Two faculty members at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) have been awarded the Emerald Literati Award for outstanding contributions to scholarly research: Associate Professor Maya Farah, who is also co-chairperson of the Hospitality and Marketing Department, and Assistant Professor at the Department of Finance and Accounting Rabih Nehme. 

The news is a big feat for AKSOB, whose dean, Dr. Said Ladki, said after the awards were announced, “AKSOB is pleased to see two of its young and promising faculty members being recognized as distinguished scholars and recipients of outstanding awards.”

“I have no doubt that the achievements of our faculty will improve the school’s ranking and will enhance the classroom teaching and learning environment,” he added.

Dr. Farah, who sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Bank Marketing, was granted the 2018 Emerald Literati Award as an Outstanding Reviewer for the journal. She has been researching marketing and consumer behavior throughout her career and previously received the Emerald Literati Award in 2016 for a highly commended paper published by Emerald.

“It always feels great to have my academic work recognized internationally, and, in turn, to take LAU and more particularly AKSOB to higher academic horizons, reflecting our academic excellence and standing as a world-class institution,” said Farah upon winning the award.

Farah’s research focuses on a number of topics – from consumer psychology and behavior to the consumer-retailer relationship in the digital era, with a particular focus on disruptions caused by gamification, and self-service technologies such as Dash buttons and drone delivery. Most recently, she and her colleague Dr. Zahy Ramadan won the Best Paper Award at the 43rd European International Business Academy Conference. 

Farah thanked her school for supporting her and other ambitious researchers. “AKSOB continues to nurture the culture of its faculty participating in the most renowned academic conferences, which allows faculty members to interact and build connections with experts in the academic sphere,” she said.

At AKSOB’s Department of Finance and Accounting, Dr. Nehme was highly commended for his article “Performance Evaluation of Auditors: A Constructive or a Destructive Tool of Audit Output,” published in Emerald’s Managerial Auditing Journal.

Nehme says he likes to believe that hard work is recognized, but that it is a matter of time and patience. He is an international expert in his field and has published widely on auditor behavior, organizational culture, corporate governance and audit quality, among other topics.

Speaking of his win, Nehme said the award would “give me a further push to excel in my current research about external auditors’ behavior, and it will help as well in potential receipt of funds from firms that could be interested in such research.”

He added that he hopes his research can be of use outside of scholarly pursuits, for example in allowing “academics, executives and accountants improve the world of accountancy and mitigate future auditing scandals.”

The Emerald Group – a global academic publishing leader – has been giving out the Literati Awards for over 25 years. It uses six criteria to determine award winners: internationality, diversity, support for scholarly research, encouragement of applied research, commitment to high-quality scholarship, and a desire to ensure that reader, author and customer experience is the best possible.

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Human resources, philosophy, art, mental health and education were among the topics discussed on June 30 during TEDxLAU’s Winds of Change. The one-day event featured 13 speakers, four screened TED talks – two of which were set to music – and one performance, each met with raucous applause from the packed audience.

“Every single one of our speakers is trying to share a part of themselves with you on stage, and that’s the beauty of our event,” said Reine Azzi, LAU instructor of English and the event licensee. Azzi has been involved since the first TEDxLAU in 2011. Now, seven years later, TEDxLAU is an annual event and a student club headed by political science and international affairs major Narin Atamian.

TED – technology, entertainment and design – events are popular worldwide and have a mission of covering “ideas worth spreading” with short and engaging talks. LAU’s event is categorized as TEDx, meaning it was independently organized but follows the same mission and standards as the larger organization.

The event was divided into two sessions: the first aimed to identify current problems Lebanon and the world are facing, while the second session was future-oriented. In his talk, artist Jad El Khoury described how Beirut is not yet ready to evolve and overcome its history of war, while writer, researcher and LAU alumna Bayan Itani went over ways she said Lebanese society still resisted change. Pharmacist and LAU alumnus Mahmoud Majed Kebbe El Halabi aimed in his talk to prove that change is always possible, recounting his struggle with anxiety and the way he turned it into a mission to fight the stigma related to mental illnesses in Lebanon. “That voice that was haunting me, it’s mine,” he said. “I own that voice. I control that voice.”

On the topic of women’s rights, political science/international affairs student Noor Tofailli shared her story of sexual violence, urging everyone to speak up against abuse. In her speech, LAU Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jomana Elaridi shed light on one of the major challenges women face every day – balancing family and career – and encouraged women to aim high without feeling guilty for their ambition.

As for education, LAU alumna and consultant Mira Alameddine spoke about gifted children, stressing the importance of upgrading the educational system to meet their needs. Mechanical engineer and LAU alumnus Ibrahim Ezzeddine echoed that in his talk: “School doesn’t end when you graduate,” he said. “We’re going to keep learning all our lives.”

The environment was the focus of three speakers at the event. Renewable energy expert and LAU alumnus George Abboud encouraged the audience to “treat the planet as if it is the most valuable thing you have… because it is.” Next, Architect Nizar Haddad highlighted the importance of engineers being environmentally conscious while designing and constructing buildings. Finally, fashion researcher, writer, stylist and LAU alumna Joelle Firzli discussed how fashion can be used to drive change toward a more sustainable way of living. “Instead of throwing your unwanted clothes away, reuse them, fix them, repurpose them and recycle them,” she told the audience.

On the topic of inclusion, HR professional Sylvie Koshkarian raised the issue of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community in the workplace, saying, “If we don’t know how to deal with the situation, it can cloud our judgment and we might turn a blind eye,” which was unacceptable, she noted. In his talk, Assistant Professor Rami El Ali tackled the topic of philosophy as a necessary path to the future, while School of Pharmacy Assistant Professor Jad Abdallah discussed health and the human body.

The sessions were full to capacity the entire day, with attendees excitedly discussing what they learned between talks. As the day wrapped up, event co-organizer Sally Beydoun remarked, “The audience takes with them a message from each of the speakers. There’s always something to be learned.”

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Jomana Elaridi spoke about one of the major challenges women face every day, that of balancing family and career.

The university’s Board of International Advisors (BIA) met in late June to hear about and discuss LAU’s latest academic, administrative and student updates. The board – which is made up of a diverse group of prominent business owners and executives, innovators, diplomats, medical doctors, and philanthropists – meets regularly to advise the president and the Board of Trustees on university matters. By so doing, they put their talents, experience and wisdom into promoting LAU and strengthening its mission.

Referring to the latest meeting, the Vice Chairman of BIA and neurologist Dr. Mahmoud Kreidie expressed his pride in “the development of LAU from a standard, tier-one university, to one that we could classify as world-class – not only thanks to the achievements of its students and staff, but also because of the prospects that are coming in the near future.”

Dr. Kreidie went on to reveal the board’s action plans, in accordance with LAU's Third Strategic Plan (SPIII). “We will be working on raising funds to support the university’s strategic plan, which entails transforming LAU into a university without borders, expanding research, advancing new programs such as a school for economics and public policy, introducing new methods of teaching for experiential learning, as well as helping the university become a hub for innovation.” 

Though the implementation of this plan is quite ambitious, BIA member and Legal Counsel at Group Med Bassem Dagher is optimistic. “Looking back at LAU’s track record of back-to-back successes and exponential growth, I am confident that the plans can be met.” Dagher explained that his legal background, combined with his business expertise, helps him serve the board with practical advice, especially that pertaining to governmental relations, peer institutions and the administration of the new centers that are being established, such as the Fouad Makhzoumi Center for Innovation.

“Lebanon suffers from a serious brain drain, and it’s largely a result of the lack of business incubation and innovation,” explained May Makhzoumi, BIA member and president of the Makhzoumi Foundation. She talked about bringing new technologies to the university, which could equip “a new generation of graduates with the know-how that gives them competitive advantage in regional and global markets.” She is also confident that the center will be a success at LAU, in particular because “new initiatives move at unwavering speed, thanks to the leadership of President Joseph G. Jabbra and the Board of Trustees.”

President of the Kuwait Alumni Chapter for 23 years and BIA member Youmna Salame agreed. She expressed her “utmost pride of where LAU stands today.” Salame brings to the board the expertise she has gained working with generations of alumni and helps leverage her connections in the service of the institution. “Whenever I talk about LAU, it always comes from the heart,” she added, expressing her strong ties to the university.  

