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 The department was the first department of pediatrics in Lebanon.
The history of the department was featured in AUBMC News (Fall
2007 issue)
(read
more)
Early 1930's
 In the 1920's and before, pediatrics in Lebanon was practiced by internists. As of the year 1932, Dr
Leonard Moore, a member of the Department of Internal Medicine, was asked to develop a pediatric service
at the Medical Center. He concentrated on pediatric medicine, and between 1933 and 1935, he trained Dr Henry Nachman who was the first pediatrician at AUB and the second in Lebanon.
Dr Nachman graduated as MD from AUB in 1931, became a a
pediatrician in 1934, and joined Dr Moore in establishing the
Pediatrics Department. He initiated research in Pediatric Public
Health in 1935 and in 1936 to 1937, he was a Rockefeller fellow in John's Hopkins Baltimore - Maryland. He came back to AUB where he introduced the first incubators for sick infants in the Middle East. In addition, he was a founding member of the Lebanese Pediatric Society and an active member of the Executive Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean Middle East Pediatric Association.
Research was part of the activities of the Department of Pediatrics from its early inception
in 1935 with the establishment of the Pediatric Public Health Research by Dr Nachman.
(Top)
1935 - 1950
The second pediatrician at AUB was Dr Hassan Idriss, who was
trained by Dr Nachman and Dr Moore in the years 1937 till 1939
and joined the staff as attending physician in 1939. Dr Hassan
Idriss very quickly became the premier pediatrician, not only in
Lebanon, but also in the Middle East. Pediatric patients from all
over the Middle East would come at that time, as they continue
to do so till now, to be treated by pediatricians at AUB and,
particularly, by Dr Idriss. Dr Idriss continued to be the
premier pediatrician in the region until his death in 1979. In
his honor, the Department of Pediatrics dedicated the Pediatric
Library in his name through a generous donation from his family.
(read more)
(Top)
1950's
In 1951, Dr Hans Zellweger who later came to describe a
syndrome known by his name became Chair of the Department of
Pediatrics. He first trained in obstetrics, surgery and
pathology in Switzerland; then, he joined Dr Albert Schweitzer as
clinical physician in Gabon. He trained in pediatrics under
the supervision of Dr Guido Fanconi in Switzerland. In 1950 - 51, he
became a Rockefeller fellow in the United States. Dr Zellweger
He was a pediatric neurologist and geneticist besides his
interest in in all pediatric subjects. He
introduced subspecialties into the Department of Pediatrics
(including nutrition, nephrology, and hematology/oncology). This
was achieved with other prominent pediatricians like Dr Salim
Firzli. Dr Salim Firzli joined in 1948 and he was the first pediatric
hematologist/oncologist in Lebanon. Dr.
Firzli had graduated in 1947, and after two years of training in
the department, he travelled to London for further training on a
British Council scholarship. In 1956, he obtained a Rockefeller
Foundation scholarship to train in pediatric hematology. In
1957, he established the first clinic in his specialty and in
1960 the first clinic in pediatric oncology. The service of
pediatric hematology-oncology was joined by Dr. Ibrahim Dabbous
in 1965 - present), along with Dr Nabila
Wehbeh (1968 - 1975), and were followed by Dr S. Muwakitt
(1991 - present), who trained under the supervision of Dr S.
Firzli. The service remained very active until the establishment of the Children Cancer Center
in 2002. Dr
Miguel Abboud joined the department as Director of the center (2002 till present)
which is now one of the leading centers in the Middle East for
the treatment of childhood cancer and blood diseases. Along with
Dr Abboud, Dr Dabbous and Dr Muwakkit, in
July 2007, Dr Raya Saab joined and is currently establishing
major basic science research on pediatric solid tumors.
The neurology service which was first started with Dr Hans Zellweger in 1951,
and then, Dr Salam joined in 1953 was later operating with Dr Anwar
Sinno (1969 - 1975), Dr Michel Fayyad (1993 - 2000), Dr Mohammad
Mikati (1995 - present) (on leave for 1 year), Dr Rose-Mary Boustany (2006 - present),
and recently Dr Omar Dabbagh (2008 - present).
