American University of Beirut

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    Physicians, Patients, and Society 1 (PPS-1) 2022-2023

The Physicians, Patients, and Society 1 (PPS-1) for 2022-2023 returned to in-person sessions on campus for Med I students in its four modules with faculty members and instructors Mrs. Nada Nassar and Ms. Diana Mikati (Caring Spotlight Experience CSE-1) , Ms. Mimosa Arawi (Art and Medicine), Dr. Beatrice Khater (Narrative and Medicine), as well as Drs. Dinah Ayna, Zeinab Bazzi, Maya Bizri and Leila Akouri Dirani (Psychology of Illness).  

   Physicians, Patients, and Society 2 (PPS-2) 2022-2023 For second-year medical students this year, the Physicians, Patient, and Society 2 (PPS-2) sessions commenced in its four modules, with returning instructors Ms. Maya Nizam (Caring Spotlight Experience 2 - Nurse Shadowing) and Dr. Marianne Majdalani (Spirituality and Medicine), and the Palliative Care module with Dr. Rana Yamout. The Clinical Ethics and Patient care module was offered by Dr. Thalia Arawi, along with Dr. Jad Mhanna, Gastroenterology Fellow at AUBMC, giving the virtual ICU rounds consisting of real clinical case discussions from the Intensive Care Unit. 

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) Summer Diploma (June - July 2022) and Two-Semester Program (2022 – 2023) The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer diploma for the tenth year in summer 2022, as well as a new two-semester version in fall 2022. As every year, the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research”, developed and coordinated by SHBPP director is offered as one of the requirements. The course includes sessions given by Dr. Deborah Mukherji, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, and Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct, research ethics in war zones, conflict of interest, genetics and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. The last session of the course was a mock IRB where students discussed actual research proposals. Final projects consist of remarkable videos and are presented via online broadcast. During the graduation ceremony, the students took the Scientist’s pledge and some projected were showcased. This year, members of the NIH attended the graduation ceremony, and they were very pleased and proud with the projects the students made. Projects can be viewed by logging to our SHBPP YouTube channel. Congratulations to the graduates of 2022.   

BROWnies BROWnies, AUBMC’s Bioethics Rounds On the Wards, is an ongoing initiative that provides platform for interprofessional team discussion, with attending physicians, residents, interns, nurses, 4th year medical students, and AUBMC clinical bioethicist convening to discuss real patient cases. These discussions serve as a basis for reflection, dialogue and deliberation about moral problems, values, concerns, etc., and also provide participants with a safe forum to clarify and expose critical issues faced in patient care and come up with recommendations. SHBPP in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics held a BROWnies activity on February 3, 2022 for nurses, medical residents and students, which was met with positive feedback and enthusiastic recommendations for additional activities as they help shed light on critical issues that nurses are facing on the wards most of which remain unaddressed up till now.

Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds

In addition to the Physicians, Patients, and Society (PPS) course series as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum, several yearly talks were given which aim to reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. The following lectures were held in 2022 in collaboration with several faculty members and departments at AUBMC.

• OBGYN Core Curriculum talk: “Caring for OBGYN Patients: New Century, New challenges” (March 16, 2022)

• Ethics and liver transplant session for Med 1 students (June 20, 2022) 

• Ethics and Cardiology, joint talk with Dr. Ziyad Ghazzal (September 13, 2022).

 • Ethics in Dermatology Grand Round with Dr. Marianna El Hawa, PGYII (December 20, 2022)

 • “Sexual Ambiguity, Medicine and Ethics”, with Drs. Mona Nasrallah, Thalia Arawi, and Hala Tfaily and Leila Dirani. (December 21, 2022)

Physicians, Patients, and Society 1 (PPS-1) 2021-2022 

The Physicians, Patients, and Society 1 (PPS-1) for 2021-2022 returned to in-person sessions on campus for med I students in its four modules with faculty members and instructors Ms. Hanadi Masalkhi (Caring Spotlight Experience CSE-1) , Ms. Mimosa Arawi (Art and Medicine), Dr. Beatrice Khater (Narrative and Medicine), as well as Drs. Dinah Ayna, Olivia El-Shabb, and Brigitte Khoury (Psychology of Illness). 

