Outreach Programs and Projects in the Local Community

Rare Disease Day 2023 at LAU

The Department of Human Genetics sheds light on rare diseases, the latest advances in their treatment and the need for early diagnosis.

The musical concert featured Donna Khalife on the double bass, Ziad El Ahmadie on the oud and Bahaa Daou on percussion.

Dr. Megarbane affirmed the department’s unwavering commitment to finding treatments for rare diseases.

Alumnus and captain of the Lebanese National Basketball Team Wael Arakji (BS ’16) joined the game and was impressed by the athletic caliber of the hearing-impaired players.

It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide, and 250,000 in Lebanon alone, suffer from a rare disease that is often life-threatening and can drastically affect their quality of life and autonomy.

The gradual decline that patients and their families endure due to the chronic, progressive and degenerative nature of these diseases is exacerbated by the fact that most of them are often misdiagnosed initially, for lack of scientific knowledge on the disease, or have no effective or accessible cure.

To raise awareness on this topic, the Department of Human Genetics at the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine held a medical conference on March 4, bracketed by a basketball game and a musical concert, to commemorate Rare Disease Day on 28 February, or 29 in a leap year – the rarest day of the year. Since its foundation in 2020, the department has led and published more than 400 studies in peer-reviewed journals and continues to work with scientists from reputable universities in the US, Europe, Qatar and the UAE.

The purpose of the event on the Beirut campus, said Department Chairperson and Assistant Dean for Research Professor Andre Megarbane, “is to send out a clear message to patients of rare diseases and their families that they are not alone.” Though the Lebanese community is increasingly more aware of the value of referring to genetic testing, he added, “a lot more has to be done, especially in terms of avoiding or correcting a misdiagnosis.”

At the conference, local and international physicians and scientists covered the latest advances in testing and treating rare diseases, expounded on genetic disorders, consanguinity (blood relations), and the social and financial challenges related to gene therapy.

In her opening remarks, Clinical Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development Vanda Abi Raad pointed to “the power of education and awareness in driving positive advocacy to improve the life of persons with rare diseases.”

Considering that 72 percent of the 7,000 rare diseases identified so far have a genetic cause, Assistant Professor Cybel Mehawej and Associate Professor Eliane Chouery stressed the importance of genetic research. “The very identification of the genetic cause of a disease can guide the clinical management, and whenever possible, even prevent its consequences and manifestations,” said Dr. Mehawej. 

Dr. Chouery, who is currently conducting research at the department on hearing impairment related to congenital diseases, noted that “when you identify the gene, you can infer its molecular mechanism, and there is a chance to correct it.” Thus, early genetic diagnosis can eliminate unnecessary tests, procedures, and treatments, lowering healthcare expenses, as well as enabling personalized therapies.

Meanwhile, to support families of affected patients, the department is offering them genetic counseling to help determine the risk for other members, added Dr. Chouery. “This can influence their future plans for conceiving other children or marriage, and can help them reduce the risks, or even ease their worries,” she said.

Dr. Valerie Delague from Aix Marseille University (Marseille Medical Genetics), who presented on hereditary neuropathies – nerve damage that can affect the whole body –  has been poring over research on consanguineous families in Lebanon and the region. “In genetic research terms,” she said, “Lebanon is a mosaic of different ethnic origins.”

Speaking about the next generation sequencing and gene therapy in his presentation on neuromuscular diseases, Professor Andoni Urtizberea of the Institute de Myologie in Paris confirmed that “a growing number of those diseases, which are predominantly genetic, are now amendable.”

To that end, the LAU school of medicine is planning to offer a certificate in genetics for physicians, especially pediatricians and family medicine doctors to help them identify and refer patients to genetic testing.

Raising awareness and monitoring patients from an early stage is critical as 50 percent of those affected by rare diseases are children. LAU Clinical Assistant Professor and Pediatric Neurologist Abeer Hani underscored the need to support families through different means such as joining family support groups and talking to other families to limit the feeling of isolation. According to her, “the time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis can take anywhere between five and 30 years, during which rates of misdiagnoses can be as high as 40 percent.”

Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Balamand Hicham Mansour also elaborated on neurometabolic diseases, while Drs. Chouery and Mehawej presented the latest molecular diagnostic technologies and discussed clinical cases.

The mother of a player in the friendly basketball match between LAU varsity athletes and the Lebanese Deaf Basketball Team, Riva Constantin, spoke about the hardship of raising three boys, Wissam, Marc and Ralph, who suffer from total hearing loss. “They went on to lead normal lives, assume full-time jobs and even play basketball professionally,” she said, referring to Wissam, who is a member of the Canadian Deaf Sports Association.

Her advice to parents whose children are diagnosed with a rare disease is “to set new goals, celebrate every little milestone, and live in the now, constantly seeking out the opportunities that you are bound to discover alongside your children.” 

Closing on a positive note, Dr. Megarbane pointed to the strides that the department is making to ease the patients’ plight and promised: “we will never stop searching for treatments.”

Camping Around the Sustainable Development Goals

Participants in this year’s School of Arts and Sciences Summer Camps got a taste of university-level education in line with LAU’s SDG-based Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum.

This year, 79 high-school students congregated to participate in the School of Arts and Sciences Summer Camps, which were spread out across three individual camps focusing on essential SDG-focused majors: physics, chemistry and nutrition.

Following the immersive summer camps of 2022, the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department designed lectures and activities over five days of learning, from July 3 to July 7.

Campers had the opportunity to experience a university environment and explore multiple programs they might wish to study at LAU. This was facilitated not only by the number of seminars that were given at each camp but also by the chance to earn a 10-to-30-percent scholarship to study at the university upon completing the camp.

Introductory sessions for all the participants were held at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) on the Beirut campus before they dispersed among different schools. AKSOB hosted most of the physics and nutrition sessions, whereas the chemistry sessions took place at the chemistry facility in Sage Hall.

At the physics camp, students participated in interactive lectures on Einstein’s theory of relativity, electromagnetism and the realm of quantum mechanics by discussing their understanding of the theories with the instructors. Associate Professor of Physics Jimmy Romanos and Assistant Professors of Physics Rana Nicolas and Walid Malaeb organized lectures, experiments and documentaries to allow for an engaging learning experience.

“We tried to give the students an overall idea of the different interesting topics in physics,” said Dr. Nicolas, “especially since the subject itself can be intimidating. In all, I think the students were very interested and motivated and posed a lot of questions that were surprisingly good for their age.”

Grade 11 student Jana Abou Hijeily said that “the camp was a great opportunity to discover new aspects of physics that we don’t thoroughly learn at school. The practical experiences, like performing a residential energy audit, enabled us to visualize the pragmatic side of most of the theoretical knowledge we’ve acquired over the years.”

Over at the nutrition camp, discourses were designed by Associate Professor of Nutrition Nadine Zeeni, Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology Hussein F. Hassan, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Rana Rizk as well as Instructors of Nutrition Marwa Fadlallah and Marie Stephan to address emerging issues in nutrition and food science with a focus on the impact of food insecurity and malnutrition on communities worldwide.

Additionally, students got to explore sustainable food practices and how they contribute to both human health and the environment. “Throughout the camp, the intricate connections between nutrition and overall health were investigated,” said Dr. Rizk. “Lectures provided a comprehensive overview of this link, explaining how proper nutrition directly impacts physical and mental wellbeing.”

Youssef Itani, Grade 11, said that having this opportunity was beneficial for him and his peers as they made “new acquaintances in the field on top of learning about the role of nutrition in addressing the sustainable development goals.”

Inspired by videos featuring testimonials from practicing dietitians in diverse nutrition fields, the participants gained insight into real-life experiences and perspectives on the day-to-day responsibilities of a career in nutrition.