As early as 1952, the
Department of Pediatrics was the first in the region to
introduce subspecialty clinical practice and research in the field of pediatrics.
Various new procedures in pediatrics were introduced including cisternography, a procedure that was used to
diagnose hydrocephalus by introducing air into the ventricles,
was first introduced by Dr Zellweger, who taught it to Dr Firzli.
 The
number of staff members also increased during that period and
the department florished. Drs Jamal Harfouche, Maria
Salam, Fouad Hamawi, Salim Firzli, H. Yenni Koumatchian, Henry Nachman,
Hans Zellweger and Hassan Idriss were on staff. They were assisted by Drs Amin Youssef,
Nabih Farhat, Raymond Abu Haidar and Mustapha Ghandour.
In 1957, Drs Barkev Andonian, Quanaa, Samia Hamdan and Nadia Istambuli
were residents training in the department. During the period of 1956 - 1957, residents were taking
care of around 600 inpatient cases per year, hundreds of
newborn and premature babies in the Nursery and around 1500
patients in the Outpatient Department (OPD).
In the picture (56-57):
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Standing: Drs A Yusef, N Farhat, R Abu Haydar
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Sitting: Drs M Salam, M Ghandour
(Top)
1960's and 1970's
 In
1960-63, Dr. Calvin Woodruff was chairman of the department. The
department included 14 attending physicians at the time, and
continued to be the leader in subspecialty pediatric practice.
In 1960, Drs Henry Nachman,
Hassan Idriss, Salim Firzli and Barkev Andonian were training five
residents, who were Drs Gloria Bendaly, Ibrahim Yakub, Raja
Asfour, Daad Khoury and Aram Hanissian. In 1960, Dr. Samir
Najjar joined the staff. He was the first pediatric
endocrinologist in the region, and was also the first to start
the basic science research in pediatrics. That same year, the
first infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Salim Musallam, joined
the department ( he was then joined by Dr Adnan S. Dajjani (1964), Dr
Ziad Idriss (1978 - 1985) and Dr Ghassan Dbaibo (1997 -
present). In 1961, the resident
physicians were Dr Ibrahim Dabbous, Dr Azmi Jarra and Dr Neron
Balassanian. Dr. Charles Ayoub, and later Dr. Sami Nassif and
Dr. Farid Kutayli, developed the service of pediatric cardiology
as of 1962. Dr M. Ghandour was the first nephrologist to join the department
in 1962, followed by Dr A. Barakat (in 1973) and Dr S. Sanjad
(1973 - 1975 then 1999 - present). In 1961 - 1962, the
department was composed of nine attending physicians: Dr Woodruff
as Chairman, Dr Henry Nachman, Dr Salim Firzli, Dr Hassan
Idriss, Dr Maria Salam, Dr Jamal Harfouche, Dr Samir Najjar and
Dr Nadra Haddad.
In 1962 - 1963, the department included 14
attending physicians. The attendings were Drs Woodruff as
Chairman, Salim Firzli, Henry Nachman, Hassan Idriss, Sami Nassif,
Camil Makhlouf, Nadera Haddad, Maria Salam, Raja Asfour, Robert Jackson, Samir
Najjar, Gloria Bendali, Charles Ayyoub, Mustafa Ghandour and
Paul Haddad. The residents were Dr A Samadi, Aida Khazin, Azmi Jarrah, Balassanian, M. Younoszai and Issam Koublawi.
Genetics was introduced in 1963 by Dr. Vazken Der Kaloustian,
who later established the first unit of human genetics in the
region (1980).
In 1963, Dr. Reignald Lightwood became chairman of the
Department of Pediatrics and was the first to introduce the
Beckman Method for ultramicroanalysis as a clinical and research
tool. Also in 1963, Dr. John Bitar joined the department
as the first pediatric gastroenterologist (1963 - 1986) and was
later joined by Dr R. Zaatar (1992 - present) and Dr N. Yazbeck
(2000 - present). At that time also the department hosted the
Union of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Society (UMEMPS).
