OBGYNIssueNo13 SummerNewsletter2014

Thisseasonmarksthedepartureofthegraduatingresidents.Tocelebratethisoccasion,adinnerwasheldonJune5,2014,thedetailsofwhicharepresentedinthisissue.Inaddition,avarietyofdepartmentalnewsisfeatured.Finally,the“Didyouknow?”sectionpresentssomefascinatingfactsabouttheMediterraneanSea.Enjoy.

Sincerely,Anwar Nassar, MDEditor-in-Chief

THE FIRST FELLOWSHIP IN OBS/GYN

WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER – FIFTH

CLINICAL SEMINAR

TheDepartmentofOBS/GYNispleasedtoannouncetheopeningofatwo-yearfellowshiptrainingprograminReproductiveEndocrinologyandInfertility.ThisisthefirstofficialsubspecialtytrainingprograminLebanonandthefirstfellowshipofferedattheDepartment.Thefellowshipprogramisdedicatedtoprovidingabalancedandcomprehensivetrainingthatequipsfellowswiththeclinicalskillsandtheresearchexperiencenecessarytolaunchandmaintainsuccessfulcareersasleadersinacademicmedicineandclinicalpractice.Itwillprovidethefellowswiththetechnicalandclinicalexperienceinartificialreproductivetechniques,advancedlaparoscopictechniques,hysteroscopy,andrologyandotherspecializedfertilityprocedures.Inaddition,fellowswillhaveprotectedtimethatpermitsthemtocompletelyfocusonaresearchthesisproject.Dr.SaraFaour,ourfreshgraduatewasselectedasthefirstfellowthisyear.

TheWHCheldits5thclinicalseminar“Whenshouldtheobstetriciantakethebabyout?Acontinuingdebate,”incollaborationwithLSOGonApril28,2014.Dr.AnwarNassaremphasizedtheneedforevidence-basedguidelinesinmaternalhealthcare,specificallyinthetopicofthedebate.Thenfourspeakershighlightedtheprosandconsofeachpractice.Onthetopicofinductionoflabor,Dr.FadiMirzaarguedforcontinuingwiththetraditionalpracticeofinducinglaborby41weekswhereasDr.RabihChahinepresentedevidencetosupportinducinglaborasearlyas38weeks.Regardingthetimingofanelectivecesareandelivery,Dr.MuhieddineSeoudreviewedtheaccumulatingevidenceonthebenefitsofanearlyschedulingofacesareandeliverywhileDr.AbdallahAdraarguedthatthisshouldnotbedoneearlierthan39weeks.Theseminarwasfollowedbyadiscussionandacocktail.

RESIDENT GRADUATION

PARTY: BEYOND EXPECTATIONS!

TheDepartmentofOBS/GYNcelebratedthegraduationofitsresidentsonJune5,2014intheLancasterPlazaHotel.Thisjoyousdinnergathering,whichwasuntraditionalatalllevels,exposedthemultipletalentsofthedepartment’sfacultyandstaffwhichwentbeyonddeliveringbabies.Withtelevisionasthetheme,theeveningkickedoffwithashortmoviestarringthegraduatingresidents,Drs.SaraFaour,RoubaObeid,DimaEzzeddine,AlainChalhoubandSalahMalas.ThiswasfollowedbyanewsreportbyOBGYNTVdeliveredbyDr.AnwarNassar,aweatherforecastandaspecialreportaboutthegraduatingresidentsbyDr.LabibGhulmiyyah.Theaudiencethenenjoyedacomicsection“RoastingtheDocs”preparedbyDr.RamiHelou.MarvelousperformancesbyDr.AlainChalhoubandfriends,theguitaristJihadWehbe,andZiadSahabwithhisbandfollowed.Thehighlightoftheeveningwas“DancingwiththeDocs,”areplicationofthefamousTVshow“DancingwiththeStars.”Threeresidentsexecutedbreathtakingperformanceswithprofessionaldancers.Thejury,whichconsistedofthewell-knownElissarCaracalla,ZeiKhawli–aprofessionalchoreographer,andDaniellaRahme–thewinnerofthelastseasonof“DancingwiththeStars,”agreedonthetalentsoftheresidentsandchoseDr.SalahMalasasthewinner.Dr.NassarthensurprisedtheaudiencewithanArgentinianTangodance!Attheend,loversoftraditionalArabicmusicenjoyedadiverseorientalprogramby‘friends’ofthedepartment.Theaudienceagreedthattheprogramwascreative,different,entertainingandfulloftalentandtaste.Inshortandasoneofouresteemedfacultyputit:“ItisthebestpartyIhaveeverattendedhereorabroad,atAUBorelsewhere.”