Meanwhile, the chemistry camp addressed the challenges related to soil quality deterioration in Mediterranean countries and introduced experimental procedures to the participants to sharpen their understanding of soil parameters and environmental contaminants.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Elias Akoury, who was responsible for delivering all the lectures, was determined to ensure a learning experience for the students different from the methodology used in schools. And in fact, the campers felt enlightened as they discovered the multidisciplinary approaches used to address environmental issues.

All of this was made possible by the experiments they got to conduct in the chemistry labs, such as spectroscopic techniques, thermogravimetric analysis (observing the mass variation of materials with temperature changes) and X-ray fluorescence.

“I am glad I took part in the program because we were introduced to the different disciplines and experiments of science,” stated 11-grader Karim Kassem. “Tackling soil chemistry, its chemical composition and properties with Dr. Akoury was very enriching. I was able to form solid bonds with chemistry enthusiasts and obtain a rigid chemistry background knowledge.”

On the final day, in an awards ceremony held on the Beirut campus, scholarships covering up to 30 percent of the tuition were granted to the 17 participants who scored high on their final examination to kick off their university education at LAU.

Safe Food Saves Lives

LAU collaborates with USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer program to provide food safety training for its students to increase their understanding of food preventive controls and expand their careers.

The certification, said Dr. Hassan, will increase trainees’ competence and job prospects in the food service industry.

Dr. Fouladkhah engaged trainees in enhancing their understanding of preventive controls for food safety.

With the rising population and increased potential hazards in the food supply chain, our access to food is in dire need of surveillance and regulation. The manner in which foods are grown, harvested and processed puts them at a higher risk of contamination and carrying foodborne illnesses.

For this reason, ensuring the safety of the food supply by shifting the focus of regulation from response to prevention lies at the heart of the USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training – implemented by Land O’Lakes Venture37 – that was held at LAU.

Twenty-five students from multiple universities congregated at LAU to take part in the three-day intensive training organized by F2F to engage the youth and furnish their intellect with the information and opportunities required to contribute to the overall development of their communities.

Attended by food safety professionals and university professors, and delivered by Dr. Aliyar Cyrus Fouladkhah, associate professor in Microbial Food Safety and Epidemiology at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, the training aimed to “increase their understanding of food preventive controls which will enable them to perform better food inspections and improve their food safety and quality practices in the food facilities,” said Dr. Fouladkhah.

Overall, PCQI’s primary focus is monitoring the implementation of the food safety plan in food facilities, developing and validating preventive controls, monitoring the effectiveness of the said measures, as well as taking corrective actions if necessary. As a fundamental framework, this training sought to educate its participants on uplifting food safety in their country, outside of it, and in public health.

When asked about how this PCQI training will benefit students in their careers, Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology Hussein F. Hassan stated that it “will equip the participants with the needed skills that any food safety professional must have to support their company in exporting their products.”

Food safety in Lebanon has been at stake due to improper food storage caused by power shortages and an uncontrolled food supply as a result of a dysfunctional public sector. “To successfully develop, implement and maintain any food safety management system,” said Dr. Hassan, “highly educated and trained professionals are needed to create a food safety culture. According to studies, education and training are key to food safety.”

On completing the training, the participants received certificates funded by the Public Health Microbiology Foundation. Being PCQI-certified, said Dr. Hassan, will increase their chances to find jobs in the food service industry as well as improve their competence for a successful start to a career in the industry.

In view of that, students acquired a better understanding of the ethical considerations when developing and delivering food safety practices. “To me,” said Dr. Hassan, “if it is not safe, it is not food. Providing food supply is an ethical obligation that every food service professional must keep in mind.”

Food for Your Thought: What Is the Connection Between Mind and Body?

In a joint symposium, the Alumni Relations Office and the Nutrition Program at LAU offer one-on-one dietary consultations and review the relationship of today’s generation with food.

Dr. Jana Jabbour (C) and Dr. Loulwa Kaloyeros (R) answer questions proposed by Dr. Hussein F. Hassan (L) about the importance of mindful eating during the panel discussion.

Nutrition students offered private counseling on appropriate weight management, health benefits and dietary habits.