Physicians, Patients, and Society 2 (PPS-2) 2021-2022 

Our  second-year medical students this year, the Physicians, Patients, and Society 2 (PPS-2) sessions commenced on August 31, 2021 in its four modules, with returning instructors Ms. Maya Nizam (Caring Spotlight Experience 2 - Nurse Shadowing) and Dr. Marianne Majdalani (Spirituality and Medicine), and the Palliative Care module with new faculty member Dr. Rana Yamout. The Clinical Ethics and Patient care module was offered online by Dr. Stephen Latham, Director of the Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, along with Dr. Jad Mhanna, Gastroenterology Fellow at AUBMC, giving the virtual ICU rounds consisting of real clinical case discussions from the Intensive Care Unit. 

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2021) 

The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the ninth year in summer 2021. As every year, the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research”, coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi is offered as one of the requirements. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Deborah Mukherji, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, and Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct, and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speaker Dr. Fadia Homeidan. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a mock IRB session. While this year’s class was faced with the challenges of online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to produce remarkable videos as part of their final course projects which were presented via online broadcast. The course culminated with all students taking the Scientist’s pledge. Congratulations to the graduates of 2021.

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) - Fall 2021

For the first time, The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) certificate program launched a new cohort for the academic year 2021-2022 in a new semester version beginning in September 2021. The same curriculum of the summer certificate is offered over the Fall and Spring terms, including the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research”, coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi is offered as one of the requirements.

BROWnies

 AUBMC’s Bioethics Rounds On the Wards (BROWnies) were first launched on March 3, 2016 in a collaboration between SHBPP and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The aim of this activity is to present as a platform for inter-professional team discussion, with attending physicians, residents, interns, nurses, 4th year medical students, and AUBMC clinical bioethicist convening to discuss real patient cases. These discussions serve as a basis for reflection, dialogue and deliberation about moral problems, values, concerns, etc., and also provide participants with a safe forum to clarify and expose critical issues faced in patient care and come up with recommendations. SHBPP in Collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Department of Pediatrics held a BROWnies activity on June 24, 2021 for nurses, medical residents and students, which was met with positive feedback and enthusiastic recommendations for additional activities as they help shed light on critical issues that nurses are facing on the wards most of which remain unaddressed up till now.

 Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds

In addition to the PPS course series, as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum, several yearly talks were given which aim to reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. The following lectures were held online in 2021 in collaboration with several faculty members and departments at AUBMC. 

• Child Abuse: Clinical, Legal and Ethical Concerns, with Dr. Leila Dirani and Dr. Thalia Arawi (April 1, 2021) 

• Ethical Concerns and Issues in Cardiovascular Illnesses, with Dr. Hadi Skouri and Dr. Thalia Arawi. (October 7, 2021) 

• Sexual Ambiguity, Medicine and Ethics Integrated session, with Drs. Mona Nasrallah, Thalia Arawi, and Hala Tfaily and Leila Dirani. (December 13, 2021) 

​First year medical students' orientation

Orientation to med I students: Physician Patient and Society courses, war and humanism took place on August 14, 2020.

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Mock Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC)

As part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care" module in the Physicians, Patients, and Society II course, second year medical students engaged in a mock MCEC session whereby they assumed the roles of various members of the committee to discussed patient cases based on real clinical scenarios. Students deliberated the ethical issues and concerns from their different perspectives and came up with recommendations for on course of action. While these sessions are usually done face-to-face to simulate real MCEC meetings, accordingly, however, this year sessions were held online via Webex due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

ICU Virtual Rounds

Also part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care" module in the Physicians, Patients, and Society II course, med 2 students participated in virtual ICU rounds consisting of real clinical case discussions from the Intensive Care Unit with Dr. Jad Mhanna, Gastroenterology Fellow at AUBMC.  