ACADEMIC NEWS• Dr.MuhieddineSeoudco-organizedandgaveapresentationatthe5emeCongresd’OncologyFrancophoneandthe2ndLebaneseGynecologicOncologyGroupoftheLSOGmeeting,heldonMarch14-15,2014.Hewasinvitedtopresentaboutcervicalandovariancancerinseveralregionalandinternationalmeetings;RCOGRepresentativeCommitteeinJordan,PalestineandSyriaAnnualMeeting,Amman,JordanonFeb27-28,2014,theSocietyofGynecologicOncologyMeeting,Tampa,FloridainMarch2014andtheOBS-GYNEArabHealthConferenceonMarch29-April1,2014.HealsoparticipatedintheFIGOGynecologicOncologyCommitteetaskforcethatresultedintwopublicationsabouthereditarygynecologicalcancersandstagingclassificationforcanceroftheovary,fallopiantube,andperitoneum.

• Dr.ElieHobeikahadaTVinterviewonLBCIaboutimmunizationinfemalesonMay16,2014.Hewasalsoaninvitedspeakeratthe6thSouthContraceptionDayonMay31,2014,wherehedeliveredalectureentitled“Contraceptionafter40:WhatisLefttoUse?”

• Dr.FadiMirzawasaninvitedspeakerattheSpotlightsonObstetricandGynecologicalPracticeconferenceheldinDubai,UAEonMay23-24,2014.Hislecturewasentitled“ScreeningforAneuploidyinPregnancy:FromNTtoNIPT.”

• Dr.AbdallahAdrawasaninvitedspeakeratthe23rdAnnualCongressoftheSaudiObstetrics&GynecologySociety,heldinJeddahonApril1-3,2014whereheco-chaired“TheAdvancedFetalUltrasoundPre-CongressCourse.”Dr.AdrawasalsoinvitedtotheWorldCongressinPerinatalMedicinefordevelopingcountriesthatwillbeheldinCancun,Mexico,wherehewillbechairingasessionon“PreventionofPretermBirth”&presentingonthrombophilia&adversepregnancyoutcome.

• Dr.LabibGhulmiyyahwasaninvitedspeakerattheDiabetesWorkshoporganizedbytheDepartmentofClinicalNutritionatAUBMConApril4,2014.Hislecturewasentitled”MedicalManagement:When,HowandWhat?”Dr.Ghulmiyyahwasalsotheinvitedkeynotespeakeratthisyear’sLeMSICResearchDaythatwasheldonApril5,2014.HistalktothemedicalstudentswasabouthisownexperiencewithLeMSICandhowithashelpedhimsofarinhiscareer.

• Dr.FaysalEl-KakwasinvitedtotheFirstKurdistanIraqmeetingofOBS/GYN,Irbil,andpresentedthreetalksonGynecologyissues.Hewasalsoinvitedtowriteachapteron“HPVinLebanon”intheupcomingbook“EmergingReproductiveHealthTechnologiesinMiddleEastNorthAfrica”editedbyWyneLandFosterA.Dr.El-Kakcoordinatedthe2ndactivityofWHCandBekaaHospitalinBekaathatwasheldonApril18,2014.

PUBLICATIONS• LataifehI,JaradatI,SeoudM,etal.Survivaloutcomeafterradiationtherapyforpatientswithearlycervicalcarcinomaundergoinginadequateprimarysurgery.IntJGynecolCancer2014;24:124-129.

• ShamseddineA,SalehA,CharafeddineM,SeoudM,etal.CancertrendsintheLebanesepopulation:Areviewofincidenceratesfortheperiodof2003-2008andprojectionsuntil2018.PopulHealthMetr2014;12:4.

CONGRATULATIONS• Drs.TonyBaziandDimaEzzeddinereceivedanHonorableMentionintheJohnJ.SciarraIJGOPrizePaperAwardfor2013.Theirarticle“validationofanArabicversionoftheglobalpelvicfloorbotherquestionnaire”wasamong72clinicalresearcharticlesfromlow-andmiddle-incomecountriesthatwereconsideredforthisprize.

• Dr.MuhieddineSeoudwasinvitedtobeamemberoftheAmericanSocietyofClinicalOncologyResourceStratifiedGuidelineAdvisoryGroupinJan2014.

• Dr.RamiHelou,aPGYIII,hasdevelopedamobilegamecalled“CannonBee”whichisnowavailablefreetodownloadontheAppstoreandGooglePlaystore.Findoutmoreatwww.hayloworks.com

• MEDIIIstudentsKarlSeif,AnthonyObeidandReemAlAssaadreceivedtheExcellenceAwardforthebestpresentationbyaMedIIIstudentfortheacademicyear2013-2014.

