The LAU Byblos campus came alive on May 31, 2025, as the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine hosted its 13th annual hooding ceremony. Proud parents, friends, mentors, and faculty gathered to celebrate a new generation of physicians—students, residents, and fellows—poised to join the ranks of medical professionals.

In a ceremony marked by emotion and pride, the school conferred 60 Doctor of Medicine degrees, 43 resident diplomas, nine fellowship diplomas, and six post-doctoral research certificates. The event was attended by LAU President Dr. Chaouki T. Abdallah, senior administrators, faculty leaders, and medical professionals from across LAU’s academic and clinical institutions, reinforcing the deep network of support that guides LAU’s medical community.

Earlier this year, LAU reaffirmed its standing on the international stage when 85 percent of its medical graduates and residents secured matches in US residency programs—an achievement that added to the sense of pride and celebration at the ceremony, and a testament to the school’s rigorous training and global competitiveness.

Addressing the graduates, Dr. Abdallah framed their achievement within a broader context. He reminded them that they were stepping into a world shaped by remarkable scientific advancements, but faced at the same time with growing social, health and ethical complexities.

“This duality of extraordinary progress and deepening complexity is the landscape you now inhabit and, in many ways, are asked to help lead,” he said. “And we ask you not to shy away from it. Engage with it. Rise to meet it—not just as practitioners of medicine, but as architects of your countries and of humanity’s better future.”

His message, however, extended beyond the boundaries of clinical care. “Healing does not happen only at the bedside,” he emphasized. “It happens in boardrooms, laboratories, policy chambers, classrooms, and communities. As physicians, you have a voice and you have power—and a responsibility to use them for the greater good.”

Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Sola Aoun Bahous, the school’s dean, reminded the graduates of the depth and humanity inherent in their new roles. “You are the vehicle, not just for treatment, but for comfort, for clarity, for hope—sometimes even for grief. You’re not entering a profession, you are entering people’s lives,” she said, underscoring the enduring value of presence in an increasingly digital world.

Building on this theme of adaptation and leadership in a rapidly evolving world, keynote speaker Dr. Ken Masters, associate professor at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, offered three pieces of advice for navigating a medical field increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and shifting global needs.

“Unlike your structured university path, your post-graduate life won’t come with preset milestones,” he said, urging graduates to stay curious and proactive. He encouraged them to say yes to opportunities, even the small or inconvenient ones, because “some could lead to unexpected growth.” Finally, he advised decisiveness: “Plan, but then execute your plan—just get it done.”

The voice of the graduating class came through strongly in Dr. Hussein Kaafarani’s valedictory address. “If medicine has taught us anything,” he said, “it is that excellence isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about rising when it’s hardest and showing up when someone needs you most.”

His words resonated with the broader experience of LAU’s medical community, a sentiment shared by Dr. Emmanuel Ammanouil, who represented the residents and fellows.

“Training at LAU taught us to practice medicine not only in ideal circumstances, but in real ones too,” he said. “We trained in a country that tested our strength, our patience, and at times, even our sense of hope. We witnessed a pandemic, a blast, and a full-scale war. Yet, through these challenges, we learned that our capacity to show up for our patients was unshakable. ‘Healing with compassion’ was not merely a motto; it was a truth we lived every day.”

The ceremony concluded with special recognitions for excellence in multiple areas, affirming the diversity of talent among the cohort. The following awards were presented by the dean and faculty:

• Leadership: Dr. Mohammad Zahwi
• Professionalism: Dr. Ahmad Chalhoub
• Research: Dr. Pia Maria Obeid
• Innovation: Dr. Charbel Younis
• Community Service: Dr. Jean-Paul Khairallah
• Academic Excellence: Dr. Hussein Kaafarani

As the medical graduates donned their hoods and stepped into the medical profession, LAU’s newest physicians, residents, fellows and post-docs were celebrated not only for their achievements, but also for assuming the responsibilities that come with the calling: to lead with knowledge, serve with compassion, and uphold the trust placed in them by patients, families, and society.