It gives me great pleasure and gratitude to report the establishment of Hamdi Al Zaim Outpatient Interstitial Lung Disease (Zaim ILD) Outpatient Center at AUBMC. Throughout my professional career, I have been involved with many projects. I, however, genuinely feel the Zaim ILD center is by far the most noble and honorable undertaking I am involved with.
Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a complex and diverse group of lung diseases. The timely and proper diagnosis, together with adequate support and treatment, are crucial for improving clinical outcome and survival of patients with ILD. The aim of Mr. "Hamdi Al Zaim interstitial lung disease center is to provide "state of the art" disease management, diagnosis and therapy for patients with ILD.
Zaim ILD center will be the first center of excellence in Lebanon and the MENA region that will provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary center that will incorporate clinicians, nurse specialists, research scientists, respiratory and rehabilitation therapists. The clinical multidisciplinary team will include experts in pulmonary, rheumatology, radiology, pathology cardiology, dermatology, and thoracic surgery.
Finally, it was my utmost privilege to have met the late Mr. Hamdi Al Zaim and to continue to work with his family to achieve his vision. The trust that Mr. Al Zaim and his Family bestowed on AUBMC is a great honor and responsibility, and we AUBMC are determined to succeed and excel.