From the global food market to the family dinner table, food plays an integral role in our daily lives and has the power to connect us. At the same time, the relationship between food and people has become more complex and dynamic, shaped by a wide range of historical, economic and environmental factors.

Accordingly, together with the Nutrition Program at LAU, the Alumni Relations Office sought to appraise the magnitude of the relationship between food and physical, social and mental wellbeing as cultivated by the emerging demographic of our present time.

Prior to the forum on food and mental health, booths lined the entrance of the LAU Adnan Kassar School of Business. Under the supervision of nutrition instructors Marwa Fadlallah and Marie Stephan, enrollees in the Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) – which received candidacy for accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) – offered private counseling to students on matters pertinent to weight management and provided further clarification on the emotional approach to certain types of food.

A panel discussion by Assistant Professor of Nutrition Jana Jabbour and Senior Instructor of Psychology Loulwa Kaloyeros followed. Moderated by Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology Hussein F. Hassan, under the title Mindful Eating: Strengthen Your Relationship With Food, the discussion tackled questions on the cognitive side of the mind’s relationship with food, a few of which are presented below.

How has the pandemic changed the way we approach food?

The pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the way we not only look at food but also consume it. Before the pandemic, we tried to elevate food to a level where it was more appealing rather than faster to produce. We made our food pleasurable to the eye, the nose and especially the palate, and when the pandemic affected our senses of smell and taste, it also took away the delight that is accompanied by the pleasant sight of the meal itself. COVID-19-related stress and isolation under lockdown also drove us to snack mindlessly to pass the time. Consuming food was no longer about enjoying a meal but rather a distraction.

How can eating be mindful?

The term in and of itself implies a state of mind in which we are focused on what we are doing at that moment. If we focus on and consider what we are saying, we are being mindful. If we are aware of our physical surroundings, we are being mindful. If we are somewhere physically but our thoughts are elsewhere, then we are not being mindful. Therefore, we must pay close attention to the experience of eating, including the sensations of taste, texture and smell, as well as the thoughts and emotions that arise in relation to food.

What is the added value of mindful eating?

Mindful eating allows us to develop a more intentional relationship with food, which can lead to a greater sense of enjoyment and satisfaction. We are lucky to be living in a world with myriad types of food of different shapes, colors, ingredients and sizes, but every now and then, we must stop and think about and appreciate the acquisition and consumption of this food. Did we play a role in making it? Did we buy it? If so, where did we buy it from? If not, then where did it come from? Where was it planted, grown, or harvested, and under what conditions? Consider, for instance, that the production of coffee takes several years from planting the tree until the coffee beans are ready for harvest. The seedlings usually take three to four years to mature before the tree starts producing fruit.

What are the principles of mindful eating then?

Among the numerous principles of mindful eating, we should be cognizant of what we are eating, especially in a digital age where people are becoming easily distracted and more disconnected from food. We must also be responsive and aware of what our body is telling us about what it needs. To practice mindful eating, it is essential to heed the body’s signals of hunger and fullness, employ our senses while eating, be alert to potential emotional triggers on our eating patterns, cultivate an attitude toward food that is devoid of self-criticism and foster a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the food being consumed.

Can mindfulness heal our relationship with food? If so, how?

While mindfulness will shift our perspective, it will not solve all our issues with food. Nowadays, the quantity of food almost always takes precedence over its quality. We heal our relationship with food by modifying our approach to it. Additionally, in our culture, food is used as a reward or punishment – oftentimes by parents, whether knowingly or unknowingly – and therein lies the issue. When we offer food as a reward to stimulate desired behaviors or accomplishments from children and withhold it to discipline or control behavior, then we are not being mindful of the potential negative consequences of our actions.

The resounding success of the event, evidenced by the good turnout, highlighted the interest in cultivating mindful eating as a lifestyle. Organizers and students alike learned from the panel that a heightened awareness of our body is a major component of how mindfulness promotes healthier behaviors, a message to carry for upcoming generations.

