BENEFACTOR REPORT
Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisia Medical Education Fund
George Q. Daley, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Caroline Shields Walker Professor of Medicine
July 2026
George Q. Daley, MD, PhD
Dear Hazem,
Sincerely,
I’m writing to share updates on the Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisia Medical Education Fund and to express our profound gratitude for your acceptance of the expanded proposal. Your continued and enhanced commitment to medical education in Tunisia is truly remarkable, and it reflects the meaningful impact this program has achieved over the past five years.
The HMX program continues to flourish across our four Tunisian partner institutions. As of this report, four cohorts have completed their full course sequence, with 880 total student enrollments to date. The consistently positive feedback from students affirms that your philanthropic vision is transforming medical education in your home country. We are particularly encouraged by the support from all four deans, whose commitment to this work mirrors your own dedication to advancing medical training in Tunisia.
Your continued support and decision to expand this partnership will enable us to deepen the impact of this program and create even more substantial improvements in medical education and health care outcomes across Tunisia. David Roberts and I remain grateful partners in this endeavor as we continue this important work.
I hope this letter finds you and your family well, and I look forward to our continued collaboration.
HMX and the Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisia Medical Education Fund
Harvard Medical School launched HMX in 2016 to bring medical science to life through real-world clinical applications and interactive learning. A team of educators and creative professionals design HMX courses using proven principles of learning science and biomedical visualization, enabling students to understand and master key scientific concepts through engaging lessons and rigorous assessments. HMX now serves a global community of medical students and professionals.
The Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisia Medical Education Fund has expanded access to HMX across Tunisia’s four leading medical schools.
Since September 2021, students at the four Tunisian medical schools have consecutively enrolled in the following HMX Fundamentals courses:
Physiology
Biochemistry
Immunology
Genetics
Pharmacology
The medical education fund supports five cohorts of students, each beginning their HMX course sequence in September. As of this report, four cohorts have finished their HMX courses, and the fifth and final cohort has completed two out of five courses. Students have provided positive feedback, and most earn a certificate at the end of their courses.
Course Enrollments
880
Total Student Enrollments
5
Years of Collaboration
4
Tunisian Medical Schools
Through 2025, HMX Fundamentals courses offered students two levels of certification based on performance or participation. HMX awards a Certificate of Achievement to students who earn an overall score of 80% or higher in a course, including a minimum score of 65% on the final exam. HMX awards a Certificate of Completion to students who complete all coursework but do not earn a Certificate of Achievement.
Beginning in January 2026, HMX courses offer only one type of certificate: the Certificate of Completion. The requirements to earn this certificate have not changed; learners must watch all videos, complete all assessments, and work through all other required course material.
Certificates
352 students
176 students
176 students
176 students
“I found the content on cancer treatment advances and opioid misuse awareness particularly valuable.”
“The clear explanations of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics made these challenging topics much more understandable, especially since we also study them in our national curriculum.”
“I especially appreciated the clinical linkage sections and the introductory case stories, which helped me understand how concepts apply in real practice.”
“I found the gout case the most engaging because it connected the symptoms to the underlying biochemistry in a way that was easy to follow. I liked seeing how the disease process actually works instead of just memorizing facts.”
“The appendix feature was an extremely helpful reference tool throughout the course.”
“The courses are strongest when they connect the science to real patient cases.”
Student Experience
The end-of-course survey in every HMX course provided the following information. Students reported significantly positive feedback across courses and groups, indicating that they overall found the courses beneficial. Representative comments are shown below.
Which topics in this course did you find the most applicable or engaging?
Celebrating Five Years of Collaboration: 2021-2026
In gratitude for the support of the Hazem Ben-Gacem Tunisia Medical Education Fund, we surveyed all five cohorts of learners to better understand the impact of the HMX Fundamentals courses on their studies, career goals, and general interests.
The results clearly demonstrate that HMX provided a high-impact enrichment opportunity for medical students in Tunisia. Students are not only satisfied; they recommend HMX to peers and report concrete gains in understanding, confidence, and clinical reasoning. Beyond individual impact, the courses inspire students to think about systemic challenges and opportunities. Many have developed interests in research, quality improvement, and innovation—often with the stated intention to improve the Tunisian health system.
Overall Observations
Academic and professional impacts are clear. Most students agree or strongly agree that the courses:
-
Positively impacted their academic studies and study habits
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Increased their excitement about science and medicine
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Helped refine their professional goals
Students describe concrete new ambitions including residency choices, research training abroad, plans for startups, or clinical research centers. Many students now seek more advanced topics, particularly AI in medicine, clinical research methods, digital health, immuno-oncology, global health systems, and neuroscience.
Significant Impacts
1. Deepened Understanding and Confidence in Core Sciences
2. Strong Motivation and Renewed Enthusiasm for Medicine
3. Role Modeling and Exposure to Different Ways of Practicing and Learning
4. Lasting Changes in Study Habits and Expanded Horizons
Students consistently describe moving from memorizing facts to truly understanding physiology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, and pharmacology—and applying them in real clinical thinking.
“The courses helped me refresh and consolidate concepts I had previously learned while also deepening my understanding of them… This approach enhanced my clinical reasoning skills by allowing me to integrate and manipulate different concepts.”
“They allowed me to understand basic concepts deeply and showed me how fundamental sciences apply in real life. This changed how I approach learning in all my courses.”
“As I am currently working as a medical intern… I feel more knowledgeable about medical topics and empowered to put my knowledge into practice.”
Many students described experiencing renewed energy and excitement about their future careers.
“These courses reignited my passion for medicine. I fell in love with it all over again.”
“The HMX courses expanded my understanding of medicine by introducing me to new medical technologies and the importance of patient-centered care.”
Students valued seeing Harvard faculty think through cases, communicate with patients, and connect foundational science to clinical care.
“The clinical components let me see these concepts in action… That really stuck with me. The way the same professors thought about the same problems in different lights… shaped a rough idea of who I want to become.”
“I liked the way the courses were delivered… I started implementing that in my studies (sectioning courses, generating MCQs or flashcards) and I feel like it helped a lot.”
The course structure—short videos, diagrams, clinical stories, and quizzes—engages students and transforms their learning approaches. Some of the most powerful comments describe a shift in long-term vision, including interests in research, innovation, and health system improvement in Tunisia.
“They taught new ways of studying that are more fun… with diagrams, examples and videos; the quizzes after each course made it more efficient.”
“These courses gave me a glimpse into the future of medicine… cutting-edge techniques and clinical trials that don't exist in my country yet… This realization sparked something in me… I am seriously planning to pursue a master’s or PhD in research abroad with the ultimate goal of launching a startup and a center for clinical trials in my country.”
“It made me see that as young doctors, we have the power to drive change… I truly believe we can revolutionize our healthcare system.”