University President Prof. Abdel Naser Zaid praised the event during his visit to the participating teams, highlighting the University’s support for outstanding student initiatives that enhance academic, research, and life skills. He commended the collaborative efforts of the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Deanship of Student Affairs, the Public Relations Department, and the organizing student unions for delivering such a pioneering initiative.

The Hackathon featured two tracks: Research Track with 10 teams and Challenges Track with 11 teams. Participants presented innovative projects and demonstrated remarkable capabilities and creativity in addressing real-world healthcare problems.

The closing ceremony, held at the Faculty of Law Auditorium, was attended by:

• Dr. Faris Abushamma, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Pro. Nidal Jaradat, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy
• Dr. Naser Shraim, Supervisor of the Pharmacy Students’ Union
• Mr. Eyad Aqraa, Director of Student Affairs
• Mr. Anan Al-Nasser, Student Associations Coordinator
• Student leaders: Omar Odeh, Mufeeda Afifi, Juwan Dwikat, Farah Arafat, Mousa Bsharat, and Sahar Qinnah
• Trainers, judges, academic staff, over 150 participating students from medical disciplines, and supporting organizations

Dr. Abushamma emphasized the significance of the Hackathon as a student-led initiative under university and partner supervision, encouraging continuous collaboration between medical and pharmacy students to support the Palestinian health sector, especially in light of ongoing challenges in Gaza.

Pro. Jaradat described the event as a meaningful platform for innovation and research, noting the elite student participation and the successful collaboration between unions, faculties, and sponsors.

Mr. Aqraa affirmed the University’s commitment to supporting academic and extracurricular activities, especially those focused-on researches. He praised both student unions for their excellence on national and international levels.

Mr. Bassam Alawneh, Senior Manager of Major Corporates in Northern Palestine at Bank of Palestine, expressed pride in sponsoring such a transformative event that aligns with the Bank’s values in youth empowerment and innovation.

Student union leaders Mufeeda Afifi and Omar Odeh extended gratitude to the sponsors, organizing teams, supervising faculty, and participating students, describing the Hackathon as a pioneering achievement and a model for future collaborations.

The opening and closing ceremonies included presentations explaining the goals, structure, and criteria of the Hackathon, which lasted over 12 continuous hours. The event was led and presented by Juwan Dwikat and Farah Arafat.

Juwan Dwikat outlined the two main tracks:

• Research Route: For teams developing complete research proposals using scientific methodology and modern analytical tools.
• Challenges Route: For teams proposing innovative solutions to real-life public health or pharmacy-related problems. This included two subcategories: General Challenges (public health issues) and Pharmacy Challenges (practical challenges in the pharmacy field).

Farah Arafat added that the Hackathon aimed to equip students with essential research and project management skills, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and foster leadership and innovation. It included academic lectures, team workshops, and mentorship sessions by faculty experts.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing winning teams, trainers, judges, and sponsors. The judging panel included Dr. Samah Aqel, Dr. Jafar Hindi, Dr. Sari Taha, Dr. Naser Shraim, Dr. Saed Khammash, Dr. Saba Hameedi, Dr. Ahmad Hanani, Dr. Motaz Saifi, Dr. Eman Alshawish, Dr. Rasha Khayyat, and Dr. Hana Khalili.

The Pharmedical Hackathon was proudly supported by:

• Platinum Sponsor: Bank of Palestine
• Gold Sponsor: Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company and Bardo Restaurant
• Silver Supporters: Quqa Crepe, Frizer, and Sanwan Company