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The Board of International Advisors with President Jabbra.

Nearly 50 public employees from all over the country marched into Irwin Hall in caps and gowns for a ceremony celebrating their completion of the Municipal Administration and Finance Diploma (MAFD), which gives them a thorough education in managing offices, finances and projects on the municipal level of government. The program is run by LAU’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) in collaboration with the Muhanna Foundation. 

The program – which just completed its fifth year – “empowers municipalities to fulfill their constitutional obligations,” according to CEP Director Charbel Azar. It is the only diploma of its kind in the Middle East and is open to employees within Lebanese municipalities or municipality unions.

“This program fills the gaps between the market and academia by looking at what the market needs and what academia does not currently provide,” Azar said. “The MAFD is one example of how we, as part of an academic institution, fill the gap in the market.”

“Training and empowering municipal employees is a necessity for democratic systems, as the municipal employees interact directly with citizens on the ground and work to fulfill their needs,” he added.

Indeed, the program has received major support from local governments around Lebanon. In a recorded message, Mina Mayor Abdel Kader Alameddine said that training employees with the MAFD will help his city modernize, which will create more interest from tourists and lead to more jobs for locals. 

During his speech, Audit Court Judge Elie Maalouf, who is an instructor in the program, told the crowd that one of the outcomes of the MAFD is increased transparency on the municipal level, which has a direct and positive impact on the way Lebanon is governed from the ground up. Assistant Provost for Special External Projects Wassim Shahin agreed, and added that the course is part of LAU honoring the third pillar of its Third Strategic Plan – LAU Without Borders – in which the university serves its community by spreading knowledge outside its gates. Shahin, who was present representing Provost George Najjar, also noted the high number of previous graduates who have received promotions at their municipalities after finishing the diploma.

Chairman of the Muhanna Foundation Board Ibrahim Muhanna took the podium to thank LAU for its role in the program and noted that it was the first institution in Lebanon to embrace the idea of such a diploma for municipal employees.

He then addressed Hadi Deek, who was at the event representing the minister of the interior in his capacity as municipal auditor, proposing that the course be made mandatory for all new municipal employees in the country.

Deek, who himself graduated from the program three years ago, confirmed that his ministry believes in the promise and strength of the diploma and addressed the graduating cohort with his conviction that they “have the potential to raise the standards of the municipalities and revive the whole country,” noting how municipal employees in other countries are required to obtain similar degrees as part of their job training. The Interior Ministry currently sends several employees per year to obtain their MAFD.

One of the graduating municipality employees was Rita Bkasin of Tannourine. She said she felt that the program empowered her with a thorough understanding of the relations between the municipality and the Interior Ministry on one hand, and with the local community on the other. “We can no longer say that we are lacking the knowledge, as this program has been very comprehensive,” she said. “Our challenge now is to put this information to use.” 

For Dr. Sumayya El Ahmadieh of the Union of Jurd El A’la Municipalities of Bhamdoun, her learning will not end here. “We are still closely in contact with the professors who taught us here at LAU, as they have offered their consultation for any questions we may have in the future,” she said, adding how thankful she is for the program mentors’ genuine commitment.

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A municipality employee receives his Municipal Administration and Finance Diploma from LAU and Muhanna Foundation leaders.

This year, four MS Molecular Biology graduates will be pursuing their PhDs in neuroscience in some of the most reputable universities and research labs in the US and Canada.

Such acceptances are testament to the multi-disciplinary training the program provides the students, allowing them to “pursue their diverse interests not only in cancer biology or microbiology, but also neuroscience,” said Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Sama Sleiman.

In addition to a well-rounded education, the state-of-the art technical training students receive not only prepares them for any challenges in their studies, but also gives them the advantage of lab experience.

“Faculty serving on admission committees in universities in the USA and Canada were impressed with our students’ research experience and advanced technical skills, and realized that they needed less training in the lab compared to other students,” Dr. Sleiman said.

Graduate Lauretta el-Hayek, who was accepted at the University of Miami and Texas Southwestern (UTSW) for a PhD, opted for the latter. She was among a select three percent of international students admitted into the program, whose faculty includes six Nobel laureates in medicine and physiology. 

“My interests converged on neuroscience and finding answers to questions in this field where there are still more mysteries than facts, and more disorders than therapeutics,” said Hayek, who conducted her research in Sleiman’s lab.

What distinguishes the program, for Hayek, is that it encourages students to be innovative and “to build new experimental designs from scratch.” The freedom to choose from an array of courses for her PhD, she added, “was essential in allowing me to take the initiative, adapt to new experiments and move the research forward, the three most essential skills that prepared me to continue my education.”

The MS in Molecular Biology program, Sleiman said, also encourages students to “develop into young scientists able to tackle all aspects of an experimental problem or biological phenomenon, and capable of driving a research venture from initial design to publication in high-impact research journals.”

For example, Pascale Ibrahim, who was accepted for a PhD program in Dr. Gustavo Turecki’s lab at McGill University in Canada, had participated in five different research projects at LAU, ranging from molecular to behavioral research. The scope of her research training was a strong point in her application to PhD programs abroad, she said. “The program helped me gain experience in fields that are not directly related to my research emphasis, but which are very helpful for expanding my skills as a researcher.”

Meanwhile, Maria Bilen will be joining Dr. Ruth Slack’s lab at the University of Ottawa. “The laboratory techniques and skills I learned and the research experience I gained at LAU helped me get into the PhD program of my choice,” she said.  

Nabil Karnib, who will be pursuing a PhD at Bowling Green State University, thanked his teachers for their guidance and support throughout the application process. Karnib’s research experience helped shape his interest “in higher studies and acquire a level of independence and maturity in biology research.”

LAU’s future neurobiologists now have an even bigger responsibility on their shoulders.

“The younger generations at LAU and Lebanon depend on you doing well and need you to pave the way for them,” Sleiman told the students.

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The technical training molecular biology students receive gives them the advantage of lab experience.

When the 36-year-old patient was admitted to LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital with an intracranial aneurysm earlier this year, he knew he was in good hands. Prior consultations with the doctors had reassured him that he would be well looked after by an integrated comprehensive team of highly qualified specialists. This multidisciplinary patient-centered approach distinguishes LAU’s Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine and its teaching hospital.

“I was impressed by the coordination between the doctors,” he said. “They inspired confidence and hope that if one treatment didn’t work, they would find another solution.”

An intracranial aneurysm is a swelling, or ballooning, of a blood vessel in the brain, which, if left untreated, can rupture leading to a stroke, impairment or death.  While regular aneurysms are repaired either through surgery or neurovascular treatment, this was a particularly complex case by virtue of its size – just over two-and-half centimeters – location, and architecture.

“The aneurysm was abnormal and presented a maximal challenge for medicine,” says attending neurosurgeon Dr. Ibrahim Saikali, “It was not amenable to surgery alone or neurovascular treatment alone. So we had to team up and pool our skills to cure the patient.”

The successful procedure over two stages, in the operating room and the angiography suite, was the first of its kind in Lebanon. “Usually, the combined effort [of physicians] is not done in the same setting, same anesthesia and same day,” says Saikali.

Aside from Saikali, the comprehensive team of specialists included neuro-interventional radiologists Dr. Michel Mawad – also dean of the School of Medicine – Dr. Raghid Kikano and Dr. Anis Nassif, vascular surgeon Dr. Joseph Naoum, and anesthetist Dr. Krystel Malek.

The first step was to ensure continuous blood supply to the brain, until such time as a coil or stent was inserted into the artery to block the blood flow into the aneurysm. “Dr. Naoum harvested a radial artery from the patient’s forearm,” explains Saikali, “which I micro-sutured to the common, carotid, artery, and a small vessel in the brain.”

Whereas normally a patient would then be discharged, and readmitted after a period for aneurysm repair, the patient in this instance – still under general anesthesia – was immediately moved to the angiography suite. Once an angiogram had confirmed that the graft had taken, Mawad, Kikano and Nassif proceeded to occlude the aneurysm and parent vessel with coils and stents.

