Mission
The Suhayl M. Uthman Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy Unit (EBU) at the American University
of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) is a state-of-the-art unit dedicated to provide high-quality
services in gastrointestinal, pancreaticobiliary, and pulmonary endoscopy. Our mission is to
provide our patients with an outstanding service in an efficient, safe, and friendly environment
and to be the leading endoscopy center in the entire region.
Physical Facility
The EBU was founded more than two decades ago and has expanded tremendously over the past 5 years with ongoing major expansion plans at all levels (space, personnel, equipment). The Dean of Medicine and AUBMC administration supported the expansion plans that were successfully completed by the end of 2018.
The unit consists of 5 fully equipped endoscopy rooms, spacious waiting area, dedicated patient preparation and recovery areas, dictation room, storage areas, staff lounge, patient consultation room, janitor room, conference room, isolation room, scope cleaning and processing room with modern washers, patient and staff bathrooms (wheelchair accessible), clean/dirty utility rooms, and scope storage rooms. It offers a timely, friendly and professional check-in in a large and comfortable reception area, one stop service (approval for insurance, billing, and payment); patient preparation, monitoring, and recovery at the hands of highly-trained healthcare professionals who are sensitive to their needs.
The EBU design specifications, workflow, and professional practice guidelines, have been perfected with the idea of providing exceptional patient care and safety, have been supported and approved by the AUBMC.nursing service, infection control, biomedical and plant engineering. This has culminated in an outstanding evaluation and full accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI).
Medical Staff
The EBU is operated by highly-qualified (US and European board-certified) faculty members
(gastroenterology, pulmonary, surgery, pediatrics), dedicated fellows, and highly trained and selected staff
(administrator, nurses, technicians, secretaries, orderlies and janitors). Its staff are equipped with top-qualityGear . They utilize innovative technologies () to deliver world-class patient care.
Services
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: diagnostic and therapeutic
- Colonoscopy: diagnostic and therapeutic
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP): diagnostic and therapeutic
- Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA)
- Sigmoidoscopy: Diagnostic and therapeutic
- Anoscopy: Diagnostic and therapeutic that include the following:
- Hemorrhoid band ligation
- Botox injection
- Ambulatory 24-pH metry
- Esophageal manometry
- Argon plasma coagulation (APC)
- Video capsule endoscopy
- Video fiberoptic bronchoscopy (diagnostic and therapeutic) including:
- Transbronchial and endobronchial biopsy
- Transtracheal and transbronchial needle aspiration
- Endobronchial Argon plasma coagulation (APC)
- Nd Yag laser photocoagulation
- Flexible endotrachial and endobronchial stent placements
- Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis (pleural tap)
- Closed pleural biospy
Our Endoscopy Unit offers
- Timely check-in
- A comfortable reception area with a designated receptionist
- Highly trained personnel who are sensitive to the needs of patients
- Endoscopy rooms designed for efficiency, safety, and privacy
- Dedicated, fully monitored recovery area designed for safety, privacy, and comfort
- Separate scope cleaning and processing area maintained according to criteria set by JCI, Infection Control Committee, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)
- Computerized registry and reporting of procedures.
Full-time Faculty
Gastroenterology Physicians
Kassem Barada, M.D., Professor and Head, Division of Gastroenterology. Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Research interests include endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and Helicobacter pylori
Assaad Soweid, M.D., Professor and Director of the Suhayl M. Uthman Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy Unit . Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Research interests include diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), pancreaticobiliary endoscopy, NOTES (natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and sedation/monitoring
Ala’ Sharara, M.D., Professor. Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Research interests include liver and pancreaticobiliary diseases, Helicobacter pylori, and inflammatory bowel disease
Fadi Mourad, M.D., Professor. Research interests diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea and NSAID-induced gut injury
Yasser Shaib, M.D., Associate professor, Research interest gastrointestinal oncology, interventional endoscopy and pancreatic diseases
Fady Daniel, M.D., Assistant professor, Research interest Inflammatory bowel diseases, Gastro-intestinal motility, Digestive oncology, and Medico-interventional proctology and Ano-rectal diseases.
Jana El Hashash, M.D., Assistant professor, Research interest is in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Prevention of postoperative Crohn's disease and Prevention of dysplasia and cancer in ulcerative colitis
Pulmonary Physicians
Pierre Bou-Khalil, M.D., Associate Professor and Head, Division of Pulmonary Medicine. Research interests include asthma, ventilation, and sleep medicine.
Ahmad Husari, M.D., Associate Professor. Co-Director of the Sleep Disorder Center. Research interest include hyperoxia induced lung injury
Salah Zeineldine, MD, Assistant Professor. Director of the Pulmonary Function Test Laboratory. Research interests include mechanical ventilation and COPD
Imad Bou-Akl, M.D., Assistant Professor. Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, critical care, and sleep. Research interests include asthma and sepsis.
Hassan Chami, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine. Research interests include Cardiovascular Effects of Sleep Apnea, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Effects of Waterpipe Smoking
Nadim Kanj, M.D., Assistant Professor. Research interests include bronchoscopy and anti-smoking campaign and policy Staff
Jihane Faress, MD. Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Contact Us
P.O. Box 11-0236/16B, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Tel: 00961 1 350000 - ext. 5400/1 - Fax: 961-1-370 814
E-mail:
ta21@aub.edu.lb