have been integrated into anatomy teaching over recent years.
With increasing student numbers, additional teaching resources were needed. Support from The Hanoon Foundation enabled the purchase of anatomy software and laptops, allowing teaching to take place in small groups and across different teaching spaces, rather than being limited to a single anatomy laboratory.
Feedback from students has been positive, particularly in terms of accessibility and ease of understanding of anatomy concepts. The Medical School hopes to expand the use of this technology further as additional funding becomes available.
These resources now benefit approximately 1,200 medical students across Years 1–3 studying anatomy and embryology as part of their pre-clinical curriculum.
This initiative was supported through the generous contribution of the Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust together with The Hanoon Foundation.
“The feedback received from our students was favourable and of great benefit in making Anatomy concepts more palatable and user friendly.Many thanks for the generous and kind contribution of Hanoon Foundation to support this modern approach to Anatomy teaching and it is our hope that this will pave the way for other medical students to follow suit.”
The Hanoon Foundation supported An-Najah University in enhancing its VR Lab for medical education. This initiative has strengthened clinical teaching and learning for medical students helping them develop essential clinical skills through immersive, technology-driven training.
The VR laboratory now supports approximately 800–1,000 medical students annually, who use the headsets in structured teaching sessions to practise clinical scenarios and develop essential clinical skills.
This initiative was supported through the generous contribution of the Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust together with The Hanoon Foundation.
Check photos and videos below showcasing medical students using virtual reality as part of their learning and clinical training.
The Hanoon Foundation is pleased to support a valuable initiative led by the Palestinian Medical Forum—Student Branch, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at the IUG.
This project aimed to provide essential supplies—specifically lab coats—to support their academic and clinical training.
With our support, 200 medical students received lab coats, helping to reduce financial strain and ensuring they are equipped for practical learning. Students were selected based on academic performance and financial need to ensure the support reached those most in need.
We are grateful to the Forum for their coordination and proud to support the development of Gaza’s future healthcare professionals.
Testimonial:
“Recently, we have been preparing to start our new academic year, despite the challenging times we’re facing here in Gaza. It was incredibly uplifting when the Hanoon Organisation provided us with lab coats, ensuring that every medical student was well-equipped for the year ahead. This thoughtful gesture not only boosted our morale but also made us feel supported and valued as we continue our education in the midst of adversity. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and commitment to our futures.
As a 5th-year medical student at IUG, the war has deeply affected me, and my home was bombed, leaving me unable to take any of my medical equipment with me. Starting this new academic year amidst the ongoing siege and difficult circumstances has been incredibly challenging. However, I am truly grateful for the thoughtful initiative by the Hanoon Organisation. Their support in ensuring that every student has the necessary resources to continue their medical education has made a world of difference. This act of kindness has not only provided us with the tools we need but also renewed our hope and motivation to keep going despite the hardships.”
In 2022, FQMS provided financial assistance to IUG to purchase equipment necessary for teaching medical students. This became essential as the number of students increased to around 1,000, creating a need for additional lecture rooms both on campus and in hospitals. Furthermore, much of the existing equipment, such as laptops and LCD projectors, had become increasingly obsolete and required frequent maintenance. FQMS’s financial support enabled the purchase and use of the necessary equipment, helping to prevent issues that could adversely affect the quality of teaching.
Testimonials:
“I am a clinical teaching assistant at IUG, Gaza-Palestine. I just received a laptop from FQMS, which was graciously provided to aid me in my job. This contribution was evidently beneficial. I use it to make presentations, upload lectures for students, and handle files such as exams and scores for students. In the lecture hall, there are new screens with smart characteristics and dimensions. These screens enable me to offer educational videos to students directly via internet connection with clear picture and audio. This is rather than using the traditional and old LCD projector. Thank you so much for your wonderful support.”
Saed Owda, Clinical Teaching Assistant
“I have worked as a teaching fellow at the Faculty of Medicine since December 2021. I am grateful to the FQMS for this wonderful opportunity, as my knowledge, critical thinking, and personality skills have evolved. My experience at the IUG taught me that I could be a leader who demonstrates his passion for helping his community by taking action on that passion. My duties involved coordinating courses, bedside teaching, leading case discussions with my students, and assisting my professors with research. I also want to thank you for equipping our lecture rooms with the necessary equipment. This made our work easier. Thank you!”