The anesthetist’s role in these two complex procedures was to manage the patient’s response to surgery while providing hemodynamic stability – in other words, stable blood flow – and optimizing the surgeon’s conditions for a successful outcome. “This fine tuning throughout anesthesia requires sharp and delicate decision-making to the minute and to the second,” says Malek.

Not only did this seamless coordination immediately ensure the patency of the graft and minimize any risks, but it also spared the patient several hospital visits, protracted treatments, and undergoing general anesthesia more than once.

Such innovation and collaboration are crucial to ensuring timely treatment for the patient and avoiding preventable complications. “The best stroke you can have is the stroke you have never had,” says Mawad, himself a world-renowned specialist in neurology and cerebrovascular disease.

Under his auspices, the School of Medicine launched in March the first Comprehensive Stroke Center in Lebanon and the region, dedicated to the early diagnosis and management of acute ischemic stroke.

The state-of-the-art center, located at LAU Medical Center-RH, and staffed with an integrated team of neurologists, interventional surgeons, critical care specialists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and physiotherapists, meets the vital need to avoid the risk of avoidable death or disability as a result of a stroke.

Aneurysms and strokes are the subjects of the School of Medicine’s first international symposium this month, which will host prominent experts in the field. The event comprises a course on functional neurovascular anatomy by the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (WFITN) and an International Symposium of Neurovascular Disease, both of which have been granted CME credits by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).  

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The end result, the grafted artery visible to the right.

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Drawing of the treatment strategy, showing the aneurysm to the right and the bypass (in light orange) to the left.

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Image of the untreated aneurysm, balloon-shaped.

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The international event comprises a course in neurovascular anatomy and a multidisciplinary symposium on neurovascular disorders.

Dozens of youth gathered on Beirut and Byblos campuses this month for the first day of the School of Arts and Sciences’ (SAS) five-day summer camps, open to high-school students from across Lebanon. The hall at the Adnan Kassar School of Business in Beirut was abuzz as the campers grabbed breakfast and searched for their subjects: chemistry, computer science, Arabic creative writing, philosophy, speech writing, and – debuting this year – physics and English creative writing.

All camps took place on the Beirut campus, except for computer science and chemistry, which were held on both campuses. At the end of the session, campers presented their final projects, and winners from each camp received 15-to-30-percent scholarships to study at LAU from SAS Dean Dr. Nashat Mansour.

“The objective of the summer camps is to expose high-school students to the university environment, and to give them the opportunity of experiencing something about the program they might like to pursue at the university,” Mansour said.

Early in the session, 40 physics enthusiasts huddled in the lab in groups of three to observe light and colors using spectroscopy, among other experiments.

“The physics summer camp consisted of interactive lectures where students learned about Einstein's theory of relativity and the strange world of quantum mechanics,” said Assistant Professor of Physics Jimmy Romanos, who gave the campers lectures. “The students had the chance to build a calorimeter, explore the entertaining physics of a roller coaster, and observe the spectral lines of sodium and mercury.”

“Physics is a very interesting science that allows me to discover the world around me in a different way,” said 16-year-old camper Saba Kadhem, who is contemplating pursuing a degree in physics. LAU is ready for students interested in the subject, as it is debuting a new BS in Applied Physics this fall.

Over at the computer science camp, counselor Rania Islambouli remembers what it is like to be an ambitious young student with exciting options ahead. She, too, was a computer science summer camper back in 2013, and graduated from LAU last year with a BS in the field. She is now pursuing an MS in computer science at LAU.

Islambouli taught the campers java and android application development, with the aim of helping them develop their own apps at the end of the camp. “Learning to program at a young age helps you solve everyday problems and get set up for a lifetime of opportunities,” she said.

That’s just what camper Ahmed Itani did. Itani, 16, developed an application that will help users monitor and regulate their weight and food intake per day. LAU, he said, was “definitely” his first choice for pursuing a BS in computer science.

At the chemistry lab, campers were deep in their project of creating aspirin. “I am enjoying the fact that I am actually in a chemistry lab and working with my own hands, not just reading books,” said Reem Farhat, 17, who is thinking about majoring in pharmacy.

Meanwhile, at the philosophy camp, 20 eager campers waited impatiently to explain why they think philosophy is important. “Here, what I got to know is that philosophy is closely related to artificial intelligence, and databases,” said Hassan Jaber, 17, who wants to major in computer science and minor in philosophy. He described the camp as one of the best educational experiences he has ever had.

True to its mission to promote and support the Arabic language, LAU offers a 15-percent scholarship to students enrolling in the Department of Humanities’ Arabic program, in addition to the scholarships awarded at the end of the Arabic creative writing summer camp.

Introducing the camp, counselor and renowned Lebanese novelist Najwa Barakat told the campers the Arabic language has the power to “allow you to express yourselves,” encouraging them to nurture their connection to their mother tongue. Reine Khalifeh, 16, said that she chose this camp to increase her knowledge about the language. She ended up winning a 15-percent scholarship for her final project.

The Department of English organized two summer camps this year: creative writing and speech writing. The creative writing’s counselors, Mira El-Teeny and Serine Jaafar, took the campers on a journey to explore different writing genres under the theme Reinventing the Familiar, which, El-Teeny said, encourages the campers to look “at everything around you from a new perspective and think how you can reinvent things.”

“Some genres they are familiar with, and others not so much, such as creative non-fiction, like memoirs, food writing and travel writing,” added Jaafar.

Providing an array of outside-the-box activities, the counselors asked the campers to sketch the cover of their own book, write a poem while listening to a track of classical music, and tour the campus while recording their impressions as a mini exercise in travel writing.

Tala Khalifeh, 17, likes to write fiction that addresses mental illnesses and traumatic events. “For example, how trauma might affect the life of a person in an indirect way,” added Khalifeh who wants to major in English literature.

Next door, at the speech writing camp, students took part in a range of activities: from writing the opening lines of a speech and evaluating their evidence and word choice, to the importance of active listening, and the essentials of persuasive delivery.

On the final day, all participants presented speeches, advocating causes close to their hearts, including social work and humanities.

“While many of us associate speeches with the charisma and delivery of the speaker, this camp focuses on the words themselves, the power to move people with language, and the need to emphasize story-telling,” said camp counselor and Instructor of English and Moral Reasoning Reine Azzi.

At the closing ceremony for the camps, the room shook with the raucous applause of at least 100 campers – many of whom received scholarships to study at LAU and all of whom were allowed a brief yet intensive glimpse of university life and education at LAU.

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The closing ceremony on LAU Byblos campus.

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The students explored the stacks during a tour of the LAU library with instructors in English creative writing.

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Counselor Rania Islambouli taught the campers java and android application development.

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Creating aspirin at the chemistry lab.

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Lebanese novelist Najwa Barakat encouraged the campers to nurture their connection to their mother tongue.

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Physics enthusiasts worked in groups to observe light and colors using spectroscopy.

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Group photo with Dean Mansour and instructors on LAU Beirut campus.

The inappropriate use of antibiotics in recent years has led to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria that now pose a serious threat to global public health. For example, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the European Union alone, resistance to antibiotics resulted in 25,000 deaths per year as of 2017; in developing countries, the situation is even more critical.

The School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) Wissam Kabbara — a clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice and board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist with added qualifications in infectious diseases — has devoted some of his research efforts to evaluating antibiotic use in Lebanon.  “I’m passionate about it as it is a worldwide public health concern,” he says. “My main concern is to avoid 'the post-antibiotic world' and millions of human deaths due to bacterial resistance.” 

Recently, Dr. Kabbara teamed up with other local investigators to co-author a study titled “Adherence to International Guidelines for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Lebanon,” published by the Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. “In Lebanon,” says Kabbara, “the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria, especially those causing urinary tract infections, is increasing alarmingly.” 

To document the extent of the problem, Kabbara and his colleagues conducted a survey at 15 Lebanese community pharmacies. Over the period of one year, they administered a questionnaire to a total of 376 patients visiting the pharmacies to fill their antibiotic prescriptions after they had been diagnosed with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI).

The questionnaire “consisted of questions about patients’ demographics, medical history and prescribed antibiotics regimen,” explains Kabbara. The drug choice, dose and duration of treatment were evaluated and marked as appropriate or inappropriate according to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). “If all three were appropriate, then the overall treatment regimen was considered appropriate.”