Art and Medicine

This year's Art and Medicine, as part of the Physician, Patients and Society 1 course for first year medical students, also took place online with newly joined course instructor Ms. Mimosa Arawi, Painter, Writer, and Art Critic. The  module, which aim to expose students to different forms of artwork to explore, analyze, understand and value human emotions, experiences, and feelings of pain and suffering, featured very insightful and engaging discussions by the students. At the end of the module, students also had a chance to present their own reflections along with artworks that they found impactful and touching. This was also an opportunity for some students to share their own personal artistic productions with their colleagues.

Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds

In addition to the Physicians, Patients, and Society (PPS) course series required as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum, the SHBPP organizes a number of yearly integrated lectures, which aim to reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. The following lectures were held online in 2020 in collaboration with several faculty members and departments at AUBMC:

•    Clinical Ethics and Caring for the OB/GYN Patient, with Dr. Thalia Arawi (July 2, 2020)

•    Interdisciplinary session on Endocrinology, Psychiatry and Bioethics, with Drs, Hala Tfaily, Leila Dirani and Thalia Arawi (September 17, 2020).

•     Ethical Concerns and Issues in Cardiovascular Illnesses, with Dr. Hadi Skouri and Dr. Thalia Arawi. (October 22, 2020)

•          Dermatoethics Seminars: Series by the Department of Pediatrics under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Ghani Kibbi, with Dr. Isabelle Haddad and colleagues from the Dermatology department. (October 7, 2020)

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2020)

The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the eighth time in summer 2020. As every year, the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research", coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi is offered as one of the requirements. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Deborah Mukherji, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, and Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct, and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speaker Dr. Fadia Homeidan. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a mock IRB session. While this year's class was faced with the challenges of online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to produce remarkable videos as part of their final course projects which were presented via online broadcast. The course culminated with all students taking the Scientist's pledge. Congratulations to the graduates of 2020!

Professionalism competencies working group

In line with the continuous effort to advance the medical curriculum, SHBPP and the Medical Education Unit at the Faculty of Medicine, with the help of a number of faculty members and students, collaborated in a working group to review and develop the professionalism competencies for medical students at AUBFM. (2019)

BROWnies activities

BROWnies, AUBMC's Bioethics Rounds On the Wards, aim to present as a platform for inter-professional team discussion, with attending physicians, residents, interns, nurses, 4th year medical students, and AUBMC clinical bioethicist convening to discuss real patient cases. These discussions serve as a basis for reflection, dialogue and deliberation about moral problems, values, concerns, etc., and also provide participants with a safe forum to clarify and expose critical issues faced in patient care and come up with recommendations.  In 2019, a number of BROWnies activities were held, with the Hariri School of Nursing (HSON) dedicated especially for the nurses to shed light on critical issues that nurses are facing on the wards most of which remain unaddressed up till now.

Bioethics and Patient Care at the Cemetery

For the first time ever, the first “Bioethics and Patient Care" session of the Physicians, Patients and Society 2 (PPS-2) course was held at the cemetery. Second year medical students visited a local cemetery to engage in a reflection exercise on death and dying, which aims to sensitize them to the unuttered distress faced by dying patients and their families/caregivers. Special thanks to Drs. Jad Mhanna, Mohamad Medawar, Firas Kreidieh, Mona Hassan, and Suha Kalash for their contributions in making this activity a success. 

Med 2 Students Clinical Ethics rotation on the wards

As part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care" module of the PPS-2 course, second year medical students rotated in the Intensive Care Units (surgical and medicine) and the Respiratory Care Unit, to learn about and discuss clinical ethics issues faced on the wards. The visit and session were planned and carried out with the help of Dr. Jad Mhanna, Medical Chief Resident 2019-2020 at the Internal Medicine Department, and other resident colleagues, and was made possible with the collaboration of faculty members Drs. Ali Hallal, Dr. Ahmad Husari and Dr. Hasan Chami.  

Mock Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC)

As part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care" module in the PPS-2 course, second year medical students engage in a mock MCEC session whereby they discuss patient cases from different perspectives assuming the roles of various members of the committee and come up with recommendations accordingly. 

