at Harvard Medical School

Benefactor Report

December 2025

Dear Mr. Ben-Gacem,

I am pleased to share with you an update following the completion of my MMSCI at Harvard Medical School and my return to Tunisia. I am currently working as an associate professor in gynecology and obstetrics at the University of Sousse and Farhat Hached Teaching Hospital, where my work centers on clinical teaching, research development, and building international collaborations.

My main project at present is the creation of a scientific coalition linking the Harvard ecosystem with institutions in Tunisia. Through this coalition, I aim to promote shared research, capacity building, and innovation not only in medicine and drug development, but also across broader scientific fields. The goal is to strengthen academic bridges between both communities and to ensure that Tunisian researchers and clinicians can participate fully in global scientific conversations. I was recently elected an Advisory Board Member of the World Association for Sexual Health and appointed vice chair of its Research Committee—roles that will help me further amplify Tunisian perspectives in international discussions on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

My time at HMS deeply shaped my professional trajectory. The academic rigor sharpened my scientific thinking, but the impact extended far beyond coursework. Working in multidisciplinary teams taught me how major projects grow through clear communication, empathy, and steady leadership. I learned how to defend ideas, navigate diverse perspectives, and work effectively in fast-paced academic environments. The HMS network opened doors to mentors, collaborators, and peers who continue to influence my work. These relationships are as valuable as the degree itself and are now guiding the coalition I am building between Harvard and Tunisia.

Looking ahead, I hope to expand the Harvard–Tunisia coalition into a sustainable platform for joint research and innovation pipelines. I aim to strengthen capacity in areas such as non-communicable diseases, biostatistics, clinical trials, and digital health. Supporting young researchers is a particular priority for me: I want to establish mentorship opportunities in Tunisia that mirror the guidance and encouragement I received at HMS. In the short term, I am working towards launching my own research laboratory, focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

What marked me most during my time at HMS was the culture of curiosity, collaboration, and humility. Being surrounded by leaders in their fields pushed me to raise my own standards. Informal conversations—in labs, seminars, or even over coffee—often led to insights or new opportunities for collaboration. The emphasis on teamwork, constructive feedback, and clear communication taught me soft skills that shape my daily work in leadership and international partnerships. The dense academic environment in Boston created a powerful sense of possibility that continues to motivate me now that I am back in Tunisia.

I remain deeply grateful for the unique opportunity offered by the Ben-Gacem Fellowship and am fully committed to giving back to my community. Your support has been transformative, not only for my career but also for the networks and initiatives that are now emerging between Tunisia and Harvard.

With sincere thanks,

Ons Kaabia 

Dear Mr. Ben-Gacem,

I hope you are doing very well. I would like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude for the Hazem Ben-Gacem Fellowship, which has allowed me to experience an extraordinary and truly transformative year at Harvard Medical School.

Over the past year, the MMSCI program and my mentored research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have provided exceptional scientific training and exposure to cutting-edge work in cardiorenal medicine. I have been fortunate to be mentored and strongly supported by Dr. Scott Solomon and Dr. Jonathan Cunningham. Working on large global cardiovascular trials, I am learning in a rigorous and very concrete way how high-quality clinical research is designed, executed, and interpreted. I have also continued to observe clinics with my mentors, Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Martina McGrath, which has helped me remain closely connected to patients and to the practical realities behind the data.

Studying in the United States, and particularly at Harvard, has opened doors I could never have imagined. The academic environment, mentorship culture, access to multinational datasets, and opportunities for collaboration are truly exceptional. This setting has enabled me to pursue advanced training in clinical trials and AI-driven research and to contribute to projects with global relevance. These experiences are shaping the researcher and physician I aspire to become and will guide the work I carry forward in Tunisia.

This past year has also been highly productive in terms of academic achievements:

• My thesis is progressing very well, with two first-authored manuscripts already completed. The first has been submitted and is very close to acceptance in a high-impact journal; the second is expected to be submitted this month.
• I received the Best Research Project Poster Award during Harvard MMSCI Research Day, and the same work was selected for presentation at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2025, one of the world’s leading cardiovascular conferences. 
• I was invited as faculty to the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week, the largest nephrology conference globally. There, I delivered a platform talk on how artificial intelligence is improving clinical trials and participated as an expert panelist in the “Advances in Research” session.
• I contributed to additional research projects, including one recently published in a JACC journal, where I served as second author, and another collaborative project that I am co-leading with a junior colleague. 
• In parallel, I continued to be engaged with my work in Tunisia. I supervised a doctoral medical thesis applying AI to improve anemia management in resource-limited settings; my mentee defended her thesis in July and was nominated for the Best 2025 Medical Thesis Award. 
• I also completed “Le Grand Huit,” a mobile app and virtual reality platform designed to train nephrology residents in hemodialysis emergencies. This project, which I led with great pride, was recognized by our National College of Nephrology and officially launched during the national meeting in August 2025.