The results were unnerving. “The prescribed antibiotic was appropriate in only 35 percent of the patients,” Kabbara says. Furthermore, the frequency of infections per year significantly affected the choice of antibiotics used: “23 percent of patients with three different episodes of UTI or more per year received an appropriate antibiotic, versus 37.5 percent of those with less than three episodes.”

Overall, only 21 percent of the patients surveyed were prescribed a regimen of antibiotics appropriate for their cases; perhaps even worse, a high percentage were inappropriately treated with the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, which pose an increased risk of collateral damage and have raised recent safety concerns by the US Food and Drug Administration. In addition, fluoroquinolone antibiotics are relatively more expensive in Lebanon than cheaper narrow spectrum antibiotics currently recommended by IDSA for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.

For SOP Dean Dr. Imad Btaiche, “This survey highlights the magnitude of inappropriate antibiotics use and the pressing need for collaboration between concerned health professionals and authorities to increase awareness about microbial resistance with robust initiatives to prevent infections and judiciously use antibiotics,” he says.

Pharmacists can play important roles in this arena such as through interprofessional collaboration on infection control and antimicrobial stewardship,” he adds. 

According to Kabbara, “this is the first such survey study to evaluate antibiotic prescribing practices and adherence to IDSA guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in Lebanon.” His hope is that the results will lead to “awareness and educational interventions that improve the use of antibiotics” in the country.

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“My main concern is to avoid ‘the post-antibiotic world’ and millions of human deaths due to bacterial resistance,” says Kabbara.

Since 2010, LAU has held a unique position among academic institutions in Lebanon with its accreditation by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIHE-NEASC). In that year, the university was granted initial accreditation for a five-year period, and was re-accredited in 2014 following a comprehensive evaluation.

Now, mid-way through this certification – which extends to 2024 – the university continues to meet the exacting standards set by the commission that demand constant self-examination and improvement. Originally 11, these standards were reclassified as nine by the commission in 2016.

Achieving this validation from one of the oldest and most prestigious accreditation bodies in the US, in the first place, was no mean feat; one that required the unflagging and concerted efforts of the entire LAU community, from students, faculty and staff to alumni, trustees and stakeholders. Not only did it entail an initial rigorous process to satisfy CIHE-NEASC criteria, but remains subject to ongoing evaluations and periodic visits by the commission to ensure that the institution complies with its revised standards.

“Accreditation is a journey and not just a destination,” said LAU Provost George K. Najjar. “In a sense, it is permanently unfinished business, because as soon as you scale a peak, you see a higher peak that beckons you to scale it. We are building a culture of assessment, a culture of constant improvement, of continuity, demonstrating time and time again our commitment to moving forward based on international best practices.”

By placing LAU on a par with international institutions, a CIHE-NEASC accreditation is an affirmation that students are receiving a first-rate education. For employers and universities, this status represents a weighty vote of confidence in the university’s standards, thereby paving the way for students in their transition to the workplace or further learning worldwide.

More specifically, standard five of CIHE-NEASC, for instance, stipulates that the institution must demonstrate diversity, foster a safe climate for student development and provide the services and resources required to optimize its students’ success. The eight other standards focus on mission and purposes; planning and evaluation; the academic program; teaching, learning and scholarship; institutional resources; and integrity, transparency and public disclosure – all of which go to providing students with a solid all-encompassing foundation.

Continual self-evaluation calls for the LAU community to rally once again in order to produce the interim fifth-year report, and stay ahead of the curve in its relentless pursuit of excellence.

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LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra speaking at the ceremony held in 2010, on occasion of the university’s accreditation.

Byblos campus was abuzz July 19 as excited graduates and their families gathered for the final commencement event of the season: The School of Pharmacy (SOP) hooding ceremony for its Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) graduating class of 2018.

The ceremony, held in the Selina Korban Auditorium on the Byblos campus, was a proud moment for the graduates as they marked the completion of the rigorous six-year PharmD program.

Dr. Anthony Capomacchia, SOP’s assistant dean for student affairs and master of ceremonies for the evening, welcomed esteemed faculty and guests and introduced Dr. Wissam Shahin, assistant provost for special external projects, who addressed the graduates on behalf of Provost George Najjar and President Joseph G. Jabbra.

In his message to the graduates, Shahin noted that in order to make an impact in the world, this generation of graduates must perform at a higher standard than ever before. He urged the graduates to rely on ethical values in order to ensure that the pharmacy profession maintains its reputation.

“The business practice of pharmacy should be governed by ethics. Make sure to make the interests and the health of your patients your first priority. Respect your patients’ privacy, confidentiality, individuality and their choices.”

In his address to the graduates, SOP Dean Dr. Imad Btaiche focused on the changing landscape of the profession, noting that the pharmacist’s role is evolving from filling prescriptions to delving deeper into patient care.

“[The key] is thinking about preventive medicine, personalized medicine, precision medicine – this is the future of pharmacy.”

Btaiche’s message was more than a send-off for the graduates – it was a reminder that they will always remain part of LAU’s SOP family. “You graduate, but you don’t leave LAU.”

Class valedictorian Cynthia Sadaka then took the stage, recalling the rigorous schedule, countless hours of studying, and all the hard work that went into reaching this point. “The best way we graduates can show our gratitude is to make the most out of the opportunity we are given, and go forward into the world with the intention of making it a better place for the generations that follow us,” she told the crowd.

As new graduates Audra Hannun and Nancy Hoyeck played a string version of Bill Withers’ classic song “Lean on Me,” graduates received their hoods – a process that marks a ceremonial “passing of the torch” as they are ushered into the pharmacy profession by their educators.

Indeed, LAU’s PharmD graduates are in a league of their own. That is because LAU’s SOP is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and the PharmD program is the only one outside the United States accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), thereby assuring the highest-quality pharmacy education.

Awards were presented to graduates who exemplified high achievement in academic excellence, professionalism and student outreach. One of the honors, the Sara Khatib Inspiration Award, is dedicated to the memory of a former LAU pharmacy student who, despite all the challenges she faced in battling cancer, maintained high academic standards, impacting others as a role model of courage, determination and hope.

This year’s recipient, Tatiyana Haddad, earned her degree in the face of her own battle with cancer. After being presented the award by Sara Khatib’s parents, Tatiyana thanked her family for playing such an important role in helping her combat her illness and maintain her academic goals. She shared her three keys to overcoming obstacles: hope, faith, and the support of family and friends.

The ceremony concluded with a short video prepared by students that captured their memories from their experience at the SOP.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates and their families celebrated at a reception on campus. 

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Recipients of the Certificate of Appreciation for dedication, hard work and commitment Audra Hannun (L) and Joella Atallah (R) with Dr. Btaiche and SOP Director of Experiential Education Dr. Lamis Karaoui.

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SOP Dean Dr. Imad Btaiche spoke about the evolving role of pharmacists, urging the graduates to think in terms of preventive, personalized and precision medicine.

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PharmD graduates pictured with faculty on LAU Byblos campus.

“I’m coming back home” was an announcement made by nearly every one of the LAU alumni who reunited across a number of events lined up by the Alumni Relations Office last week. The gathering featured reminiscing, special tributes, two marriage proposals and countless selfies.

Homecoming week began on a high note with the annual Alumni Dinner at Beirut’s Skybar rooftop club, bringing together more than 450 graduates, friends of LAU, faculty and staff. That evening, the 11th Annual Alumni Award winners were announced, paying tribute to two prominent alumnae: artist, singer and songwriter Tania Saleh (BA ’90), who was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award for her decades of contributions to independent Lebanese music and the advertising industry, and Doha El Zein Halawi (BA ’81), who took home the Alumni Recognition Award.

Both Saleh and El Zein Halawi expressed gratitude for their awards. “LAU has been my second family for more than 40 years,” said El Zein Halawi. She stayed closely connected to LAU through the Alumni Association’s Beirut and Dubai chapters, as a member of the Board of International Advisors, and also as the proud parent of three LAUers: Wafaa (BA ’03), Ali (BA ’06) and Zeina (BS ’10).