Michael Haddad Embarks on Arctic Walk

The UNDP’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador plans to deliver a “Package of Hope,” including seed samples from 12 Arab countries and a book by Pope Francis to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Professional endurance athlete and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Michael Haddad is embarking on an Arctic Walk for Climate Resilience and Food Security in Svalbard, Norway. 

As part of his mission, he will deliver a “Package of Hope” that contains seed packets from 12 Arab countries, as well as a symbolic seed – a limited edition book by Pope Francis –to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, where the world’s unique crop collections are stored to safeguard genetic diversity.

Haddad explained the purpose of his mission. “I come from the Arab region, where we depend on imports for most of our food, and where temperatures are rising faster than the global average,” he said, pleading for communities at large “to act with determination, ambition and urgency to stave off the climate crisis and ensure our collective food security – both cornerstones for human security.”

In coordination with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) prepared for Haddad the seed packets as part of the official seed stocks from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, to be deposited in the Svalbard vault. The specially prepared packages include wild relatives of wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, and other forage legumes.

Haddad, who is paralyzed from the chest down, will perform his odds-defying symbolic walk with the aid of a specially designed exoskeleton devised by a scientific team of engineers and neurologists from LAU and the American University of Beirut. 

The exoskeleton was inspired by Haddad’s “swing-to-gait” method – whereby he maintains his balance with his upper body while thrusting his legs forward with the help of crutches. 

At LAU, Assistant to the President for Special Projects Saad El Zein reaffirmed the university’s commitment to Haddad’s mission, citing the collaboration that has been ongoing for more than eight years. “Michael is a walking lab for humanity, and we will continue supporting him and learning from his unique experience,” he said. “We engage with Michael in a strategic and multidisciplinary manner through many of our schools and departments.” 

Indeed, the exoskeleton project has inspired several undergraduate engineering capstone projects, a graduate project and thesis, as well as a number of fundraising initiatives and collaborations with experts across the board. 

From an academic standpoint, “this has been a tremendous learning experience for engineering students as they continue to engage in solving a worthwhile problem – a truly inspiring effort,” said Associate Provost Barbar Akle.

Not only have the students been involved in developing the exoskeleton, but they have also had to build other gadgets for the project, he added. In response to COVID-19, for example, the team created a ventilated face mask for Haddad, who expends approximately 30 times more energy while walking, and therefore requires more oxygen than the average person.

Haddad will perform his odds-defying symbolic walk with the aid of a specially designed exoskeleton devised by a scientific team of engineers and neurologists from LAU and the American University of Beirut.

Panel Discussion: Mindful Eating, Strengthen your Relationship with Food

The Alumni Relations Office and the Nutrition Program at the Department of Natural Sciences organized a panel discussion with the experts Dr. Jana Jabbour, Associate Professor and coordinator of the Nutrition Program at LAU and Ms. Loulwa Kaloyeros, Senior Instructor of Psychology at LAU. The panelists, with audience, engaged in a truly captivating and engaging discussion. Prior to the panel, our dietetic interns were available for individual consultations to alumni, students, faculty and staff on proper diet programs.

Overcoming Trauma Through Play

Architecture faculty engage former and current LAU students in rebuilding Beirut’s playgrounds.

“Play-based learning is slowly being introduced in the education system.” All photos have been rendered by Karim Karam.

The designs are not meant to dictate how children play, but rather to invigorate their imagination and provide them with a tool for experimentation focused on collective play. All photos have been rendered by Karim Karam

The August 4 Beirut explosion left inconceivable destruction, including more than 100 schools, some of which were completely damaged. In the weeks and months following the disaster, the LAU community had risen to take part in relief efforts across multiple fronts.

Among them were faculty members at the School of Architecture and Design (SArD) Sandra Richani and Nada Borgi, who partnered with architect Etienne Bastormagi to create Let’s Play, an initiative to rebuild school playgrounds in Beirut.

In this interview, the duo, who are also founding partners at [Hatch] Architects, talk about how their plan came to life, the obstacles they encountered, and why non-traditional playgrounds could be the key to overcoming trauma.

What motivated you to launch this initiative?