This year has not been without personal challenges: I faced a major health issue last December. With the support of my family, mentors, and the Harvard community, I was able to continue making academic and personal progress. This experience has strengthened my resilience and deepened my commitment to my patients and my work. 

My overarching goal is to continue producing high-impact research that improves patient care and advances the field of cardiorenal science. I hope to build strong, durable collaborations between the colleagues who have supported me here at Harvard and those at my home institutions in Tunisia. I am also aiming to contribute to global nephrology leadership. With the endorsement of my mentors, I applied to the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Emerging Leaders Program, which is designed to train and connect rising leaders in kidney health worldwide.

Ultimately, my ambition is to build sustainable collaborative pathways that enhance clinical care, education, and research in Tunisia, while making meaningful contributions to the international scientific community. Thank you again for supporting my training and believing in my potential. This fellowship has had a profound impact on my life and career. 

Warmest regards, 

Samarra Badrouchi

Dear Mr. Ben-Gacem,

I hope you are doing well. First, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support. Your scholarship has made this journey possible, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study at Harvard Medical School.

This past year in Boston has been truly life-changing. Beyond the academic excellence, what makes studying here so remarkable is the environment itself. Being surrounded by world-leading experts and brilliant minds constantly pushes you to think bigger and more deeply. The culture of curiosity, mentorship, and collaboration has been incredibly inspiring.

Thanks to this opportunity, I have not only learned to navigate the American academic and cultural environment, but I have also made significant advances in my research on the genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant bacteria in Tunisia. I am pleased to share that the main paper from this work is now available as a preprint and is currently under review at Nature Communications. This project has allowed me to apply advanced omics approaches to a major public health problem in Tunisia and to place our local data in a truly global context.

Looking ahead, my goal is to continue developing omics-based research on the relationship between antimicrobial resistance and the microbiome, and to build sustainable collaborations with colleagues in the United States and around the world. I hope our work will contribute to more effective strategies for preventing and managing antibiotic resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Thank you again for believing in and investing in the future of Tunisian physician–scientists. Your support is transforming careers, institutions, and, ultimately, patient care. 

Warmest regards, 

Basma Menif

Dear Mr. Ben-Gacem,

I am very grateful for the opportunity to reflect on what I have experienced and what I aspire to achieve.

Overall, my time at Harvard Medical School has been exceptional, both personally and professionally. I wanted to live this experience to the fullest, and that began with daily life as much as with science. I chose to live with roommates from diverse cultural backgrounds. Sharing new spices, a new space, and new cultural habits was worth even the discomfort of sleeping on a hard sofa at times. It taught me resilience, empathy, and the beauty of truly multicultural living.

I also wanted to experience working here, so I became a proctor for undergraduate students receiving accommodations at Harvard. I chose this role not only for its flexibility, but because it allowed me to be close to students with special needs and to observe how both students and staff in the United States cope with academic challenges. On exam days, when students are most nervous, you see their “real faces,” not the controlled versions people often present in everyday interactions. This experience has deepened my understanding of stress, vulnerability, and support in academic life—insights that I hope to share with my own students in Tunisia.

Academically, studying here has been immensely rewarding. Beyond the richness of being in an international community, I have been impressed by the high level of critical thinking and solid grounding in fundamentals that many students demonstrate. One aspect of the educational system that I particularly appreciate is the option to cross-register for courses. I took a course in translational pharmacology, which may be the beginning of a shift in my career from academia to a more translational or even industry-oriented path. For the first time, I have also been able to carry out the fundamental research that I had long dreamed of doing, as part of my current research project.

I am proud to have joined several large consortia of international collaborators and to have contributed to three recent publications arising from this work. I also became a member of the GREGoR (Genomic Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare diseases) consortium. In these publications, I have cited the Hazem Ben-Gacem Fellowship whenever possible.

I was especially honored that an abstract from one of my research projects was accepted for presentation at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), the largest genetics conference in the world. My abstract was ranked in the top 10% of more than 6,000 accepted posters and received a “Reviewers’ Choice” ribbon in the exhibit and poster hall. The same work was also selected for a lightning talk, placing it among the top 1% of submissions for oral presentations. This recognition has been a tremendous encouragement.

After graduating, I plan to return to Tunisia, where I will share what I have learned with my students and colleagues and help implement, locally, the research approaches I have practiced here. I hope to maintain and strengthen my collaboration network, especially my connection with the Broad Institute and other partners, so that Tunisia can remain integrated in cutting-edge genomic research.

An idea that has developed within me over time is now ready to be put into action. With the skills I have gained, particularly around ethical, legal, and social issues in genomics, I plan to contribute actively to “Genome Tunisia,” a large-scale national project being initiated by the Ministry of Health. My ambition is not only to support this effort at the national level, but also to help expand it regionally, giving birth to “Genome Maghreb.” I believe this initiative can bring lasting benefits in terms of personalized medicine, equity, and scientific sovereignty for our region.