Later the same week, the Byblos Class Reunion was a casual affair, with guests enjoying the sunset from the terrace in front of the Frem Civic Center. A guitar player serenaded alumni from all the classes since Byblos graduated its first cohort in the 1990s. Alumni went home with commemorative pins and copies of A 10-Day Photograph Journey Across Lebanon in 1965, a compilation of pictures by Charles Cushman, which was produced by LAU’s Center for Lebanese Heritage.

Present was HR consultant Lamitta Rmeily (MBA ’02), who says she was happy with the way LAU has grown since she graduated. “Byblos campus has become so beautiful. I’m proud of LAU. It helped me get where I am today.”

About midway through the reunion, the guests witnessed a special event when Marwan Mezher (BS ’08) proposed to his girlfriend Sarah Harb. (She said yes!) He took to the podium and thanked the alumni for being there for his special moment and said he chose the reunion to propose, “Because LAU is home.”

The next evening, another proposal took place at Beirut’s Class Reunion, when Rime Attar (BS ’13) said yes to Mohamad Chehab, who chose Rime’s five-year graduation anniversary to propose, he said, because he knows how much LAU means to her.

Nearby, older alumnae reminisced over their days on Beirut campus when it was still known as Beirut College for Women (BCW) and Beirut University College (BUC). “I remember when Nicol Hall used to be a dormitory and when we used to go to Irwin Hall Auditorium for assembly,” said Ghada Daniel Boulos, who celebrated her 50-year graduation anniversary. She has stayed connected to LAU through the Alumni Association and her husband, Zuhair Boulos, who sits on the Board of International Advisors.

Back on campus for the first time since graduation was Mazen Abu Hamzeh (BS ‘98), who works for a leading construction company. He said he’s not only happy to be back but is proud that his son will be starting in LAU’s computer science program in the fall. “I feel that my BS from LAU prepared me very well for my career, and my 20 years of work in the field prove it,” he said, adding that he pushed for his son’s choice of university.

In his address, LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra welcomed the alumni back to campus, reminding them that, “With your efforts, LAU has grown more powerful and fearless.” He gave brief updates about the university’s progress and encouraged the graduates to “raise LAU’s banner up high wherever you go.”

“A university without its alumni has no value, because at the end of the day, they are the ones who have a genuine, permanent interest in the university,” said Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Abdallah Al Khal, pointing out how the 42 alumni chapters that are spread across the globe have had a vital role to play – not just in supporting each other, but also by fundraising for their alma mater. Indeed, he noted that they raised over a million dollars last year alone, most of which went to the financial aid program.

Homecoming week closed with the Annual President’s Forum Brunch, which brought over 100 attendees together for networking, discussing the university’s latest progress and enjoying the views from Beirut’s Ahwet Zeituna on Zaitunay Bay. In attendance were two members from the Board of Trustees, Chairman Philip Stoltzfus and Dr. Cherilyn G. Murer. A few days later, the Alumni Association convened for its annual board meeting, which gathered presidents or representatives from the alumni chapters to share updates of the past year’s activities and discuss alumni matters.

Echoing what attendees repeatedly said, Al Khal added: “Come back to campus and enjoy it – it’s your home.”

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A casual reunion for LAUers from across the world at Byblos campus.

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Beirut’s Skybar rooftop club teemed with graduates, friends of LAU, faculty and staff, during the annual Alumni dinner.

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More than 100 alumni attended the Annual President’s Forum Brunch, held in Zaitunay Bay.

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Evening alumni reception at LAU Beirut campus.

Only two years after graduating, LAU alumna and current Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) employee Ghiwa El Fakhry (BA’16) attended the international Women Ambassadors Forum, a platform for women leaders from around the world to cultivate their entrepreneurial, financial and leadership skills. The forum provides young female leaders with the knowledge and tools to disrupt industries and social structures in their home countries and beyond for the sake of change. According to its mission statement, it aims to create “the largest global network of aspiring women leaders whose stories ignite conversations and empower women to create the change they want to see in this world.”

Each year, forum leaders select a group of women ages 18 to 30 who have already demonstrated an effort to create positive and meaningful change in their environments, among them El Fakhry, one of two ambassadors from Lebanon.

This year’s forum was held over five days in mid-July on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

As a student at LAU and in her current position at the OCE, El Fakhry has had a lot of experience at events on citizenship and social enterprise. The political science/international affairs major, who also minored in conflict analysis and resolution, says that at LAU she acquired the skills needed to be an ambassador at an international forum and to succeed in her future career.

“I gained so much while at LAU. I owe so much of my academic development to them, but also so much of my personal development.”

El Fakhry came from a small and homogeneous village in Lebanon, where she says everyone had the same background and political and religious views. “At first, it was a challenging road to go to a university that was so diverse. I had such a closed-minded perspective before I joined LAU.” Thanks to her classes, classmates and faculty, “I started seeing differently and interpreting things differently. My minor in conflict resolution also helped me a lot. I started thinking of my role as a human rather than as a person with a very specific identity from the village.”

That experience helped her while at the Women Ambassadors Forum. El Fakhry spent the week with 33 ambassadors from 17 countries, meeting and networking with corporate and community leaders, attending seminars and roundtables, and even taking field trips. But most importantly, she met her counterparts from all over the world. “To go out and see international women from different backgrounds who share the same vision of outreach to their communities and who are not stopped by barriers was an incredible and inspiring experience,” she says.

“I really enjoyed the diversity I witnessed, which reinforced my mission,” she adds. “We were able to bond on a really deep level by sharing our stories. We come from such different backgrounds, and some from very challenging circumstances, but we all have the same vision.”

For El Fakhry, among the most inspiring women at the forum were Olympic track and field athlete and motivational speaker Yvonne Treviño Hayek, business coach and author Rania Habiby Anderson, and Women Ambassadors Forum Co-founder and CEO Ingrid Harb, all of whom have some Lebanese roots.

“They had a really realistic point of view – how you can achieve anything, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It was motivational for women like me who are at a crossroads,” El Fakhry says. “A lot of people share your vision, but you have to set up your own personal mission in life.”

She also admires how the forum was a platform for young women to support each other, something she feels they are discouraged from in patriarchal societies. “What I loved about the forum is the bond you make with other women, and how even though we met for the first time at the conference, we cared about pushing and encouraging each other.”

On what comes next, she says she is considering pursuing her master’s degree. “The forum inspired me to go abroad, to see the world and get out of my comfort zone, and to gain knowledge and experience, which I will bring back to Lebanon.”

Wherever she ends up, El Fakhry knows where it began. “My time at LAU has helped me define my vision, to be more open minded, to dream more, to ask more from myself and to have more confidence. LAU has been the starting point of everything I am now.”

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El Fakhry spent the week with 33 ambassadors from 17 countries, meeting with corporate and community leaders and attending seminars and roundtables.

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The forum’s mission is to bring together aspiring women leaders in order to galvanize positive and meaningful change.

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El Fakhri was one of two ambassadors from Lebanon at the international Women Ambassadors Forum.

Through an agreement with Harvard Business School, LAU has become one of the first in Lebanon and the region to introduce the Microeconomics of Competitiveness: Firms, Clusters, and Economic Development (MOC) graduate course, at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB). Taught at the EMBA level last April, MOC will be launched in September as a one-semester MBA course.

Pioneered by the founder of the modern strategy field and father of the Five Forces of competitiveness, Professor Michael E. Porter, and his colleagues at the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School, the course – according to the MOC prospectus 2018 – “explores the determinants of competitiveness and successful economic development viewed from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective.”

This unique opportunity came up with a fortuitous meeting between assistant professors of management Amine Abi Aad and Jamal Maalouf and a member of the MOC Chapter in Europe. “We had a paper accepted at the Academy of Management in Vienna,” says Dr. Maalouf, “and met Professor Pablo Collazzo (Member of the Hall of Fame at MOC Network) of the University of Vienna at the conference.”

Impressed with their presentation, ongoing research and credentials – both Abi Aad and Maalouf hold a PhD from the top-flight business school at the University of Alabama – Collazzo invited them to apply for induction to the MOC network.

“The second part to that was AKSOB’s accreditation, which is a prerequisite for any affiliate institution,” adds Dr. Abi Aad, referring to the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation which the school was awarded in April 2016, joining the select 5 percent of accredited business schools worldwide.