Al Quds Medical School (AQU), established in 1994 as the first Palestinian medical school. It was deficient in cadavers for Anatomy teaching. This stems from cultural norms which prohibit cadaveric dissection.
Accordingly, AQU resorted to computer-assisted learning (CAL) in this topic and the use of diverse mannequins and models that match human anatomy topography. Procurement was not possible due to the prohibitive cost.
Luckily, and with the kind assistance of FQMS, we managed to buy the initial batch of Anatomy manikins which served our Anatomy instruction till 2013, when the yearly intake of the medical school was around 60 students.
In 2013, the policy of the university made it imperative to increase the number of new enrollees to 150 and thereafter by yearly increments of 40 until we reached an intake of 300 students in 2017.
This imposed a heavy burden on our Anatomy facility coupled with the fact that many of the original models became useless from wear and tear over the years.
This necessitated the Faculty to establish a new Anatomy lab to accommodate the increased number of students and to replace a lot of the old models acquired since 1994.
Again, FQMS has miraculously come to our assistance by approving the purchase of new Anatomy models to equip the new lab.
The list of Anatomy models covered all the body parts and musculoskeletal bone structure. Without this new facility, the medical school would have found it difficult to teach the practical component of Anatomy discipline and this would have jeopardised the delivery quality of our curriculum.
In addition, the medical faculty delivers Anatomy teaching to Dental, Pharmacy and Nursing students thus putting a great burden and intense need for a second Anatomy lab with the installation of newly purchased Anatomy items.
I have to register my sincere thanks and great appreciation for the assistance FQMS has provided and is still sustaining to AQU. Without this ironclad support, Al Quds Medical School’s mission would have been hampered immensely.
Hani Abdeen BM, FRCP (UK). FCCP Dean SoM Al-Quds University Abu Deis – Jerusalem East Palestine
Thanks to the Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust, we funded over £6,000 worth of clinical skills equipment for IUG medical school. This equipment is used by more than 600 students. The laboratories are in constant use and much of the equipment was out of date and dilapidated. This makes the new equipment all the more important.
Read about how the new equipment has benefited the students from Dr Anwar Alshaikhkhalil, Vice Dean of IUG Faculty of Medicine
“Simulation training offers the learner an opportunity to develop and enhance skills that are necessary for use in clinical practice. In the Faculty of Medicine of the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), students regularly train and learn in the clinical skills laboratory. More than 400 students from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 benefit from this opportunity on several occasions each year.
In 3rd year, students learn and practice basic nursing and medical skills such as intravenous cannulation, blood taking, blood pressure measurements or intramuscular injections.
Use of the skills lab in 4th year focuses on training in medical examination skills. As well as more advanced practices, such as urinary catheterisation, lumbar puncture or placing chest drains.
For 5th and 6th years, the skills laboratory is used for training in obstetrics and gynaecology and more advanced emergency, surgical and medical skills. Also advanced adult, paediatric and neonatal life support skills.
Another important aspect of the clinical skills laboratory is that it enables teamwork practice. Students can work together to achieve one common goal. Regular simulation teaching with clinical scenarios also takes place in the skills laboratory.
Finally, the skills laboratory is used for clinical exams for 3rd to 6th-year students. OSCE-style examinations are conducted within the clinical skills laboratory.
Many thanks to FQMS for funding the purchase of the needed equipment in the skill lab on behalf of IUG. These models will be used all year round for training the medical students and examining the students’ skills during the OSCE examination.”
Thanks to your support, FQMS has been able to donate a Harvey simulator to Al Quds University.
Harvey realistically simulates nearly any cardiac disease at the touch of a button. It can vary blood pressure, pulses, heart sounds and murmurs. This makes it a great tool for training medical students.
After many delays due to controls at customs in Israel, the Harvey simulator has finally arrived. Harvey allows students to learn how to assess cardiac disease at the touch of a button, as if they are by the bedside.
