EXPLORE THE EARTH, SOCIETY, & WELLBEING PROGRAM
Health and wellbeing are intimately linked with nature conservation as the health of ecosystems is essential for the health of humans (
WHO, 2015). Nature is home to various habitats and species that have healing powers for humans and serve as the basis for medicine, therapy, nutrition, and leisure (
NatureScot, 2024). This can come from scenic views, medicinal compounds, essential oils, and more services. The health of people can only be guaranteed through healthy, natural and sustainable management of ecosystems (
Elkins and Gupta, 2019).
To deepen the understanding and practice of this connection, the ESW program will explore topics related to nature-based therapies, treatments, and activities that aim to promote and enhance human wellbeing. The program’s projects, publications, and activities will contribute to advancements in nature-related remedies and medical breakthroughs in Lebanon and the region. Research will fall under one of the areas of impact:
DISCOVER OUR PHILOSOPHY
WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE
The program’s main objective is to remove the binary between people and nature by taking action that is based on consensus building through local priorities. It will accomplish these through bridging the three following tenants:
OUR AREAS OF ACTION
MEET THE PROGRAM LEAD
Dr. Nadine Darwiche is a tenured professor in the Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular
Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, AUB. She serves as the coordinator of the graduate program in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Dr. Darwiche holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from George Washington University and is certified from Harvard Med
ical School’s Postgraduate Medical Education program in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics.
Her research focuses on cancer prevention and targeted therapy using retinoids, as well as the development of drugs from natural products and nanoparticles. She has extensive experience in cancer chemoprevention and the characterization of DNA polymerase inhibitors, employing various in vitro and in vivo models to study cancer mechanisms and treatments.
Dr. Maya Romani is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She is a Diplomate of the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, a certified corporate wellness specialist, and the founding director of AUB’s Health and Wellness Center. She also serves as the director of AUB’s Healthcare Professionals Development Center. She is an Executive Committee Member at the AUB Nature Conservation Center, where she has led several nature and health initiatives.
She specializes in lifestyle medicine, tobacco cessation, corporate wellness, and burnout prevention, emphasizing holistic approaches to health. Dr. Romani is also certified in medical education and serves as a VanDyke Medical Educator at the Faculty of Medicine, where she trains medical students and healthcare professionals in preventive and lifestyle medicine. She has earned several local and international research grants and has published multiple articles and book chapters in her areas of expertise.
LET’S EXPLORE COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES - REACH OUT TO JOIN OUR EFFORTS AND SUPPORT OUR MISSION!