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2019)
The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the seventh time in summer 2019. As every year, the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research", coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi is offered as one of the requirements. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Deborah Mukherji, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan and Ms. May Al-Kassar covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speakers Dr. Fadia Homeidan, Director of the Office of Grants & Contracts at AUB, Dr. Abdo Jurjus, Professor at the Department of Physiology, and Mrs. Laura Dosh, IACUC Officer. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a mock IRB session. The course culminated with all students taking the Scientist pledge and presenting their course projects. Congratulations to the graduates of 2019!​

Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds

In addition to the Physicians, Patients, and Society (PPS) course series required as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum, the SHBPP manages a number of yearly integrated lectures, which aim to reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. The following lectures were held in 2019 in collaboration with a number of faculty members and departments at AUBMC:

·- Biannual ethics seminar at the Department of Dermatology with Dr. Lamiaa Hamieh, PGY III.

---“Ethical Issues and Infectious Diseases, Religious Objections and Blood Donations”, with Drs. Dima Najjar, Firas Kreidieh, and Thalia Arawi.

·-“Ethical issues and concerns faced in Cardiology", with Dr. Hadi Skouri and Dr. Thalia Arawi.

--“Child Protection: Zooming into Child Abuse”, with Drs. Leila Dirani and Thalia Arawi.

  “Ethics in Dermatology" with Dr. Carla Stephan, PGYII in collaboration with the Department of Dermatology (November 20, 2019)

Mock Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC)

As part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care” module in the Physicians, Patients, and Society 2 course, second year medical students engaged in a mock MCEC session, whereby they discussed patient cases from different perspectives assuming the roles of various members of the committee and concluding the session with recommendations accordingly. (2018(

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Bioethics and Patient Care 

Dr. Sarah El-Halabi, Bioethics Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at SHBPP, delivered the introduction to Bioethics session as part of the second year medical student “Bioethics and Patient Care” module in the Physicians, Patients, and Society 2 course. In this lecture she discussed theory and thought experiments, and debated a number of ethical dilemmas with the energetic and engaged medical students. We hope this series helps spark medical students’ interests in Bioethics and its many models of marvelous application! 

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Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2018) 

The Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the sixth time in summer 2018. One of the required courses in the program is the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research” which is coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Mona Naboulsi, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan and Ms. May Al-Kassar covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speakers Dr. Fadia Homeidan, Director of the Office of Grants & Contracts at AUB, Dr. Abdo Jurjus, Professor at the Department of Physiology, and Mrs. Laura Dosh, IACUC Officer. Students also had a field visit to the animal care facility at the faculty of Medicine after which they discussed matters related to ethics and research on animals. The course culminated with all students taking the Scientist pledge and presenting their course projects, of which included a notable performance of “the authorship song” created by Dr. James Feghali, Dr. Kamil Hanna, and Dr. Suleiman Ghunaim especially for the SHARP 315, and performed again at the graduation ceremony by popular demand. Congratulations to the graduates of 2018!​

The SHBPP-SANAD Volunteer Program

The Salim El-Hoss Bioethics and Professionalism Program - AUBFM & AUBMC and SANAD, the Home Hospice Organization of Lebanon, continue to join forces for the third year and a new cycle. First introduced in 2015 in an effort to bridge the gap between theory and practice even further by providing second-year Medical Students at the AUBFM an opportunity to volunteer with SANAD in meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of individuals and families living with a life-threatening illness through working with terminally ill patients and their families at their homes, under the full supervision of SANAD’s medical team. On May 10, 2018 SHBPP and SANAD held a follow-up meeting with the medical student volunteers at the SHBPP offices. The attendees discussed the planned schedules and activities, and the medical student volunteers shared comments about their expectations and experiences so far. On October 10, 2018, SHBPP met with Mrs. Lubna Izzidine and Ms. from the SANAD team to review the volunteers’ performance and come up with recommendations for the next cycle of volunteers​

Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds

In addition to the Physicians, Patients, and Society (PPS) course series required as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum, the SHBPP manages a number of yearly integrated lectures, which aim to reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. The following lectures were held in 2018 in collaboration with a number of faculty members and departments at AUBMC: • Integrated Organ System Talk for med I students on ethics and liver transplant was held by Dr. Alaa Sharara and Dr. Thalia Arawi (May 29, 2018).