The kids we met on the street continued to find places to play despite the destruction. We thought that if they could find their place and space amid all this chaos, so could we.

We believe that children’s play is the purest form of resistance. Through it, they propose some of the most creative, rebellious, and therapeutic approaches to deal with trauma. They play everywhere but appreciate the additions, the colors, and the tools that may be added for them to appropriate. They can transform everything into a game, and this was our starting point: we all need to learn to occupy places again, organize, and grow while playing in our city. Our premise is that serious art and serious revolutions are born from the paradox of serious play.

What obstacles did you have to address?

Integrating play as a main part of education and believing in the necessity of fun and experimentation were never adopted in Lebanese schools, except for an elite few.

Play-based learning is slowly being introduced in the education system, but its physical manifestation, which would translate first in the playgrounds, is barely visible.

Most playgrounds in damaged areas had been bare concrete platforms – some including plastic toys – but this does not encourage kids to play, interact, imagine, or intervene.

Our designs are not meant to dictate how children play, but rather to invigorate their imagination and provide them with a tool for experimentation focused on collective play. School principals seemed hesitant at first but were convinced once they saw the designs.

The main challenges remain financial, especially with the increase in the cost of materials and the hike in exchange rates. Another challenge has been the pandemic, as we would have loved to involve children in our design process.

How did you get round the lack of funds in the current economic crisis?

We started with an online crowdfunding campaign, hoping to garner international interest from the Lebanese living abroad and non-Lebanese. But the response was insufficient, partly because the initiative took off a few weeks after the blast when many had already donated. Another reason might have been that playgrounds are not perceived as an immediate need – such as food and shelter.

However, many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in Lebanon understood that the various forms of public spaces that include playgrounds are indeed vital for the community’s recovery. Currently, our playgrounds are funded through five established NGOs working in Lebanon that target 11 playgrounds at 11 different schools. At the time of writing, construction is underway at three schools, while two are being designed and four are being priced by contractors. We hope to have 15 new playgrounds ready by the start of the upcoming school year.

Are any of your students involved in this initiative?

Many volunteers are our current and former LAU architecture students, and we are involving them in all the aspects of the project. Their contributions have been instrumental, as they ran surveys in the playgrounds, spoke to principals, designed, and worked on presentations for donors and schools. They are also assisting in preparing documents for pricing and follow-up on site. They are second-year student Tamara Nasr and senior student Elie Chahine, as well as alumni Mike Chaiban, Hussein Ramadan, Yara Ayoub, and Yara Barbar, who graduated last year.

Nursing Students Tell their Stories with Drama Therapy

The Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing organized a drama therapy workshop in collaboration with renowned actress Zeina Daccache for nursing students. They used drama therapy as a tool to express their feelings and bolster their social and team skills. The workshop is another example of the university’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Wellbeing.

Hands-Only CPR program offered to school students

In line with its mission to serve the community, the LAU Clinical Simulation Center in collaboration with the NGO Youth Organization Heart Awareness (YOHAN) resumed its activities to promote the Hands-Only CPR program, a discipline of the American Heart Association designed to raise awareness in schools and the community about sudden cardiac arrest.  The CSC AHA-International Training Center certified instructors and LAU medical students delivered on January 19, 2022 a training session to Grades 11 and 12 at Collège des Apôtres, Jounieh.

Hands-Only CPR is easy and can save lives. If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, just remember these two steps:

• Call the Red Cross (140) or assign a specific person to do so
• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the disco song “Stayin’ Alive” until help arrives.

For more info, visit www.heart.org/handsonlycpr and watch a one-minute training video, which shows a straightforward way of performing Hands-Only CPR.

Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development

Welcome to the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Office for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) — home to a unique and diverse community of healthcare professionals and staff who are committed to excellence in patient care and lifelong learning.

The mission of this office is to identify, develop, and promote high-quality educational activities for healthcare providers to enhance their knowledge, skills, and professional performance, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality and safety of patient care, and the health and well-being of our local and global communities.