MEET THE ALUMNI * Dr. Marc Zerbe received his M.D.

from AUB in 1994 following which he spent three years of residency in OBS/GYN at AUBMC. In 2001, he completed a four-year residency at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, a Johns Hopkins affiliate program. He then joined a multidisciplinary practice in Washington County Hospital - Southern Illinois, where he held multiple leadership positions including Medical Director, Chairman of the Department of OBS/GYN and was a member of the Board of Trustees. Two years ago, he moved with his family to Massachusetts where he joined an OBS/GYN group that oversees a large midwifery practice at Holyoke Medical Center. He is involved in the education of medical students from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Zerbe has several peer-reviewed papers and is certified by the ABOG and is a fellow of ACOG.

* Dr. Gaël Abou Ghannamreceived her M.D. from AUB in 2008 followed by a four-year residency training in OBS/GYN at AUBMC. She is completing a two-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology in the Department of GYN and Andrology of the “Les Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc” in Brussels where she is getting training in reproductive sciences with an advanced focus on fertility preservation in adult and pediatric patients. During her residency at AUBMC, Gaël received the best research award. This enthusiasm for research continued in Belgium where she is involved in basic science and clinical research and has published on fertility preservation. Dr. Abou Ghannam is planning to return to Lebanon in September 2014 to start her career and family. Outside work, she enjoys comic books, traveling and photography.

Did you know?• TheMediterraneanSeawasnamedassuch,becausetheRomansbelievedthatthisseawasthemiddleoftheearth.Thus,theycalledit‘mediterraneus’,thelatinfor“middleoftheearth.”

• TheMediterraneanSeaisborderedby21countriesonallsides.

• Theseahasanaveragedepthof1500meters,withthedeepestrecordedpointbeing5267meters.

• IthasbeenestimatedthatittakesacenturyfortheMediterraneanSeatobecompletelyrenewedthroughtheStraitofGibraltar.

• SomeofthemajorislandsoftheworldarelocatedintheMediterraneanSea.TheseincludeSardinia,Rhodes,Crete,Cyprus,MaltaandSicily.

• By2100,theoverallleveloftheMediterraneancouldrisebetween3to61cmasaresultoftheeffectsofclimatechange.

• Withauniquecombinationofabeautifulcoastline,pleasantclimate,richhistoryanddiverseculture,theMediterraneanareaisthemostpopulartouristdestinationintheworld,attractingclosetoonethirdoftheworld’sinternationaltourists.

Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyAmericanUniversityofBeirutMedicalCenterOfficeC-827,PhaseI

Newsletter EditorAnwarNassar,MDTosubmitnews,commentsorqueries:Email:rb01@aub.edu.lbPhone:01-340460ext.5610

Departmental LeadershipChairpersonAnwarNassar,MD

Vice-ChairAntoineAbu-Musa,MD

OB/GYNWireispublishedquarterlybytheDepartmentofObstetricsandGynecologyatAUBMC.

IN THE SPOTLIGHTDR.JOSEPHNASSIF

Q: When did you join the Department of OBS/GYN?A:November2010.

Q: What is your title?A:AssistantProfessorofClinicalObstetrics

andGynecology.

Q: What are your main duties?A:BesidesmyclinicalactivityinObstetricsandGynecology,Iaminvolvedin

teaching(MEDIIIclerkshipcoordinatorandMinimallyInvasiveTrainingsessionsforresidents)andinresearch.

Q: Prior to joining this Department, what were you doing?A:IwasanAssistantProfessorinStrasbourgUniversityHospitals,Facultyand

MinimallyInvasiveExpertintheEuropeanInstituteofTelesurgery(IRCAD-EITS)andMentorforMinimallyInvasiveSurgeryintheEuropeanAcademyforGynecologicalSurgeryinLeuven–Belgium.

Q: If you were not doing this job, what would have you chosen to do?A:Aprofessionthathascontactwithpeopleand,ifpossible,with

manualskillsrequirements.

Q: What is most enjoyable about your job?A:Helpingpatientsinachievingbetterhealthstatusandunderstanding

theirillnessmore.

Q: What do you find most challenging about your job?A:AcceptingthatObstetricsandGynecologyisalifestyleandnotajob,and

enjoyingitforthisreason.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you choose to go and why?

A:Ihavebeentomanycountries,butIprefertostayinLebanon.Itseemsstrangetosome,butforme,itisthebestplacetobe!

Q: What do you enjoy doing during your free time?A:Swimming,horsebackridingandreading.

Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?A:Iamafossilcollector.

Q: What is your point of weakness?A:Mywife!

Q: Who is your favorite artist?A:CelineDion,andIalsolikeFrankSinatra’ssongs.

Q: What song are you listening to most lately? A:'Justgivemeareason'byPink.

Q: What is the movie or book you have lately enjoyed watching or reading? A:Themovie‘ElNuovoCinemaParadiso’byGiuseppeTornatoreandthe

book'ThePhysician'byNoahGordon.