The Salim El-Hoss Bioethics and Professionalism Program (SHBPP) at the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine (AUB FM) and Medical Center (AUBMC) held its annual awards ceremony on June 14, 2022, in celebration of its SHBPP-AUB FM Humanism and Professionalism Award and the AUBMC-SHBPP Abdul Wahab Itani Moral Courage Award to honor exemplary role models at AUBFM and AUBMC who have shown particular dedication and exceptional qualities of integrity and care in their clinical practice during this past year of tribulations and challenges.
In a live Zoom call, distinguished guest speaker Dr. Nancy Olivieri, highlighted the importance of moral courage, “many of us will come to a crossroads in life where a profound personal decision places perhaps our moral compass, our livelihood, or our reputation in the balance; a crossroads in which what will confront us is both the right thing and an easy alternative. […] If we want the moral compass of physicians to point true north we must make it easy for them to calibrate those compasses according to the needs of patients and not the demands of the marketplace." She congratulated the winners of the Abdul Wahhab Itani Moral Courage Award noting, “Today's awardees are being honored because of the direction of their moral compasses, the difficult choices each of them made in the face of an easy alternative; each of them acted with courage with grace and with fortitude, what Iris Murdoch called those “crucial moments of choice" for which they are rightly honored".
In a recorded message, Dr. Asem H. Mansour, CEO and Director General of the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan, conveyed that, in the wake of the recent technological advancements in the field of medicine such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and precision medicine presented at the forefront in medical journals and conferences, while crucial, it is important that these issues do not take precedence at the expense of humanism in medicine. These fast-paced developments have made it more difficult for medical students and practitioners to dedicate enough attention to the humanistic practice of medicine; however, it is imperative that medical schools and institutions re-instill the values and aptitudes needed to graduate empathic humane physicians, who are technically skilled, but also able to provide comprehensive compassionate care attending to the patient as a whole.
The SHBPP also took the opportunity to recognize Dr. Marianne Majdalani, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at AUBMC, for being an integral and passionate collaborator with SHBPP and her continuous contributions and dedication to the teaching and enhancement of ethics and humanism over the past few years. In her guest talk, Dr. Majdalani said “The past three years have been challenging […] yet this has really brought out the humanistic trait in many of us, the unflappable commitment to overcome the obstacles to care for your friends to help your peers to be there for your patients your family while keeping in mind to caring for yourself. This is truly a tribute to your humanism, so hats down for that. Many medical students have emerged as champions and leaders and are exhibiting the true meaning of being a doctor by setting up clinics to help the needy and raise funds, and this really could not have been done did they not have amazing role models in front of them." She concluded, “I would like to heartfeltly congratulate the doctors for the recognition they are receiving, as they in my critical conscious mind have exemplified the commitment to humanism and professionalism."
The distribution of the awards followed the guest talks, beginning with the annual Abdul Wahab Itani Moral Courage Award, offered to encourage and medical students at AUBMC who have shown moral courage at the AUBMC, stood up for patients and what is right regardless of the consequences. The award consists of a medal, pin, and a monetary gift awarded by the wife of the late Mr. Itani, Mrs. Diala Itani. The 2022 award was presented by Assistant Dean of Medical Education Dr. Ramzi Sabra and SHBPP Founding Director Dr. Thalia Arawi to this year's winner, graduate fourth year medical student Dr. Taha Hatab. In his acceptance message, Dr. Hatab conveyed his gratitude by thanking SHBPP and Dr. Arawi and the opportunity to impact patients' lives through the Medical Humanism Fund. Graduate Fellow Dr. Firas Kreidieh was also presented with an Honorary Award, upon which he expressed his heartfelt gratitude, “to every person with whom my road has crossed to every friend I have met each one has touched my path in a way that shaped me into the person standing today in front of you, and this interaction I will forever cherish till the last breath". He also thanked Dr. Arawi for her mentorship and guidance, and along with a number of students and mentees, presented her with a symbolic gesture of appreciation.
This year, to honor the deserving physicians who have continued to serve the community with devotion under these unforeseen circumstances, two physicians were selected as recipients of the 2022 Medical Humanism and Professionalism Physician Award. Dr. Diana Rahme, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at AUBMC, accepted the award stating, “I believe you cannot live humanism if you are not surrounded by humanistic people […] When you are a team of humanistic people then you can practice ethics compassion
[…] I think we have the fortunate chance to work in this institution, and it is the only place in the MENA where we value ethics and professionalism and this means a lot."
The second recipient was Dr. Salman Mroueh, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at AUBMC, who expressed his thanks for receiving the award, “I have to say that in my career I had good role models, to mention a few: Dr. Majd Ariss, as mentioned by Dr. Majdalani just now, my cousin, Dr. Adnan Mroueh, who was honored in this hall few weeks ago, my long-time friend, Dr. Miguel Abboud, in addition to the colleagues who are receiving this award now or have received it before me. I wish to all of us the courage to persevere in our functions in these difficult times."
Finally, the 2022 Medical Humanism and Professionalism Resident Award was presented to Dr. Nour Abdul Halim, graduate resident from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, in absentia, and to Dr. Rebecca Andraos, graduate resident in General Surgery, who thanked the awards committee and SHBPP “Lots of sincere admiration for the Salim El-Hoss Bioethics and Professionalism Program for this valuable recognition of the most important aspect of any physician […] I truly believe this is the highest form of recognition a resident can earn and a motivation for all of us to choose to keep our humanity, share it, and acknowledge it in our patients and each other."
The AUB FM-SHBPP Humanism and Professionalism Award, the first of its kind in the Arab world, honors qualities of compassionate care and selfless dedication to excellence. The recipient of the award is also a remarkable role model, self-reflective about his/her own continuing development. It is granted to the physician and resident who exemplifies the humane and professional aspects of medicine and who is exceptionally proficient, compassionate, kind, responsible and concerned about the welfare of patients, colleagues, staff and students.