Our educational activities cover a wide range of clinical disciplines and professional development topics such as medical education, leadership, management, mentoring, research, grant writing, communication skills, pedagogy and others. In addition to offering live courses, conferences, and regularly scheduled series (RSS), we strive to provide innovative continuing education through skills-based and simulation workshops, enduring materials, and web-based activities.

A Scientific Advisory Committee ensures that all educational activities reflect appropriate planning, implementation and evaluation in accordance with the requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

We invite you to navigate our pages, and explore our recent CME/CPD offerings.

Upcoming Events

4Nov  - Mind-Body Harmony: Navigating Anxiety in the Realm of Medicine

LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital - Auditorium D & Online

LAU PharmD Students Bring Home Solid Vaccination Experience

Following rotations at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, PharmD students help to provide essential services at home amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Placing their practical training at the service of their community, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students took part in the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital mass vaccination campaign in Lebanon, equipped with broader knowledge gained during rotations at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas.

LAU’s long-standing affiliation with Houston Methodist, where PharmD students complete four months of required Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs), enables them to “sharpen their skillsets and build real-world experience in diverse pharmacy practice and cultural settings,” said Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy/Director of Experiential Education Lamis Karaoui (PharmD ‘05).

According to Dr. Michael G. Liebl, Director of System Clinical Pharmacy Services at Houston Methodist, one core requirement of the program is that the students complete the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Certificate.

During their stay in Houston this spring, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, not only were the LAU PharmD students trained to prepare and administer vaccines but “were also extensively involved in immunizing the public,” said Nour K. Farhat (PharmD ’21).

The trainings included reconstituting and preparing the different available vaccines, administering them and educating the public, as well as supporting healthcare workers in Houston.

The knowledge and experience that PharmD students gain in the US complements their training in Lebanon, preparing them for contemporary practice strategies in interprofessional settings when engaging in meaningful required APPEs.

For instance, as pharmacists in the US adopted telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic for the provision of patient monitoring and medication management, “the PharmD students had the chance to immerse themselves in this unique hands-on experience,” said Dr. Karaoui.

“They were engaged in addressing a multitude of unique patient cases, contributed to clinical decision making, and bore witness to significant events that were emotionally impactful and provided them with an opportunity for personal and professional growth and insight,” she added.

In total, LAU PharmD interns are estimated to have vaccinated more than 9,500 individuals and drawn up over 1,550 vaccine doses at Houston Methodist, explained Dr. Liebl. “They also supported more than 1,300 hours at various vaccine clinic sites with approximately 975 hours providing direct patient care and administering vaccines. More than 325 hours were also spent behind the scenes managing vaccine and supply movement logistics.”

As PharmD students, “we were heavily involved in the process; from the time of vial removal from the refrigerator right to the administration of the vaccine,” said Joe Maksoudian (PharmD ’21). “We handled checking expiration dates, lot numbers, vaccine reconstitution, draw-up and administration, individuals screening, education and counselling.”

The fact that the students were able to translate their experience into an ability to provide essential support to the Lebanese healthcare sector and people was heartwarming, said Dr. Karaoui.

“During their APPEs at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital our PharmD students helped with the preparation of the vaccine dose, taking medication histories, educating the vaccinated on possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and reporting on the COVAX platform,” she explained.

For Katia El Harake (PharmD ’21), it was a fruitful experience that helped her contribute to a great cause: providing the public with the necessary protection against a dangerous disease.

“It was both inspiring and fulfilling to be a part of the healthcare team at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital that was, and still is, working tirelessly in the fight against the pandemic,” she said.

Although “the pandemic was a time of great devastation and loss,” noted Dr. Liebl, “with the unity we witnessed, it transformed into a time of resilience and change in an era where we needed it the most.”

The experience, however, was not without its challenges for the students who had to stay flexible and up-to-date on new studies and reports as well as the rollout of statistics and investigations into treatments.

“The amount of new information that was being published when COVID-19 started and assessing which sources were credible was a challenge at the beginning,” Maksoudian said. “But it helped me better understand the situation and ultimately answer any questions that arose.”

