47 Specialized Medical Students Graduated from BAU

Beirut Arab University celebrated the graduation of the ninth class of 47 specialized medical students who have completed their clinical training in six Lebanese hospitals.

The graduates belong to Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopedics Surgery, Urology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cardiology, Psychiatry, Clinical Pathology, Radiology, Anesthesia and Reanimation, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care, Hematoencology and Nephrology.

The ceremony was attended, in addition to the graduates’ families, Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, the President of BAU, Mr. Toufic Houri, President  of the Bir and Ihsan Board of Trustees, Mr. Issam Houri, Secretary General, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Khedr, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Mr. Mahmoud Al Asadi, General Consul of the Palestinian Embassy, Dr. Antoine Al Bustani, Head of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, the directors and representatives of Hamoud, Makassed, Sahel, Islamic Home of the Elderly, Al Zahraa and Rafic Hariri University Hospitals, the Deans of the Faculties, Staff-members, BAU Directors and Mrs. Zina Ariss, Director of Public Relations Administration. 

After the Lebanese national anthem and the BAU anthem were played, Dr. Antoine Al Bustani, Head of the Lebanese Order of Physicians spoke highlighting that the Order of Physicians has pointed out a flaw in the Law for Practicing Medicine in Lebanon, which “permits a physician upon graduation, without specializing in any field, to work for two years in rural areas, before they are permitted to practice medicine in the cities, regardless of their commitment to this decree or not”. Dr. Al Bustani added “We will strive to change this law that is deemed illogical, indeed inhuman, and we’ll work on speeding up the process of issuing a law that makes specialization for a minimum of two years compulsory prior to practicing the profession.”

Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi, President of BAU, pointed out that one aspect of excellence which the University had adopted as its slogan for this year was that the Faculty of Architectural Engineering had acquired validation by the RIBA. The other faculties are following sue, in particular the Faculty of Medicine which has made concrete achievements on all educational and applied levels. The Faculty adopted intensive workshops and explored the latest trends adopted by specialists to be able to adequately develop its programs and follow up on scientific advancement.

In turn, Dr. Mohamed Khedr, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, advised the graduates to uphold professional ethics, linking the cooperation between the University and the hospitals with the development of the training system, scientific research and its tools under the umbrella of the Order.

This was followed with the speeches of the participating hospital directors and representatives. Dr. Said Mekkawi, representing Dr. Ghassan Hammoud, Director of Hammoud Hospital, pointed out the constructive cooperation between the University and Hammoud Hospital. This joint work has led to the development of training programs, their support to provide the service, and an ideal opportunity for the physicians to attain the best science available through the most up-to-date technologies. Dr. Anas Mougharbel, Head of the Medical Unit at Al Makassed Hospital, discussed the cooperation between the two institutions not only in terms of training the physicians, but also the training of lab technicians on an annual basis.

On his part, Dr. Walid Alamah, Director of Al Sahel Hospital hailed BAU’s scientific development through venues of dedicated scientific research, whereas Azzam Houri, Director of the Dar Al Ajazah Al Islamiah Hospital, pointed out the increasing cooperation with the University in all fields, including training, education, specialization, exchange of expertise and experiments.

Dr. Wassim Al Wazan, Director of Rafic Hariri University Hospital stated that the cooperation agreement aims at attaining best results and bring the coming generations to a safe shore. Dr. Mostafa Khalifa, representative of Al-Zahraa Hospital Director Mohamed Shaito, advised the graduating physicians to keep their eyes on the fact that it is a physician’s responsibility to care for their patient.

At the end of the ceremony, the graduating physicians were granted their certificates.