This congress was headed by Dr Nachman and organized by Dr
Firzli as secretary general.
In 1964, Dr. Samir Najjar became acting
chairman and later chairman of the department for 20 years. The
pediatric residency training was further developed into an
organized, leading program in the Middle East. In the subsequent
years, the department continued to flourish, attracting the best
pediatricians in the country with various subspecialties.
Neonatology was first introduced by Dr. Aida Khazin in 1969 (then, she was followed by Dr Nabil Mounla
(1978 - present), Dr May Tabbarah (1981 - 1985), Dr Alia Al Aaraj
(1995), Dr Khaled Yunis (1996 - present), and Dr Lama
Charafeddine (2008-present).
In 1970, the department established a fellowship of 3 years in
Social and Preventive Pediatrics, sponsored by the Macey
Foundation Grant. The program was directed by Dr Elias Srouji
and aimed at teaching and providing comprehensive health care
for children and adolescents within their community, with
special emphasis on the underprivileged. The program continued
till 1975, with the active contribution of Dr Majd Ariss as
member and instructor. During that period also, Dr. Sylvie
Mansour contributed to the development of a psychology service
in the department.
The first immunologist in the region, was Dr Raif Geha, who
joined the department in 1974 till 1975. He performed the first
bone marrow transplantation in the Middle East.
In the picture (62-63):
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ist Row: Drs S Firzli, H Nachman, C Woodruff, H Idriss
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2nd Row: Drs S Nassir, C Makhlouf, N Haddad, M Salam, R Asfour,
R Jackson, S Najjar
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3rd Row: Drs G Bendaly, C Ayoub, M Ghandour, P Haddad
In the picture (69-70):
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Standing: Drs G Roumani, R Geha, N Kronfol, Y Freij
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Sitting: Drs R Sulayman, E Guetcherian, A Shamaa, A Ghazzaoui
(Top)
Late 1970's - 1980's
 The period of the 1970's and early 1980's witnessed the
consolidation of the department as the leading department of
pediatrics in general pediatrics, as well as within the
subspecialties; this despite the Lebanese Civil War
that had started in 1975.
Unfortunately, most of the attendings had to leave the country
in the mid to late 1980's due to the worsening of the
situation. At that time, the department continued to
function due to the efforts of only three faculty members who were
able to stay, including Dr Majd Ariss, Dr Salim Firzli and Dr
Salim Musallem. Dr Samir Najjar remained Chairman till 1986. The first allergist
who joined the department was Dr Fuad
Mudawwar (1980 - 1984). In 1980, Dr Guerturd Dudin also joined the department as a research associate and
worked in cytogenetics.
Dr Salim Firzli became Acting Chairman between 1986 and 1992. He
played a key role in maintaining and developing the department
during a most difficult period. Dr Firzli started a hematology/oncology fellowship training program
between 1988 and 1994.
The first pulmonologist was Dr Salman
Mroueh, who joined the department in 1988.
In the picture (86-87):
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Standing: Drs S Malaab, S Muwakkit, U Itani, M Shehab, A Kaptan,
C Azar, B Itani, B Atiyyeh
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Sitting: Drs R Bishtawi, E Firzli, M Nabulsi, J Hout, H Nubani
(Top)
1990's
Dr Salman Mroueh, became Acting Chairman between 1992 and 1994.
This was a period of recovery from the effects of war. Some
previous members of the department returned and new members were
recruited. By the end of 1994, the department included nine
faculty members and six clinical associates. Research activities
continued with around 11 research articles per year published in
peer reviewed journals.
In 1994, Dr Samir Najjar returned to
AUB as Dean of its Faculty of Medicine. The Medical School and
Medical Center embarked on a major rebuilding process.
