Graduating the 11th Class of Specialized Physicians at BAU

The Faculty of Medicine at BAU celebrated the graduation of the 11th Class of Specialized Physicians, amounting to 64 students who have completed their years of vocational training in various medical disciplines. The ceremony was held in Beirut Campus on the 2nd of June 2015 and was attended by Dr. Mohamed Hasbini, representing the Head of the Medical Syndicate in Lebanon, Prof. Antoine Boustani; Prof. Dr. Amr Galal El Adawi; Mr. Toufic Houri President of the Board of Trustees of Wakf El Bir Wal Ihsan, Prof. Dr. Essam Osman, Vice-President for Medical Sciences; Mr. Issam Houri, BAU Secretary General; staff-members; BAU directors; the families of the graduating students; in addition to the representatives of Hammoud University Hospital, Makassed Hospital, El Sahel Hospital, Dar Al Ajazah Al Islamiah, Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Zahraa Hospital, and Saida Governmental Hospital.
After the graduates marched in, the event opened with the Lebanese National Anthem and the BAU Anthem, followed by a word by Dr. Hasbini, in which he emphasized that it is essential for the Medical Syndicate and the Ethics Committee to partake in the tasks of the National Consultative Ethics Committee for Health and Life Sciences at the Cabinet which aims at establishing legislations and legal regulations for new therapies as well as reducing the haphazard utilization of these techniques. This may reduce in turn the medical complications that may happen at the hands of the best doctors in the world, which may have adverse effects in our societies.
Prof. Adawi, in his word, highlighted that the University has this year achieved a great success with the Institutional Accreditation granted by the FIBAA. This accreditation is a confirmation of the University’s approach to quality, creativity and excellence in all academic and administrative aspects. BAU has thus attained regional and international recognition, and Prof. Adawi congratulated the University students and graduates on this achievement.
The Faculty of Medicine has completed its preparations to apply for the academic accreditation of its programs by the World Federation for Medical Education. Adawi also announced that clinics will be opened next year for the med students at the University, located in Hariri Building, and geared towards the treatment of all kinds of patients.
In turn, Prof. Naglaa Mashaal pointed out that the Faculty seeks excellence and observes world-wide developments in medical education. In the Academic Year of 2010/2011, the Faculty adopted an advanced academic program based on the interdisciplinary of basic and clinical medical sciences. The approach adopts modern teaching methods such as PBL, TBL and Flipped Classes, which all focus upon the student’s principal role in learning, i.e. student-centered learning.
This was followed by the speeches of the attending hospital representatives. Dr. Saeed Mekawi, representative of Hammoud Hospital, highlighted that this educational process aims at producing highly qualified physicians, who serve Lebanon and the Arab society.
Dr. Nabil Dawood, representative of Al Makassed Hospital, described the cooperation agreement with BAU, explaining that it aims at training the students and establishing three specialized training programs (Orthopedic Surgery, Urological Surgery, and Anesthetization. Currently the fields of cooperation are broadened to include Chest Diseases and other specializations.
Dr. Walid Alamah presented the speech of Sahel Hospital. He reviewed a study by the Economic Intelligence Unit on medical care and expenditure in 166 countries. According to the study, Lebanon achieved high health care results at low cost, ranking among the top 135 countries. 
The Director of Dar Al Ajazah Al Islamiah, Mr. Azzam Houri, argued that the specialists graduating today, are graduating from BAU, which has recently attained international accreditation, and is known for its vast history. 
Dr. Mostafa Khalifah, representative of Zahraa Hospital, highlighted in his speech the training principles adopted at the hospital, where the application and the annual results were stimulants towards enhancing trust and promoting the cooperation between BAU and the Hospital.
Dr. Ghazi Nsouli, representing Dr. Firas Abiad, Director of Rafik Hariri Hospital, drew attention to the cooperation between the Hospital and BAU, highlighting that the relation between the two institutions is strengthened by the contact between the two administrations and the aspiration towards a form of coordination that includes all hospitals cooperating with BAU. The aim is to ensure a comprehensive training experience for internship med students. 
Dr. Hisham Kaddoura, General Director of Saida Governmental Hospital reiterated the necessity of being professional and competitive, to be able to meet the needs of the society and the patients. 
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates and taking photos.