Thank you again for this invaluable opportunity through the Hazem Ben-Gacem Fellowship. Your support has changed the course of my career, and I hope it will ultimately improve the lives of many patients in Tunisia and beyond. 

With my best regards, 

Olfa Messaoud

Dear Mr. Ben-Gacem,

I am writing to introduce myself, to share my academic and professional journey, and to express my gratitude as I begin my studies at Harvard Medical School with the support of your fellowship.

After completing my medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Monastir, I pursued specialization in endocrinology and diabetology, including advanced training at Avicenne Hospital (Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris) in France. I obtained my specialist diploma in endocrinology in Tunisia and progressed through academic ranks from assistant professor (2006–2011) to associate professor (2011–2017). Since 2018, I have been a full professor of endocrinology and diabetology.

Alongside my core clinical training, I have pursued complementary diplomas in the United Kingdom, France, Tunisia, and Switzerland that have shaped my broad and integrative vision of metabolic medicine: specialized certificates in metabolism and obesity, reproductive pathology, endocrine tumors, hypertension, and genetic pathology; a degree in health sciences management; and a diploma of advanced studies in therapeutic education. These different layers of education have reinforced my conviction that chronic metabolic diseases require not only strong biological and clinical understanding, but also organizational vision, patient-centered pedagogy, and multidisciplinary approaches.

Academically, I am deeply engaged in teaching and mentoring. I teach at the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Higher Institute of Health in Monastir. I also founded and direct the “Therapeutic Education” certificate at the Faculty of Medicine, the first program of its kind in Francophone Africa. This program grew out of my belief that empowering patients and health care teams through structured education is essential to improving long-term outcomes in chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Beyond teaching, I have served in several leadership roles that have broadened my perspective on health systems and clinical research governance. I have been president of the Research Ethics Committee of the Monastir Faculty of Medicine, president of the medical commission of the board of directors of Monastir University Hospital, and president of the national drug commission for nutrition and endocrinology, appointed by the Tunisian Minister of Health. These responsibilities have provided me with insight into the ethical, organizational, and regulatory dimensions of medical innovation. Over the years, my work has resulted in more than 50 international, indexed publications, numerous national communications and guidelines, and active participation in randomized clinical trials as a principal investigator and tutor.

In parallel, I have developed skills in data science, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning, as I am convinced that future advances in endocrinology will emerge at the intersection of biology, digital technologies, and translational medicine. I am currently enrolled in a PhD program focused on prediabetes and skin autofluorescence, and I remain very interested in how advanced analytics can improve risk prediction and individualized care.

Enrolling in the Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation program at Harvard Medical School is a decisive step in my trajectory. I see this training as an opportunity to formalize and deepen my skills in clinical research methodology, biostatistics, and the rigorous design of translational and data-driven projects. My goal is to bridge high-level clinical expertise with robust quantitative methods to generate impactful, clinically relevant research in diabetes and metabolic diseases, particularly in underrepresented populations.

I am also very honored to have joined the Kulkarni lab, which focuses on islet cell biology and regenerative medicine. This environment is uniquely aligned with my interest in diabetes pathophysiology and innovative therapies. The project I am undertaking there is directly connected to my long-term objectives: understanding the mechanisms of β-cell dysfunction and exploring pathways for islet preservation or regeneration, with the ultimate aim of improving prevention and treatment strategies for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Being part of a world-class basic and translational research team will allow me to connect clinical questions from my everyday practice with cutting-edge experimental approaches and to bring this expertise back to my home institution and country.

At Harvard Medical School, I hope to accomplish several goals. Academically, I aim to complete high-quality, methodologically robust research that can be translated into tangible improvements in patient care. Scientifically, I want to deepen my understanding of islet biology, regenerative strategies, and AI-assisted analysis of complex clinical and biological data. Professionally, I am eager to build strong collaborations with researchers and clinicians from diverse backgrounds, creating long-term bridges between HMS, Tunisia, and other international partners. Personally, I aspire to grow as a leader capable of driving multidisciplinary projects, mentoring young physicians and researchers, and contributing to a more equitable and innovative global endocrinology community.

In the long term, I hope to develop a translational research program in diabetes and metabolic diseases that integrates advanced data science, regenerative approaches, and therapeutic education in Tunisia and across the MENA region. I also wish to continue promoting ethical, patient-centered research through my work in ethics committees and national commissions, and to help shape policies and guidelines that reflect both scientific excellence and real-world clinical constraints.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to introduce myself to you and for your support of this transformative academic path. I am deeply motivated to make the most of my time at Harvard Medical School and to use this experience to serve patients, students, and institutions in Tunisia and beyond. I also hope that we might have the opportunity to meet in person to discuss how we can further strengthen these connections and create networks that benefit Tunisia, Africa, and the broader MENA region. 

With my sincere regards,

Ines Khochtali