In the quiet of a Jerusalem evening in April 2025, Salem Qupp dialed his friend ZainEdeen Zyadah with a tremor in his voice: not fear, but something far more potent: purpose. These two students, both exceptional and determined, carried within them a shared dream: to specialize in cardiology in the United States, to match into top residencies, to become the kind of physicians who don’t just treat hearts, but build futures. That single call changed everything.
When Salem floated the idea of founding a formal Cardiology Interest Group at Al-Quds University, Zain felt the ground shift under his convictions. This was not just an extracurricular club. It was a spark, and between them, that spark would become a wildfire.They wrestled with names "CIG-AQU, CardioClub, CIG-Jerusalem" nothing captured the full gravity of their vision. But when they landed on CARDIG-Jerusalem: the Cardiology Interest Group of Jerusalem, there was no more doubt. It sounded like destiny, like a movement rooted both in their city and in the beating ambition of their hearts.
Zain, a natural strategist, threw himself into building a structure that mirrored professional institutions. He drew up a rigorous governance model, drafted bylaws, and insisted on a democratic plenary system. He believed deeply that leadership meant structure, accountability, and vision. Salem, charismatic and relentless, acted as diplomat and negotiator: he walked the halls of the university, met with deans and faculty, argued for recognition, respect, and legitimacy. He knew that for CARDIG-Jerusalem to last, it needed institutional grounding.
They gathered a founding team of equals. Seham Madaka, their Vice President, brought fresh energy and passion. Ihab Hemieid, as Secretary General, became the anchor of operations. Lana Helal managed the finances as Treasurer. In the Cardioscience division, Mohammad Shweiki spearheaded education; Elie Malki, as Research Officer, built a network of student-led studies and robust research infrastructure; Joyce Morcos shaped the skills program so that members would be more than just students — they would be real practitioners in training. Majed Zedani established a journal club; Saja Wari set up guidelines; Hala Hamri grew membership; Rami Muallem ran the technical infrastructure; Mohammad Raddad managed projects; and Reem Bzoor created their brand identity, giving the group a face and a voice. At the same time, a Supervising Council composed of Dr. Mohammad Naser and other respected professionals, provided oversight without stifling their energy. But the road to recognition was not easy.
By May, a powerful rival emerged: a competing student body began claiming that the idea of a cardiology interest group was theirs. They accused CARDIG-Jerusalem of “stealing” the concept, of operating illegitimately, and even alleged political backing and university support. This wasn’t polite disagreement: it threatened the very foundation Salem and Zain had spent months building.
For Zain, this was a test of his resolve. His vision of CARDIG was not simply about “having a club,” but forging a professional home, where students could train and dream of matching into cardiology programs in the U.S. He knew firsthand how competitive and unforgiving that pathway was. And Salem shared that same fire: they both knew that without a strong, recognized platform, their ambitions to go to the United States — to land in a highly competitive cardiology match — would be that much harder to realize. They saw CARDIG-Jerusalem as the bridge between their present as students and their future as cardiologists abroad.
Over the next months, Zain and Ihab mobilized. They built a coalition: for the first time in the School of Medicine, many student-led organizations came together around CARDIG’s cause. Zain meticulously petitioned the Dean of Scientific Research, laying out their bylaws, their tech infrastructure (including their custom MyCardio Portal®), their research framework, and their commitment to excellence. Salem, ever the communicator, stayed in constant dialogue with university leadership, faculty advisors, and their Supervising Council, making sure every step followed regulation, every appeal was dignified, and every action underscored their integrity.
That determination paid off. On 28 September 2025, CARDIG-Jerusalem was officially recognized by Al-Quds University as the only legitimate Cardiology Interest Group. This was not just symbolic: it was an institutional affirmation. After months of political pressure, negotiations, and sheer persistence, Salem and Zain had built something unassailable.
Their triumph was celebrated publicly on 1 November 2025, at the Opening Day ceremony. With support from partners like Pharmacare, Cliché, and Mingle, and under the presence of esteemed figures like Dr. Hani Abdeen, Prof. Suhair Ereqat, and Dr. Mazen Alkhatib, CARDIG-Jerusalem stepped into the light: not as a fringe club, but as a bold, empowered institution led by two visionary presidents.
Through it all, Zain emerged as a true leader: strategic, powerfully principled, forward-thinking with superior power. He balanced dreams of the future with the often messy realities of student politics and institutional bureaucracy. Salem proved equally powerful: a builder of relationships, a negotiator who could read people and power, and a constant reminder that at the heart of CARDIG was a mission not just to educate, but to transform into realities. Their ambition was never small. They did not found a club for prestige: they built a platform for transformation. CARDIG-Jerusalem stands today as a testament to what happens when two people refuse to accept the status quo, when they dare to lead with both their heads and their hearts. And with that recognition from Al-Quds University, they have laid the foundations not just of a student body, but of a legacy: opening the door for future generations of medical students to dream bigger, aim higher, and reach further!
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