(Top)
1995 - Present
In January 1995,
Dr Mohamad Mikati joined the department
as Professor and Chairman. He was a pediatric neurologist and
the first epileptologist in the country. He established and
directed the first Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Program and
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) in Lebanon and the region, for
the evaluation and treatment of epilepsy patients. Under Dr.
Mikati’s leadership, the department underwent a major expansion
and restructuring process. New subspecialties were introduced
including inborn errors of metabolism (Dr Pascale Karam),
genetics (Dr Chantal Farra), adolescent medicine (Dr Majd Ariss),
pediatric critical care and emergency medicine (Dr Marianne
Majdalani), epilepsy (Dr Mohamad Mikati),
neurogentics (Dr Rose Mary Boustany) and developmental pediatrics (Dr Durriyah Sinno). Other
subspecialties were enhanced with the recruitment of new faculty
members in infectious diseases (Dr Ghassan Dbaibo and Dr Rima
Wakim), neonatology
(Dr Khaled Yunis), hematology/oncology (Dr Miguel Abboud and Dr
Raya Saab),
and cardiology (Dr Fadi Bitar). Subspecialty training was restarted and expanded
to include pediatric neurology fellowship in 1995, pediatric
hematology/oncology in 2001, neonatology fellowship in 2003 and
special training in pediatric cardiology and intensive care in
2006. These have enhanced the teaching program and clinical
activities of the department. In addition to the clinical
training program, during the past 10 years, the Department of
Pediatrics also started a post-doctoral, basic science research
fellowship in infectious diseases, cardiology, developmental
neuroscience and hematology/oncology. Commensurate with the
above, several special centers of excellence and
multidisciplinary programs were developed, including clinical
and basic science research in virtually all pediatric
subspecialties.
The Pediatrics Residency Program was remodeled according to the
ACGME requirements as of the year 1995. In 2004, the program was
again reorganized according to the new guidelines of the ACGME.
The graduating residents of 2006 - 2007 were the first class to
complete their training after the program was remodeled
according to the new requirements of ACGME.
During the past 10 years, the Department of Pediatrics was the
first to introduce evidence-based medicine (EBM) to medical
students and to the housestaff through the leading efforts of
Dr Mona Nabulsi. The Med IV class
graduating in June 2007 was the first class to receive formal
training in basic EBM skills by Dr Nabulsi during its
pediatric rotation with administration of standardized pre-tests
and post-tests. It was the first department to give residents
prizes based on academic achievements and to sponsor travels for
special training of residents abroad. The graduating residents
have been able to continue their training and subspecialties in
the best medical centers worldwide, like
Harvard, Duke, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and St Jude.
Several new programs and units were established. The Adult
and Pediatric Epilepsy Program started in 1995. The Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit (PICU) was established in 1996 by Drs.
Mohammad Mikati and Salman Mroueh. The Children Heart Center was
established in 1996 by Dr. Fadi Bitar. In 1998, Dr. Khalid Yunis
started the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network (NCPNN),
the first research network of its kind in the Middle East. Dr.
Ghassan Dbaibo established a clinical research laboratory
involved in vaccine trials and basic science research. The
Children Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL), directed by Dr. Miguel
Abboud, was established in 2002 through the efforts of St Jude
Children’s Research Hospital Board of Trustees, the AUB Board of
Trustees, Dr. Samir Najjar as dean of the AUB Faculty of
Medicine, Dr. Mohammad Mikati as chairman of the Department of
Pediatrics and many supporters and AUB alumni.
 The CCCL
was first headed and started by Dr Miguel Abboud in April 2002.
In addition, during this period, the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) services were expanded and opened to outside
referrals (2002). In 2003, Dr. Majd Ariss established and
directed the Adolescent Program, the first of its kind in the
Middle East.
In 2007, the new Abu-Haidar Neuroscience Institute (AHNI) was
inaugurated at AUB, with the collaboration of the Departments of
Internal medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery and Basic
Science. It is currently chaired by Dr. Rose-Mary Boustany, a
pediatric neurologist who is a world authority in the field of
neurogenetics. As a reflection of the above changes, the name of
the department was changed to the Department of Pediatrics and
Adolescent Medicine, in 2007, making it the first department in
the Middle East to introduce the specialty of adolescent
medicine as part of pediatrics and to carry that name.
