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In Brief

LAU Student Kicks Her Way to Paris Olympics 2024

Taekwondo champion and second-year medical student at LAU Laetitia Aoun has qualified for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics after clinching 1st place in the Taekwondo Asian Qualification Tournament in China last Saturday. Despite recovering from injuries—a dislocated shoulder and a broken thumb—Aoun secured a 2-0 victory over her Filipina opponent in the under 57kg class. Aoun is the second LAU student to qualify for the Olympics after Karen Chammas (BS’14) who competed in the London Summer Olympics of 2012.

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LAU Partners With Télécom Paris

A memorandum of understanding was signed this month between LAU and Télécom Paris—France’s leading engineering school in digital technologies—to promote cooperation in research, knowledge exchange, student mobility and internships for students at LAU’s School of Engineering. Founded in 1878, Télécom Paris is known for its teaching excellence, international outlook and high rate of employability. Through this partnership, the two institutions aim to foster academic excellence and cultural diversity.

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LAU Study on Protein Therapeutics Published

A study co-authored by Dr. Elias Akoury, Dr. Joseph Stephan and LAU Chemistry alumnus Christopher Saab (BS ’22) on protein therapeutics was published in the high-impact journal Scientific Reports on March 5, 2024. The research earned Dr. Akoury the Next Generation Investigator Award in 2023 for shedding light on the dynamics of high-order protein structures and highlighting the importance of understanding epigenetic roles in disease propagation, particularly in cancer.

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Dean Bahous Joins the International Advisory Committee for AI

Dr. Sola Aoun Bahous is serving along with 15 international experts on the new International Advisory Committee for Artificial Intelligence that informs education groups in global health on harnessing innovations to advance AI in medical education. The committee is a collaboration between the Association of American Colleges, the National University of Singapore, the International Association of Medical Science Educators and the International Association for Health Professions Education.

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Alumnus is Elected Deputy Chair of the Saudi Journalists Association

Business alumnus and Editor-in-Chief of Arab News Faisal Abbas (BS ’03) was recently elected deputy chair of the Saudi Journalists Association, which advances the role of journalists in the country. He is a regular columnist and guest speaker on Arab-international affairs, appearing regularly in international media. Upon his election, Abbas pledged to “serve my country, my industry and my fellow journalists in a field that I am well-versed in and incredibly passionate about.”

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LAU Faculty Collaborate on Health-Focused Research

Dr. Rana Rizk will co-lead two collaborative research projects funded by the Research Incentive Fund grant at Zayed University, UAE. Focused on optimizing health outcomes, the projects will explore nutrition teaching strategies in higher education and the effectiveness of the plant-dominant low-protein diet (PLADO) in managing chronic kidney disease through a randomized controlled trial at the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, with Ms. Joelle Abi Kharma and Dr. Hala Kilani contributing as researchers.

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Students’ Graphic Designs to Hit Store Shelves

Led by instructor Rania Khoury, two senior graphic design students, Marie Therese Assaf and Reina Mahmoud, clinched the first and second prize respectively in Sanita’s Design Your Dreams competition, held on February 28. The contest, open to graphic students from various universities, aimed at engaging them in real projects that impact the community. In addition to expanding their opportunities, the winners’ entries will be showcased on a special edition packaging of the target product. (Image, from left: Assaf’s and Mahmoud’s designs)

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US Ambassador Visits the LAU Beirut Campus

On February 28, US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. Johnson met with LAU President Michel E. Mawad on the Beirut campus and, along with her delegation, was accompanied on a tour of the premises by the president, VP Roy Majdalani and VP Elise Salem. During the meeting, Dr. Mawad updated the ambassador on the status of the university, introduced her to the LAU medical centers, and spoke about the continued support from the US government.

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A Multidisciplinary Take on Psoriasis

Psoriasis, a disease affecting 3 percent of the global population, often presents with comorbidities. Tackling the diagnostic challenges, manifestations, and treatments associated with this condition, the Division of Rheumatology at the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine held a symposium on February 16 led by Dr. Laure Irani. International and national specialists in rheumatology, radiology, dermatology and endocrinology presented the latest research, screening techniques and case studies on this disease.

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Partnership for Continuing Education

The Academy of Continuing Education (ACE) at LAU has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Heart and Arrows Ltd (H&A) which specializes in professional training and continuing education in Lebanon and Cyprus. The ACE will work with H&A on establishing and conducting several continuing education programs at the latter’s center in Nicosia and online. LAU’s mission, said LAU President Michel E. Mawad, has always involved investing in talent cultivation “as the sine qua non for sustainable development.”

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