“Hi everyone,

My name is Salama and I am a final-year medical student at the Islamic University of Gaza. Standing here today is not simply a personal achievement—it is a story of perseverance, faith, and survival. For the past three years, I have pursued my medical education under the harsh reality of war in Gaza—through displacement, destruction, loss, and continuous uncertainty. In the midst of these circumstances, I held firmly to one belief: that medicine is not only a profession, but a mission of humanity, compassion, and hope.

Throughout the war, I volunteered in the Emergency and Trauma Department at Nasser Hospital, where I stood beside wounded patients, witnessed unimaginable pain, and learned the true meaning of resilience and sacrifice. Those moments shaped me not only as a future doctor, but as a human being. Saving lives, even in the smallest ways, became my greatest purpose. I also had the opportunity to serve as a coordinator for medical missions from Rahma Worldwide Organization at the European Hospital before it was lost during this war. In addition, I trained many students and volunteers in Basic Life Support (BLS) and first aid because I believe that knowledge shared is another way of protecting life. Like many families in Gaza, mine paid a heavy price. I lost my eldest brother, my sister, my nephew, my aunt, several cousins, many dear friends, and even my family home. Yet despite all this pain, I never allowed myself to stop. On the very day I buried my eldest brother, I sat for my final examination in Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery. Not because it was easy, but because I believed that continuing forward was itself an act of strength – and perhaps, a form of resistance.

Today, receiving The 2026 Jania Geoghegan Global Scholar of the Year GOLD Award is not only an honor for me; it is a symbol of hope. It reminds me that even in the darkest moments, light can still find its way to us.

I am deeply grateful for your continuous support throughout my journey in medical school. Your belief in me gave me strength when circumstances tried to take it away. Your support was not only financial or academic -it was human, moral, and life-changing. I accept this award with pride, humility, and responsibility. I accept it for my family, for my mentors, for every patient whose pain taught me compassion, and for every student in Gaza who continues to chase knowledge despite the impossible. Most importantly, I accept it for Gaza—for a place that taught me that even under ruins, hope can still grow.