In both Lebanon and Houston, the PharmD students were also exposed to a great number of patients from divergent backgrounds.

“One of the most important things that we will take away from our time on the field is cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity,” explained Jad El Tom (PharmD ’21). “Our experience was sometimes challenged by language barriers, with some non-English speaking individuals who presented for vaccination in Houston.”

Through structured orientation sessions and co-curricular workshops designed to instill cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence and negotiation skills, they learned to deal with vaccine hesitant people and build vaccine confidence.

“These sessions and workshops are meant to facilitate the PharmD students’ interactions with people, caregivers and healthcare providers from different cultures and backgrounds and help minimize negative encounters,” said Dr. Karaoui. “They may not successfully unlock vaccine fear with everyone, but this specific learning moment – the deliberate practice and continued feedback – contributes to the transformation of their mindset as future practitioners.”

As the world is pulling its uttermost resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, “pharmacists have proven once again their vital role as public health practitioners and educators,” concluded Dean of the School of Pharmacy Imad Btaiche. “In whatever place they happened to be training, LAU PharmD students have joined forces with extraordinary contributions to increase the public health benefits and vaccination rates with COVID-19 vaccines.”

LAU’s PharmD students pictured at Houston Methodist, where they completed four months of required Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).

The PharmD students’ training at Houston Methodist included reconstituting and preparing the different available vaccines, administering them, educating the public and supporting healthcare workers.

Hypertension Awareness

We had an amazing day at our garden as various divisions and departments came together to share valuable tips and raise awareness about hypertension.

We believe that knowledge is power, and by educating ourselves and others, we can work towards a healthier tomorrow. Let’s take charge of our heart health and keep those blood pressure numbers in check!

Hereditary and Familial Cancer

A momentous conference took place at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, on the 29th of September 2023, organized by the Department of Pediatrics at the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine in collaboration with Princess Maxima Centre (Netherlands) & Children Against Cancer (CHANCE) Association. It is endorsed by the Lebanese Pediatric Society, the Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology, the Lebanese Society of Pathology and the Lebanese Society for General Surgery. The event brought together experts and professionals to explore critical genetic aspects of hereditary cancer syndromes. Here are glimpses captured during this informative conference.

Colon cancer Awareness

A special event was held yesterday at LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital in collaboration with SAID NGO جمعيّة سعيد to raise awareness about colon cancer. Participants took part in various activities, including fit testers which allowed them to check for the presence of colon cancer. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with doctors and discuss any concerns they had regarding colon cancer.

Travel Clinic Launching

LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital launches it new Travel Clinic! LAU Medical Center Rizk Hospital has introduced to the media its Travel Clinic in the presence of doctors and medical team members and the hospital visitors and staff. The LAU Medical Center Rizk Hospital Travel Clinic aims to give travelers peace of mind whether they are travelling for business or leisure and to minimize health risks during their trip. A visit at the Travel Clinic includes a basic physical exam, a review and discussion of personal immunization record with an experienced physician specialized in infectious diseases and a review of destination-specific immunizations; also, the travel clinic is specialized in providing preventive medical care such as vaccination. “Travel has become a global trend and an ever-growing number of people is touring the five corners of the world. The enjoyment and pleasure of travel can be hampered by a hidden physical condition or by contracting diseases in the countries that are visited. And because of differences in sanitary conditions, available food and water sources, and immunization coverages, some destinations expose you to certain serious infectious diseases that can be prevented by hygienic measures and preventive medications and vaccinations. This is why it is crucial for travelers to get checked at the travel clinic few weeks before any of their trips to make sure they are in perfect health condition to fully enjoy their time”, said Rola Husni-Samaha, MD - Chief of Infectious Diseases and Head of Infection Control at LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital. As part of its mission to always heal with compassion, LAU Medical Center Rizk Hospital’s newly launched Travel Clinic aims to make your travels happy and safe. The Travel Clinic at LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital is ready to welcome patients from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.