Safa Jafari Safa, Office of Communications, communications@aub.edu.lb
The
Faculty of Medicine (FM) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) held its annual FM Dean's Excellence Awards ceremony to recognize awardees of the administrative and research staff categories for the year 2022 – 2023.
The award was granted based on eight criteria: commitment, knowledge, reliability and quality of work, professionalism, creativity and innovation, leadership, supporting others, and professional development. This year, four awardees were recognized in each category. The excellence award for administrative staff, offered to excelling administrative staff, research staff, and graduate medical education house staff was granted to Celine Abou Kararm who has made many contributions towards promoting and positioning the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute as the lead cancer institute in Lebanon and the region; Abeer Dakik who was referred to as the backbone of the AUB Biomedical Institutional Review Board, Khalil Kreidieh described as always two steps ahead in his strong work ethic beyond the call of duty at the Medical Dean's Office, and Amal Said who was described as the “big sister" and “servant leader" who makes the Department of Internal Medicine a better working place for all.
Awarded for leadership in research, teaching, and clinical care, the FM Dean's Excellence Award for research staff honored Habib Alkalamouni who is known for his commitment to the department's research goals, taking initiative, and helping in training other staff and students at the Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology; Celina Boutros who was commended for her commitment to elevate research standards and to the welfare of the research people and research outcomes at the Center for Infectious Diseases Research; Laura Dosh who was said to be considered the Animal Care Facility's professional reference and its source of inspiration for an optimal work environment; and Nahed Mogharbil who with her 35 years of service has been considered the mother of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology who is a reference person with her expertise and willingness to help.
In the ceremony that took place at the Issam Fares Lecture Hall, Dr. Raymond Sawaya, vice president for medical affairs and the Raja N. Khuri dean of medicine, spoke about “the superb talents, and the extreme dedication that our staff bring to work every day" and the critical role they play, frequently hidden from the limelight, in “getting things done efficiently, successfully, and without fanfare."
“They are the ones who make things happen, and whose sacrifices have helped us weather the storm of the successive crises," he said. “The entire Faculty of Medicine, whom I represent, is indebted to them for their contributions and excellence." Upon allocating an endowment for this recognition, Dean Sawaya set its five guiding principles: responsibility and accountability, ownership, creativity, communication, and collaboration.
A reception followed where FM faculty members, staff, and research assistants celebrated with residents, fellows, and students, along with family of awardees and guests of AUB, FM, and the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC).