On Tuesday, November 27, the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) dedicated the Conference Room on the Oncology floor in the name of faculty member, Head of Hematology Oncology Division and Director of Breast Center of Excellence at AUBMC, Professor Nagi El Saghir in recognition for his efforts and achievements in teaching, research, treatment of patients, dedication and his public service at AUBMC, Lebanon, and worldwide.
The ceremony, hosted by Tele Liban Anchor Nicolas Hanna, was attended by AUB President, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Executive Vice President for Medicine and Global Strategy at the American University of Beirut, Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh, Director of Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute (NKBCI), Dr. Ali Taher, Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Fuad Ziyadeh, dignitaries, and members of the AUB community.
Dr. Fadlo Khuri said, “I would like you all to join me in heaping our praise and thanks on Nagi for his lifetime of service and commitment to the cause of medicine, and for the generosity of the donors to honor him in this very appropriate way. It is a great honor and privilege to be able to dedicate the first conference room to be named in this magnificent new Daniel ACC building of AUBMC to our own beloved Nagi Saghir.”
Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh commented, “Today, we all gather here in recognition of an instrumental founder, director, and doctor for his extra ordinary efforts that have benefited AUBMC, Oncology field and most importantly the patients whom we serve”. He added, “Holding this ceremony at Daniel ACC, this state of the art building which has witnessed the first biggest and most generous donation in the history of AUB is proof of the importance of donations and people’s contributions to the welfare of the community”.
“Dr. Saghir is a celebrated internist and oncologist, and his great attributes are too many to count, but we recognize today also two exemplary aspects that have especially marked his professional career, his genuine passion for advocating for cancer patients and their families, and his deep commitment for supporting philanthropy,” Dr. Fuad Ziyadeh added.
Dr. Ali Taher said, “We gather here to give our students better education and provide them with the best role model of an ideal doctor who is characterized by devotion and dedication. Thank you Nagi for being such a great example.”
In his turn, Dr. El Saghir said, “I am greatly honored that the American University of Beirut is naming this new Conference Room in my name. It is a very gratifying recognition of my dedication for better patient care, multidisciplinary management, teaching, clinical research, leadership, professional, and community service. It is yet another call to continue the advancement of team work and transfer of medical knowledge to new generations at AUBMC,” he added.
Professor El Saghir is the Founding President of the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation, author of the book “ABC of Breast Diseases” and the Awareness Booklet “Knowledge Roadmap to Cure”. He is a leader of many cancer awareness campaigns and Patient Advocacy Groups, and Patient Support Groups, in addition to fundraising for support of needy breast cancer patients. His research, teaching, patient care, professional, and community activities are recognized to have led to significant regional and international impact, Advanced Breast Cancer International Consensus Treatment Guidelines, as well as down-staging of breast cancer in Lebanon. He has received the Medal of Honor for Achievements in 2002 for the improvement of patient outcome and he also received the National Cedar Medal of Honor - Rank Officer (2014) from the Presidents of Lebanon, the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique du Liban (CNRS) 2015 Award, and most recently the Fellowship of the American Society of Clinical Oncology FASCO Award 2018.