• Hematology Integrated lecture on HIV/AIDS and Ethical Concerns for med I students with Dr. Zeina Kanafani (May 11, 2018).

Ethical Issues in Cardiovascular Medicine for med II students with Chief of Staff Dr. Samir Alam and Founding Director of SHBPP Dr. Thalia Arawi (September 3, 2018).

• DermatoEthics by Dr. Joanna Khalil, PGY2 in collaboration with the Department of Dermatology (September 5, 2018).

BROWnies activities: 

BROWnies, AUBMC’s Bioethics Rounds On the Wards, were first launched on March 3, 2016 in a collaboration between SHBPP and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The aim of this activity is to present as a platform for inter-professional team discussion, with attending physicians, residents, interns, nurses, 4th year medical students, and AUBMC clinical bioethicist convening to discuss real patient cases. These discussions serve as a basis for reflection, dialogue and deliberation about moral problems, values, concerns, etc., and also provide participants with a safe forum to clarify and expose critical issues faced in patient care and come up with recommendations. In 2017, three BROWnies activities were held, among which was the first BROWnies activity with the Hariri School of Nursing (HSON) dedicated especially for the nurses on November 24, 2017. The activity was met with positive feedback and enthusiastic recommendations for additional activities as they help shed light on critical issues that nurses are facing on the wards most of which remain unaddressed up till now.

Mock Medical Center Ethics Committee (MCEC)

As part of the “Bioethics and Patient Care” module in the Physicians, Patients, and Society II course, each group of second year medical students engaged in a mock MCEC session whereby they discussed patient cases from different perspectives assuming the roles of various members of the committee and came up with recommendations accordingly

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2017) 

The Scholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the fifth time on June 12, 2017. One of the required courses in the program is the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research” which is coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Mona Naboulsi, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan and Ms. May Al-Kassar covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speakers Dr. Fadia Homeidan, Director of the Office of Grants & Contracts at AUB, Dr. Abdo Jurjus, Professor at the Department of Physiology, and Mrs. Laura Dosh, IACUC Officer. Students also had a field visit to the animal care facility at the faculty of Medicine after which they discussed matters related to ethics and research on animals. Congratulations to the graduates of 2017!​

The SHBPP-SANAD Volunteer Program 

The Salim El-Hoss Bioethics and Professionalism Program - AUBFM & AUBMC and SANAD, the Home Hospice Organization of Lebanon, continue to join forces for the second year and a new cycle. First introduced in 2015 in an effort to bridge the gap between theory and practice even furtherby providing second-year medical students at the AUBFM an opportunity to volunteer with SANAD in meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of individuals and families living with a life-threatening illness through working with terminally ill patients and their families at their homes, under the full supervision of SANAD’s medical team. On December 7, 2017 SHBPP and SANAD held an orientation session for new volunteers at the Issam Fares Auditorium. This included the vision and plan for the upcoming year as well as the objectives of this collaborative effort which allows medical students to appreciate the importance of understanding the psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual particularities of the patient for providing better care. Medical students understood first hand that medicine is as much an art as it is a science and appreciated being compassionate healers. Three amazing volunteers from previous years shared their inspiring experience with the attendees. Inspired by these testimonies more medical students applied to join this volunteering activity. Thank you very much Mrs. Lubna Izzidine and the SANAD team for this wonderful collaboration. Thank you to all of our pioneer volunteers and of course, chapeau-bas to Hiba Ghandour, Alaa Ousta, Rozana Eid and Sera Chamseddine for shared their inspiring testimonies. Looking forward to another wonderful year! 

Integrated Lectures and Grand Rounds 

Ambiguous Genitalia session for Med II students 

As part of the med II medical curriculum, an integrated lecture was held on the topic of Ambiguous Genitalia from medical, psychological, legal, ethics, etc. perspectives with Drs. Mona Nasrallah (Coordinator), Hala Tfaily, Leila Dirani and Thalia Arawi. The lecture was followed by interesting and thorough deliberations. 

