Awards
Congratulations to graduated students of class 2018 for receiving the following awards:
- Abdul Wahab Itani Moral Courage Award was given to
Dr. Mohammad Ali Cheaito
- Naji Sahyoun Award was given to
Dr. James Feghali
- Penrose Award was given to
Dr. Sarah Abou Alaiwi and
Dr. Dana Naboulsi
- Medical Student Research Award was given to
Dr. Fadi Saadeh
Penrose award
Established by the family of the late AUB president Stephen Penrose, this award recognizes a graduating medical student who demonstrates excellence in the following four domains: scholarship, character, leadership, and contribution to university life. The dean announces this award during the commencement exercise.
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Medical students who have excelled academically, demonstrated professionalism, and have shown promise of becoming leaders in the profession are considered for election to this society, which is based in the US, and which has a chapter at the AUB Faculty of Medicine– the only one outside the US. According to its mission statement, the society is “dedicated to the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all by recognizing high educational achievement, honoring gifted teaching, encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community, supporting the ideals of humanism, and promoting service to others.” Not more than one fifth of a particular class may be elected; in most cases, this happens at the end of the 4
th year of medical school, but in some cases, at the end of the 3
rd year. For more information visit
the Alfa Omega Alpha website, or contact the secretary of the local chapter, Dr. Ghazi Zaatari.
Placement on Dean’s honor List and graduation with distinction
To be placed on the Dean’s honor list, the student must be a full-time student in good standing and must not be repeating the year. The Dean’s honor list is limited to the upper 15 percent of the class and is offered in years three and four.
The degree may be granted with distinction to students who attain a grade of "Excellent” in at least 50 percent of the credits and a grade of “Pass” in no more than 20 percent of the credit hours in years 3 and 4, and who achieve a cumulative average ≥ 88% in years 1 and 2, with no failures in any course or clerkship.
Ceremonies
White Coat Ceremony
The American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine holds the White Coat Ceremony every year. The White Coat Ceremony is organized for medical students, to welcome them into medical profession just before they start their clinical training at the beginning of their third year.
Every year medical students are gathered for the ceremony in the presence of AUB and AUBMC faculty members and parents of the students. During the ceremony, students receive their white coats for the first time and they recite their Medical Hippocratic Oath symbol of clinical service and care.
The ceremony is a ritual that reminds students of their commitment to the highest standards of patient care to assume the responsibilities that come with the profession of medicine, a profession distinguished by its selflessness and dedication to the help of others.
Dean’s Reception
It iss an annual event hosted by the Executive Vise President to honor the graduates of Faculty of Medicine for their academic accomplishments in the presence of their families.
During the reception, the AUB Alumni Medical Chapter usually distributes the alumni pins to hte newly graduated medical students.

Commencement Exercise
Each year the Faculty of Medicine graduates PhD, MD, and MS in biomedical sciences students. The commencement exercise of graduates at AUB usually takes place during the first week of June.
Message to graduates: Stay tuned to your email to receive instructions from our office and the Office of Registrar related to:
- Clearance process
- Getting your regalia
- Schedule of rehearsal and commencement
Pick up of your invitation tickets from the Office of Medical Student Affairs