Discussions with AKSOB’s dean and LAU’s leadership followed. With endorsement at the faculty level, and after a stringent year-long application process, a Course Affiliation Agreement was signed between LAU and Harvard, paving the way for Abi Aad’s and Maalouf’s induction into the network in December 2017. Both AKSOB faculty members were trained by Professor Porter in the MOC curriculum, and by Harvard Business School in preparing and teaching MOC classes and case-based methodology.

The impact and value of the course and this strategic initiative, is “the Course Affiliation Agreement with Harvard, which allows trained and inducted MOC affiliates to teach a Harvard course at LAU, and gain access to all course material including elite international cases developed by the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at the Harvard Business School,” says Maalouf.

In addition, affiliates across the network that includes faculty from more than 66 countries have the advantage of collaborating on research in all areas of competitiveness.

The interactive course – composed of case studies from the Harvard database and a course project – is designed to teach MBA and EMBA candidates the determinants of MOC, with a view to disseminating knowledge that would help policy makers create an environment conducive to the survival of “clusters,” boost competitiveness and economic growth. Clusters refer to groups of organizations, firms, or businesses in a common field and same geographical area, which, by pooling their resources, increase productivity and competitiveness on a global scale.

“The course’s practical impact,” explains Abi Aad, “is policy making, as no clusters can come about without the direct and indirect involvement of the government.” As each case is extensive, consisting of 20-30 pages, “students need to have a solid background in finance, strategy, and economics and to have acquired business acumen, experience, and a good grasp of politics,” he adds. The case analysis technique further requires students to study the cases in depth, and come to the course ready to debate.

EMBA candidates who attended the course, taught by Abi Aad last April, praised its merits. For marketing and relations manager in an investment company, Rami Adra, it helped shift a rigid marketing strategy for their property development sector to include other industries that can impact its growth such as entertainment, hospitality and others. “We studied those sectors, and saw the cluster between them and how each one can affect the other, and drew a complete plan based on that. We were able to have a more competitive plan which received board approval immediately after presentation.”

Regional executive Ismat Abou-Reslan said that it “provided further insight and structure in performing any economic analysis properly, while looking at key economic standards and taking into consideration the microeconomic foundations in place which could transform an economy and facilitate future investments into a region or country.”

All the cases are currently drawn from the Harvard database, but the long-term agenda for the strategy professors is to collaborate with MOC affiliates on developing cases, which, on completion, will be assimilated into that same database.

Eventually, Abi Aad also hopes to make the course available to policy makers in both the private and public sectors, through workshops and seminars, which also speaks to LAU’s Strategic Plan III.

For course details, go to:  http://sb.lau.edu.lb/academics/programs/graduate/mba/moc-course.php

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Eventually, Dr. Abi Aad hopes to conduct workshops and seminars for policy makers in both the private and public sectors.

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MOC material and database of cases are continually updated.

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Dr. Maalouf with Professor Porter whom she referred to as the “father of strategy.”

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Dr. Abi Aad during the training conducted by Professor Michael Porter.

Representatives from LAU and Notre Dame University (NDU) came together at LAU’s Byblos campus on Tuesday July 24, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which would pave the way for cooperation between LAU’s Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) and NDU’s Faculty of Business Administration and Economics (FBAE).

“Our two universities are joined by one mission, that is to serve the future generations and to nurture them academically,” said LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, stressing the importance of collaboration between universities, and noting that this is but a first step, with others to follow.

For FBAE Dean Dr. Fadi Karaa the agreement will “open wide horizons on a number of levels.” His successor who will take on the deanship in August, Dr. Viviane Naimy, agreed, stating that informal partnership between both universities “has already been in place for years, evident in the various tournaments that are hosted at NDU every year.”

AKSOB Interim Dean Dr. Said Ladki spoke about “reaching new heights of academic excellence” thanks to select faculty and staff working at the school. He also stressed his optimism in a brighter future for both schools.

The MOU entails partnership over a series of endeavors, including academic training and research, scholars’ and speakers’ exchange, as well as faculty, researchers and student exchange.  

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President Jabbra stressed the importance of collaboration between the two universities in serving future generations.

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Dr. Karaa (L) receives a commemorative shield from Dr. Ladki.

Since the establishment this year of the first and only comprehensive stroke center in the region, the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine (SOM) has been hard at work “educating the patient population and referring physicians on how to recognize a stroke and how to treat it,” according to SOM Dean Dr. Michel Mawad.

For Mawad, even though the Comprehensive Stroke Center – housed at the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital in Beirut – has state-of-the-art equipment, its most important strength is the multidisciplinary clinical team of neurologists, interventional radiologists, neuro-radiologists, neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists who share their expertise to serve two groups of people: patients and future physicians who are gearing up to treat an increasing number of patients.

In this spirit, the idea to organize an academic and scientific teaching venue came to be with Neurovascular Week, which took place at the Grand Hills Hotel in Broumana from July 22 to 27. Neurovascular Week featured two distinct events: a course on functional neurovascular anatomy by the World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (WFITN), and the SOM’s inaugural International Symposium of Neurovascular Disease (ISND), which is set to become an annual event.

With Mawad as a past president of the WFITN, SOM was successful in building a case for hosting the course for the first time in the region, and specifically in Lebanon, because “It’s a country that is considered young in neuro-interventions – a selection criterion by the executive committee,” said Dr. Sirintara Pongpech, former WFITN president, co-director of the WFITN course and professor at Mahidol University in Thailand. She noted that Mawad decided to leave his work in the US so he could advance the knowledge and skills back in Lebanon, rather than importing expertise. “In a way, his mission matches ours at the WFITN,” she added.

Meanwhile, preparations for ISND were well underway. Hosting close to 30 world-renowned speakers, the symposium was held under the high patronage of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, sponsored by several multinational companies, and endorsed by the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy, the Lebanese Society of Neurology, the Lebanese Society of Neurosurgery, the Lebanese Society of Radiology and the Pan-Arab Interventional Radiology Society.

The WFITN course drew large attendance compared to previous courses. It featured highly sophisticated lectures for the first time in the region, including many using three-dimensional rendition for cranial arteries by Dr. Philippe Mercier, consultant at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Angers, France, and Dr. Karel terBrugge, professor at the University of Toronto, Canada. Both of these faculty members are pioneers in the analysis of blood vessel anomalies and variations.

The course shed light on hot topics in the field, such as the importance of studying the anatomy of blood vessels and the indications for treating blood vessel anomalies.

“Although these meetings tend to emphasize technology and the many treatment options we have, it’s also important to highlight the traps and how in some cases a treatment might not be needed in the first place,” said terBrugge. Pongpech agreed: “Knowledge of neurovascular anatomy is more important than technical skills. If you are an expert in anatomy, you will use the instruments more efficiently or may not need to use them at all.”

Equally as insightful was ISND, which featured lectures, roundtable discussions and symposia on acute stroke, aneurysm treatment, arteriovenous malformations, and vascular malformations of the spinal axis.

Dr. Ali Al Khathaami, stroke and neurology consultant at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, was among the speakers at the acute stroke module. He stressed the urgency of treating stroke patients within the first "golden hours” and offered advice on building a nationwide plan that necessitates collaboration between key stakeholders to make specialized centers – such as the one in LAU Medical Center-RH – accessible to more stroke patients.

Building on Al Khathaami’s call for collaboration was Dr. Charbel Mounayer, head of neuroradiology and radiology at the Dupuytren University Medical Center in Limoges, France. He revealed that one of the key issues facing stroke patients is the lack of cooperation between medical specialists on each case.

Similarly, Dr. Elisa Ciceri, director of neuroradiology at the University Hospital of Verona, Italy, agreed. She explained how stroke is an “emerging, time-sensitive pathology that demands good collaboration between the Ministry of Health, physicians, nurses and hospitals.”

Considering the caliber of speakers across WFITN and ISND, attendees have been granted 37 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). LAU’s Assistant Dean for Continuing Medical Education Dr. Vanda Abi Raad spoke about the significance of CME. “Medicine is rapidly evolving, and that is why physicians at most institutions are required to accumulate a certain number of CME credits every year, so they can continue to hold privileges in their practice.”

Registration fees for the ISND were subsidized for those who have shown interest in attending but were unable to afford it, thanks to generous support from sponsors. “This goes perfectly in line with LAU’s mission and strategic plan as a university without borders,” said Mawad.

LAU Medical Center-RH residents in attendance noted the quality of lectures and the expertise of the speakers. “This provides us with a perfect networking opportunity to pursue training, subspecialty and/or research,” said Chief Resident Alain Rizk, a fifth-year radiology resident at the hospital. His colleague, fourth-year neurology resident Madiha Chatila, was especially impressed with Mercier’s lecture: “Seeing all the brain’s arteries in 3D is very eye-opening as it helps us correlate with the stroke clinical cases we are studying.”

Mercier, in turn, had a final message to young and talented practitioners: “In 10 years, there will be new breakthroughs, so the upcoming generations have a responsibility to advance what they are learning today and look to continuously advance their knowledge.”

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The international speakers in the traditional ‘abbayas they received as souvenirs.

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(From left) Dr. Elisa Ciceri, Dr. Charles Strother and SOM Assistant Dean for Clinical Research and Director of Neurology Residency Dr. Naji Riachi.

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Speakers during a roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Ali Al Khathaami (L).

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SOM’s Assistant Professor and Director of Radiology Residency Dr. Raghid Kikano.

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Dr. Mawad speaking at SOM’s inaugural International Symposium of Neurovascular Disease, which is set to become an annual event.

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Attendees gear up for one of the lectures that used a 3D rendition of cranial arteries.

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(From left) Dr. Kittipong Srivatanakul, Dr. Michel Mawad, Dr. Sirintara Pongbech, Dr. Karel terBrugge and Dr. In Sup Choi.

When Hadia Tabch graduated with a BS in Business Management last year, it was not long before she experienced the harsh reality of unemployment in Lebanon, despite her high GPA and charisma. Luckily, she received an email from LAU’s Career Guidance Office announcing a call for applications to the Young Professionals Program (YPP), an initiative by multinational software company SAP. Fast forward to July, when Tabch graduated from the program with flying colors and landed a job as an SAP Success Factors consultant.

Tabch was one of eight other LAU graduates who made it through the rigorous selection process of SAP’s Training and Development Institute. To make it into the training course, Tabch had to pass tests and interviews, have a GPA among the top 25 percent, and confirm she was a fresh graduate. “Not only do candidates pass through extensive filtration, but they also need to successfully complete certification tests at the end of the program – so graduation from this training is not predestined,” explained Dania Saad Makki, lead career guidance officer at LAU.

SAP’s Director of Training Johann Pretorius offered an overview of the intensive program during his opening address at the graduation and networking ceremony they hosted at Beirut’s Le Gray Hotel in July.

“We actually select these graduates because we want to challenge them and we know we can,” said Pretorius. He expressed his admiration for the graduates’ performance and described them as “creative, positive and inquisitive.” The graduating cohort earned two SAP certificates and sat through a multitude of soft-skills development workshops such as design thinking, communication, interviewing and presentation skills, he noted.

In fact, LAU hosted the three-month-long program at its Beirut campus this year. In this regard, Pretorius said that the support from LAU “has been superb – from the venue to the staff, who did their very best to make everything work.”

“It was a great honor to host this program at our university and to give the students exposure to such an enriching experience,” said Aya El Mir, associate director of Student Services at LAU, who also spoke at the ceremony and was awarded, along with Saad, two souvenirs from SAP as tokens of appreciation.

One of those who helped bring the training to Lebanon is Tarek Dalloul, an LAU alumnus (BS ’02, MBA ’04) and SAP’s director of channel and ecosystems for the Levant. One of the challenges of instituting such a successful program, he said, “was to build a case for the Lebanese wealth of talent, that is mostly not visible to the big recruiters, the likes of SAP.” The other challenge is to “get the right recruiters to give a chance to the young graduates,” he explained, describing them as the “crème de la crème” of candidates.

Pretorius agreed. “The talent here, if compared to other countries such as those in South America and Southeast Asia, are well-educated, mature and well-versed in more than one language – in fact these graduates are capable of going anywhere in the world.”

Making that clear to recruiters – some of whom were in attendance at the ceremony – is one of the main goals of LAU’s Career Guidance Office. “From career fairs and recruitment presentations to a unique Alumni Mentoring Program, we are busy at work year-round specifically driven by this purpose,” said Saad.

Indeed, Tabch is a living example. “LAU opened up my possibilities, and if it weren’t for the career guidance office, all this wouldn’t have been an option,” she said.

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Aya El Mir and Dania Saad Makki receive tokens of appreciation from Tarek Dalloul (L) and Johann Pretorius (R).

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SAP’s Young Professional Program graduates with Tarek Dalloul, Johann Pretorius, and Dania Saad Makki (second row).

The children of a Class of 1959 graduate are honoring their mother in a big way. Rania, Fadi, Rim and Rani – children of late alumna Lamia Sabbah Ali-Ahmed – have established a scholarship in her memory with a generous donation to LAU.

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our beloved mother’s legacy from the very place that she held so dear,” said Rani Aliahmad of his mother, who passed away earlier this year. “It warms our heart to know that her spirit will live on in this institution and accompany like-minded students through their own journey.” Aliahmad, a partner at California-based VenVest Capital, was speaking at the gift-signing ceremony on Beirut campus July 25, which drew together the alumna’s four children, four grandchildren, and several LAU advancement and development leaders.

The Lamia Sabbah Ali-Ahmed Designated Scholarship will give one student the opportunity to follow the legacy of the late alumna, who graduated in 1959 with degree in psychology from Beirut College for Women (BCW), which is now LAU. The recipient must be a female student from Nabatieh facing financial hardship and who is enrolled in the university’s psychology BA program. The scholarship will fund the selected student from fall 2018 until her graduation. 

“The best gift in life is the gift of giving, and it is clear that your entire family embodies that gift, which is a trait that has been passed down for generations from your parents and grandparents,” said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra at the event.  

The president was referring to the donors’ notable relatives, namely their grandmother, Fatimeh Reda, who was a poet and one of the first vocal advocates of women’s rights in the Arab world, and their grandfather, Mohamad Said Sabbah, the commander-in-chief of the Jordanian army under King Abdallah I.

“God willing, we can follow in our family’s path and try to achieve like them,” said Fadi Ali-Ahmed, who lives between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and runs the family business.

During the event, the alumna’s family talked about their mother’s incredible modesty, and how unaware they were of her many accomplishments as a BCW student.

“We knew she took child psychology at BCW, but we didn’t know anything about her thesis until I found a digitized version of it online,” said Rani Aliahmad, who was shocked to learn of his mother’s complex and contemporary final paper that surveyed 150 rural and urban adolescents.

While she was not one to revel in her achievements, Lamia Sabbah Ali-Ahmed did have cherished memories from her time at BCW, and her former classmates told her children all about their mother’s beginnings as a studious scholar.

“Her classmates have told us about how she was known for attracting students eager to study and prepare for exams with her, so she adopted the shade of a cypress tree at the end of the grass field as her office,” said her daughter, Rim Kraytem, owner and director at Action Global Communications in Lebanon. “Classmates congregated there, which caused some commotion and attention from then-President Dr. Rhoda Orme, who suggested she consider using the campus library instead.”

The Ali-Ahmed family and all other benefactors to LAU enjoy the opportunity to design what they want in a scholarship when they make donations. This includes honoring someone special, establishing a memorial, promoting a specific field of academic study, and providing opportunities to students from a specific geographic area. LAU and its Office of Development are ready to help them determine what is the best fit.

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The Lamia Sabbah Ali-Ahmed Designated Scholarship will give one student the opportunity to follow the legacy of the late alumna.

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President Jabbra in conversation with the family members before the signing.

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Lamia Sabbah Ali-Ahmed’s children (from left), Fadi, Rim, Rania and Rani with President Jabbra.