“Diagnostic Radiology’s Unspoken Qualms” 

Dr. Thalia Arawi gave an interactive talk on ethics in radiology under the title “Diagnostic Radiology’s Unspoken Qualms” as part of the AUBMC’s Radiology Department daily morning lectures. The talk took place on Monday, the 3rd of July, 2017 at the Garden Offices. The talk was attended by residents and physicians and was followed with interesting questions and deliberations. 

  The “The Healing Symphony” 

  Dr. Thalia Arawi gave an interactive talk on ethics in Family Medicine under the title “The Healing Symphony” as part of the AUBMC’s Family Medicine Departmental town meetings. The talk took place on Wednesday, the 27th of September, 2017. The talk was attended by residents and physicians

SHBPP residents’ orientation session 

Dr. Thalia Arawi addressed new residents at AUBMC during the Residents Orientation session which took place on June 5, 2017 in a lecture entitled “The days are long, but the years are short: Respice Finem”. The lecture highlighted the significance of mortality, compassion, and trying to make a difference in the lives of others both in one’s personal life and practice. At the end of the session, residents were asked to write their future selves a letter that they will receive during their residents’ graduation ceremony. All residents were given pins of the Asclepius rod embossed with the Latin expression “Respice Finem” – meaning “Consider the end”.

FROST 

“From the Other Side of the Stethoscope” “Epocsohtets!” (FROSt) is an open forum created by the SHBPP for individuals to convene and discuss issues related to patient care in an informal setting. This initiative aims to teach students the importance of care through sharing stories of patients highlighting their experiences “from the other side of the stethoscope”.

First FROSt Event

 On Thursday, February 16, 2017, the first “Epocsohtets!” (aka FROSt) was held at the Issam Fares Hall in AUB with Mr. Charif Kaiss as the invited speaker. Mr. Kaiss was born on the 20th of August 1994 and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia B-cell type on the 29th of August 2015. Charif spent five months at AUBMC, where he received chemotherapy followed by a Bone Marrow Transplant. In his informal and inspiring talk, Charif shared his experience not only as a cancer survivor, but as a patient who had to overcome all sorts of challenges while battling against the disease. Charif addressed his audience of students, residents, physicians, as well as family and friends about the importance of empathy and support in the physician-patient encounter, and how a simple smile can make a huge difference for the patient. He spoke about an invisible magic wand that made a big difference in his care and cure that kept him hopeful and enthusiastic in his journey towards healing, and he thanked the team of physicians, residents, and nurses who helped him along the way. Charif stressed that his experience taught him that medicine is more than just a science, it is also an art, and that his new aspiration is to reach out to patients in the hope of inspiring and supporting them in their own battles.

2nd FROSt event: Dr. Farid Fuleihan: Unforgettable Physician, Unforgettable Hero!

On Thursday, March 30, 2017, the second “Epocsohtets!” (aka FROSt) was held with Mrs. Wadad El Hoss as the invited speaker. Mrs. Wadad El Hoss shared her family’s personal experience with Dr. Farid Fuleihan, whom she characterized as an “Unforgettable physician and Unforgettable hero”. Mrs. El Hoss addressed her audience of residents, physicians, as well as family and friends about the importance of empathy and support, and explained how being there for the patient not only physically but also emotionally makes a difference. We were happy and honored to have with us the family members of Dr. Fuleihan. 

3rd FROSt event: A Medical Team’s Unforgettable Care 

On Wednesday September 22, 2017, the third “Epocsohtets!” (aka FROSt) was held with Mr. and Mrs. Hammoud as the invited speakers. Mr. and Mrs. Hammoud, parents of late Ibrahim Hammoud and their daughter Fatima Hammoud, shared their positive and negative personal experiences with the medical team at AUBMC. They also addressed their audience of physicians, medical students, as well as family and friends about the importance of empathy and support in medical practice, and explained how being there for the patient and his/her family members as humane healthcare practitioners makes a difference

Physicians, Patients, and Society 4 (PPS-4) 