During this period also, the department was a leader in
organizing international congresses, that included an Update on
Epilepsy Symposium in 1998, the Congress of the Union of Middle
Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies in 1999, the first
International Symposium in Pediatrics Update conducted in
collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 2000 and
the Pediatric Cardiology Symposium in 2004.
Development and expansion of the department was made possible
through generous donations from individuals, as well as national
and international associations. These donations helped renovate
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Normal Nursery, and
establish the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/ Step Down Unit, the
Children Cancer Center of Lebanon, and fund the construction and
equipment of the Hassan and Leila Idriss Pediatric Library, the
waiting area, the playroom and conference rooms. Important
donations were also provided to purchase equipment and computers
for research and for other academic activities, and to help care
for patients with cancer, heart disease, and epilepsy.
By the academic year 2007-08, department members reached 42 (26 in the
faculty, in addition to 16 clinical associates). Research output
increased to 65 articles per year published in international
peer reviewed journals (average of 3.5 articles per attending
per year).
In addition, several members of the department continue to be
recognized as world authorities in their subspecialties, such
as Dr Samir Najjar in pediatric endocrinology, Dr Sami Sanjad
in pediatric nephrology, Dr Mohamad Mikati in pediatric
neurology and epilepsy, Dr Rose Mary Boustany in Pediatric
Neurology and neurogenetics, Dr Ghassan Dbaibo in infectious diseases, Dr Miguel
Abboud in hematology/oncology, Dr Khalid Yunis in neonatology,
Dr Fadi Bitar in pediatric cardiology among others. Several are
also on the editorial boards of major journals, like Dr Fadi
Bitar, Dr Mohamad Mikati and Dr Miguel Abboud and on the
boards and committees of national and international professional
organizations, such as Dr Samir Najjar (International Pediatric
Association), Dr Mohamad Mikati (International League Against
Epilepsy and American Epilepsy Society), Dr Majd Ariss (was
elected to chair the Committee for Health Status of Children in
Lebanon; Committee of the Ministry of Social Affairs – Higher
Council for Childhood) and Dr Salman Mroueh (Executive Committee of
the Lebanese Pediatric Society, later appointed General
Secretary, and currently President of the Lebanese Pediatric
Society). Department members are regular speakers and
organizers of regional and national pediatric educational
activities, as well as volunteers and leaders in organizing
community service activities, including clinics for school health.
The Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine is now recognized as
the center for tertiary, subspecialized, multidisciplinary care,
for postgraduate training and for clinical and basic science
research. Members of the department continue to be recognized as
world authorities in their subspecialties.
In the picture (95-96):
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Standing: Drs R Aoun, S Shmeitelli, R Choueiri, P Hayek, N
Baltagi, L Abou Jawdeh, K Yunis, F Bitar, R Abou Jawdeh, M Fayad,
L Shalak
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Sitting: Drs H Serhal, Y Darazi, M Ariss, S Mroueh, M Mikati, S
Musallam, M Nabulsi
(Top)
Chairmen by Chronological Order
 Dr
Leonard Moore (1930 - 38)- Dr Henry Nachman (1939 - 50) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Hans Zellweger (1951 - 59)
- Dr Henry Nachman (1959 - 60) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Calvin Woodruf (1960 - 63)
- Dr Regnald Lightwood (1964 - 65)
- Dr Henry Nachman (1965 - 66) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Samir Najjar (1966 - 70)
- Dr Henry Nachman (1970 - 71) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Samir Najjar (1971 - 86)
- Dr Farid Kutayli (1986) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Salim Firzli (1986 - 92) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Salman Mroueh (1992 - 95) (Acting Chairman)
- Dr Mohamad Mikati (1995 - 2008) (On one-year leave of
absence)
- Dr Sami Sanjad (2008-present) (Acting Chairman)
(Top)
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