Hepatitis C, an infectious disease caused by the HCV virus, affects an estimated 143 million people worldwide. Because the initial symptoms are mild, the disease often remains untreated in the early stages, possibly leading to complications such as liver failure or cancer. However, “the availability of innovative therapy has significantly improved the outcome of patients with hepatitis C infection when diagnosed at an early stage,” says Dr. Soumana Nasser, clinical associate professor and chair of Pharmacy Practice at LAU.

Recently, Nasser served as principal investigator on a research project that resulted in a peer-reviewed article titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Novel Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Lebanese Patients,” published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. The Pharmacoeconomics study provides policymakers with evidence that the initial expense of giving early-stage patients access to innovative though expensive therapy would, in the long-term, prove cost-efficient by saving on the cost of treatment at the advanced stages of the disease.

Pharmacoeconomics (or PE) is a field dedicated to evaluating the cost and effects of pharmaceutical products or therapies, in terms of monetary outlay, efficacy or enhanced quality of life. “Worldwide, health professional bodies increasingly use outcomes-based and PE/health economics data to support their decision-making on guidelines/choice of therapies in the healthcare system,” says Nasser.

For example, hepatitis C treatment in Lebanon is currently constrained by the fact that state-of-the art treatment at the early stages of the affliction is quite expensive. The study Nasser led is aimed at solving this problem:  “The data we obtained should alleviate the pressure that Lebanese policymakers are dealing with when addressing patients’ access to innovative therapy despite scarcity of resources and budget constraints.”

According to the Dean of LAU’s School of Pharmacy Dr. Imad Btaiche, “The financial implications of medication therapy are an important consideration in pharmacy practice.” Indeed, he says, “with escalating healthcare costs, pharmacoeconomic analysis balances medication cost containment with treatment benefits and patient outcomes.”

In another recent PE study, accepted for publication in the regional issue of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research’s (ISPOR) official journal Value in Health, Nasser looked at the current challenges and long-term impact of cost-sharing and risk-sharing arrangements between third-party payers and pharmaceutical companies in the MENA region. “Agreements of this type are aimed at providing patient access to innovative therapies despite their high costs,” Nasser explains.

Throughout her career, Nasser has sought to apply her PE research and pharmacy practice in assisting healthcare policymakers, in line with LAU faculty’s general mission to produce research that has a positive impact on society outside the university’s walls. Current research plans include measuring the impact of patients’ treatment on their quality of life. “This is an essential outcome measure used in health economics in addition to clinical and cost-effectiveness data,” she concludes.

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Nadia Naffi started exploring social activism as an interior design student at LAU more than 20 years ago. “While many of my peers designed beautiful shopping malls and glamorous theaters for our final interior design project, I designed a youth prison and called it ‘Path’ because my aim was to help the prisoners become the citizens our country needed,” she said.

After graduating in 1995, she expanded her scholarly interests to include education with the goal of bettering society. Today, she defines herself as “a researcher and an educator who designs learning experiences that lead to social change.”

This summer, Naffi earned her doctorate in educational technology from Concordia University in Canada. She received the highest GPA across graduate-level programs in the entire country, earning her the Governor General’s Gold Medal. Previous recipients of this award include famous journalists, artists, scientists and politicians, one of whom is former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Her research interests formed following her emigration to Canada, as she became increasingly curious about how host countries invested in strategies to help immigrants adapt to their new environments, as opposed to preparing host communities to receive the newcomers. She began studying factors that hinder inclusivity – namely, “social media propaganda” – and the role and behavior of bystanders, with the goal of helping them become agents of change.

With regard to social media’s influence on learning, Naffi has a few pointers for current teachers. “Our role as educators is not to ban social media. We must prepare our students to protect themselves and help them develop civic online reasoning – judging the credibility of information that flood people’s digital devices.” She also spoke about how “accumulating extensive amounts of knowledge” is no longer a necessity, while equipping students with means to “critically compare and contrast” is.

Looking back at her years at LAU, where she also graduated with honors, she attests to how the university “gave me a solid foundation to build upon,” naming some professors whose classes were designed to “be transformative, safe spaces where we were encouraged and supported to experiment and innovate.” Associate Professor Rached Bohsali, and former faculty members Durria Haidar and Ziad Beiruty, she said, played a key role in her success. She also spoke about the impact of LAU in strengthening her determination to “use designs to trigger change and help our societies better meet the needs of the people living in them.”

In turn, Naffi seems to have left her mark on her former professors at LAU. Arwa Seifeddine, adjunct faculty at the School of Architecture and Design (SArD), said that Naffi was “an unforgettable student who was a source of motivation in class. I appreciated her talent, creativity, maturity and sweet presence.” Seifeddine was both pleased and proud to learn of Naffi’s latest accomplishments, and wished her all the success in the future.

Another SArD faculty member and longtime mentor to Naffi, Greta Naufal, said: “Nadia had always stood out with her openness to listen to others and her receptivity. Her enthusiasm for art would always drive her to experiment in this field, which would in turn help her develop a keen spirit for research. Always full of energy, she would throw herself into action without hesitation or fail, armed with a sense of humor unique to her which has always allowed her to be ahead.”

Like many alumni living abroad, Naffi still feels a strong connection to her motherland. “I am the product of these two amazing lands, Lebanon and Canada, and I am forever grateful for what they gave me and allowed me to achieve; and my goal is to give back the best way I can.”

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Former LAU President Dr. Riyad Nassar congratulating Naffi on her Interior Designer Award back in 1995.

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Naffi marked the day with a photo in which she is surrounded by her proud children.

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Nadia Naffi was applauded at the Concordia University ceremony for her stellar achievements.

Students of the Social Work and Community Development undergraduate program had the opportunity recently to meet with their counterparts from around the world at the Global Conference on Social Work, which took place in the Finnish region of Lapland.

The event, organized by the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Lapland, gathered around 150 participants from Germany, Austria, the US, the UK, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, Nigeria, Lebanon and Finland, among others. Participants gave presentations on social work and structure in their countries, while also addressing pressing social problems and challenges they face as social workers, said LAU Visiting Professor of Social Work Dr. Michele Kelly, who accompanied the students.

“There were a lot of activities. The students went to Lapland, and then to Helsinki for several days. It was a week-long program to see how their social services are structured. Finland embraces the Nordic model of social welfare provision. Thus, it is comprehensive where virtually all social needs are met by the state," she said. 

In her presentation, Dr. Kelly tackled the structure of social welfare in Lebanon and the challenges of professionalizing social work, while the students expounded on the refugee situation in Lebanon. “Their presentations focused on social work as a profession and how, in that capacity, it should respond to this global problem.” 

Senior student Petra Chamaa described the experience as “amazing.” “We met a lot of new people and were introduced to how social work is practiced in different parts of the world, and the major problems other countries are facing when it comes to issues that social workers can be involved in,” she said.

Inevitably, the students drew comparisons between the social structure in Finland and that in Lebanon. The most striking difference, Chamaa said, is that it is the non-governmental organizations who take the responsibility of “providing basic services” here, and not the government as is the case in other countries.

“Also, multiple countries talked about how one of the rising problems at the moment is that of the refugees and how different countries are approaching it differently,” she added.

For Reem Al Bitar, the conference offered  a “magnified picture” of social work and how it is perceived differently worldwide.The presentations gave her “deeper insight” into the services that social work can provide at schools, to refugees, the protection of children against abuse, the empowerment of women and on issues related to civil crises.

“I learned about the diversity of the profession and its impact in different fields. More importantly, I came to realize how much Lebanon needs social workers and what services they have to offer,” she said.

While Lebanon has a long way to go in terms of social services, Bitar noted, “this exposure will help us as future social workers to improve the domain in the country, taking the experiences of others and making them ours based on the needs specific to Lebanon.”

She said that, in addition to seminars, the program included multicultural activities such as the international evening “where we were introduced to different traditional dances, cultures, languages and beliefs.”

“This workshop has offered me the opportunity to meet new people who became friends,” said Darine Abu Saad.

The event included two international nights during which team Lebanon taught the audience a number of words in Arabic and demonstrated the traditional dabkeh. On the second night, the team prepared a traditional Lebanese dinner.

In addition to experiencing 24 hours of sunlight, the students went on a hike to Ounasvaara, the Arktikum Museum, Husky Park, crossed the Arctic Circle, and finally visited the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi.

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