Newly introduced in 2016, the Physician, Patients, and Society 4 (PPS-4) module, incorporated in the Family Medicine rotation, is a culmination of the PPS series, in which med 4 students get the chance to put into practice what they have learned in PPS-1, 2, and 3. In PPS-4, students are able to view and experience all of the before learned concepts in practical context. They also learn how to be proactive in carrying out their mission of the psycho-social, spiritual, and economic dimensions of healthcare especially in the case of disadvantaged communities whereby first-hand aid can make a difference in the lives of patients. Different rotating groups of students accompany the practicing family physician and/ resident of the Family Medicine to their site visits in underserved areas. This includes, but is not limited to, Tahaddi, a resource center where families can receive medical and social care and can be empowered to access the wider heath system. Tahaddi offers free consultations to patients while medication and lab exams are provided at the lowest possible cost. The aim of these visits is to familiarize the student with medical care given to patients in disadvantaged communities outside the tertiary care setting. Students are also introduced to new concepts and skills which involve on-the-ground interaction with a very underprivileged sector of society. The visits also include home visits with a formal reflection component.  

BROWnies Activities 

The SHBPP and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit launched the first BROWnies event on March 3, 2016. BROWnies, AUBMC’s Bioethics Rounds on the Wards, serves as a platform for inter-professional team discussion with attending physicians, residents, interns, nurses, 4th year medical students, and AUBMC clinical bioethicist convening to discuss real patient cases. These discussions serve as a basis for reflection, dialogue, and deliberation about moral problems, values, concerns, etc. They also provide participants with a safe forum to clarify and expose critical issues faced in patient care and come up with recommendations. In 2016, six BROWnies activities were held, and hopefully there will be more to come. The events have garnered very positive feedback with participants commentating, ‘It is great to have a safe space [in which] to discuss these issues, BROWnies is needed, especially when we have challenging cases,’ and ‘We often deal with such cases and do not really know what to do.’ And of course, brownies are served at every gathering!​

SHARP Summer Certificate Program (June - July 2016)

The Scholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) launched its summer certificate program for the fourth time on June 15, 2016. One of the required courses in the program is the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research” which is coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi, Founding Director of the Salim El-Hoss Bioethics and Professionalism Program at AUB-FM/MC. The course includes lectures given by Dr. Mona Naboulsi, Dr. Rami Mahfouz, Dr. Ghada Hajj Fuleihan and Ms. May Al-Kassar covering a wide array of aspects of research ethics such as the history of ethical principles, the development of research codes of conduct and ethical practices and includes various ethical issues. This is in addition to the talks given by invited speakers Dr. Fadia Homeidan, Director of the Office of Grants & Contracts at AUB, Dr. Abdo Jurjus, Professor at the Department of Physiology, and Mrs. Laura Dosh, IACUC Officer. Students also had a field visit to the animal care facility at the Faculty of Medicine. The work of the class of 2016 for the Research Ethics course project resulted in student presentations on numerous topics like research in the ED, compassionate use, research and vulnerable populations, research during times of crisis, whistleblowing, data management, mental health research, stem cell research etc. Congratulations to the graduates of 2016! 

Medical Humanism as part of Medical Teaching

It might seem extraordinary to note that medicine must be listed under Humanities, but the reason for such a possibly audacious statement is that medicine is the most humane of the sciences and the most scientific of the humanities! Starting from this belief and from the conviction that we need to graduate physician healers and not only healthcare practitioners, the SHBPP has made significant additions and changes to the undergraduate medical education program by integrating Bioethics and Medical Humanities as a requirement and introducing required courses and activities throughout the undergraduate medical curriculum by introducing the Physicians, Patients, and Society (PPS) course series for med 1 to med 3 students, now an integral part of the Impact Curriculum. This is in addition to several integrated lectures that reveal the intricate connection between bioethics and medicine. We are also happy to share that PPS4 is in the making! 

Physicians, Patients and Society 1 

Aims to allow students to appreciate the psycho-social dimension of illness. This course explores the place of medicine, illness, suffering and the human body in human culture expressed through art, literature and history of medicine, and the psychosocial dimension of illness through close encounters with patients (the Caring Spotlight Experience). PPS-1 brings together a more holistic approach that focuses on the whole patient (and physician-patient relationship) and not just the specific disease, condition, injury, or symptom. Reflecting on PPS1, one student noted that “it was interesting how we approached clinical topics from various and completely different aspects. It is important to get a comprehensive view of medicine, and this module really emphasized how broad the field can be.” Another student highlighted another dimension: “It is a well needed humanity course that develops the student into a better more empathetic and understanding doctor.”

Physicians, Patients and Society 2 

Aims to increase the awareness of students on the broad range of ethical issues that they might face at the bedside. The course consists of four modules, Palliative Care, Bioethics and Patient Care, Research Ethics (replacing the Spirituality in Medicine module which might experience a quick comeback), and Caring Spotlight Experience 2 (nurse shadowing). With its various components and activities, the PPS-2 course aims to teach students the skill of ethical decision making at the bedside and give them the initial tools for looking at, and understanding, ethically loaded situations. This course also allows students to examine the numerous possibilities of dealing with such issues and reinforces their personal sense of compassion, commitment and care. Ultimately, it teaches them to appreciate the fact that clinical ethics is part and parcel of medicine and patient centered care. As noted by a recent PPS-2 graduate, this course “introduces us to lessons that will help us handle our future experiences as physicians and it brings to light many things that some of us have never even thought of or considered.”

Physicians, Patients and Society 3

 Revamped in 2015, PPS-3 builds upon the need to increase the awareness of students on the various ethical issues that they might face in the clinical setting, as future physicians and members of the healthcare profession. With time, students appreciate the impact of these issues on patient care and become sensitized to them. In PPS3, students discuss and analyze ethical issues and dilemmas in pediatrics, internal medicine, OBGYN, ED, mental health, public health and others. They are also introduced to the medical law and the bearing it has on their profession. Students tackle issues related to bioethics and medicine, public health, medical law and others. The PPS-3 course also aims to teach the students the importance of being patient advocates. ​

Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Scholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) summer certificate program (June - July 2015)

The Scholars in HeAlth Research Program (SHARP) launched their summer certificate program for the third time in June, 2015. One of the required courses in the program is the “Introduction to Research Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research” which is coordinated by Dr. Thalia Arawi, Founding Director of the SHBPP. The work of the class of 2015 for the Research Ethics course project resulted in student presentations on numerous topics like Research in the Emergency Department (ED), compassionate use, research and vulnerable populations, research during times of crisis, whistleblowing, data management, mental health research, stem cell research and others. Congratulations to the graduates of 2015!

​​Promoting Humane Medicine: “M= EC2 ; Medicine is about Empathy, Caring and Curing” 

In an effort to promote and enhance humane medicine at AUB FM and AUBMC, SHBPP created special posters carrying a new “formula for medicine”, “M= EC2 ”, which stands for “Medicine is about Empathy, Caring and Curing”. According to Dr. Thalia Arawi, this is medicine’s new formula for the 21st century. Physicians need to have and express empathy, try to cure whenever possible and when not possible, to offer all the care that a patient needs. The posters were posted throughout AUBMC and AUBFM. SHBPP also crafted lapel pins with M=EC2 embossed on them and pocket cards with a message explaining the meaning of the pin. Both are distributed to the students at the White Coat Ceremony annually.​

The New Medical Oath 

The AUB FM released a new version of the Hippocratic Medical Oath, an expression of ideal conduct for physicians. The revised oath was developed by a taskforce within SHBPP. Medical graduates, in addition to third year medical students at the White Coat Ceremony, recited the new oath and pledged to support and abide by it. Residents also received a copy of the oath at their graduation ceremony. The new AUB FM version of the Hippocratic Oath focuses on humanism, compassion, care and healing. It addresses two important tenets: benefiting the ill and protecting patients against personal and social harm. The oath was altered to reflect the beliefs prevalent at the Faculty of Medicine which are loyalty to the profession of medicine and care for fellow human beings with compassion, empathy, and kindness.

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