1. IN THIS ISSUE
Open House 2015-FRRP Awards
FRRP Publications
FRRP Residents’ News
In the Spotlight
Why Research?
OPEN HOUSE 2015
The Fellowship and Residency Research Program at the Faculty of Medicine
(FM) and the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) held
its second clinical research open house on June 5, 2015, in the Hisham
Jaroudi Auditorium, Rafic Hariri School of Nursing. This year’s Open House
showcased 46 graduating residents who presented their research work.
In her opening speech, Dr. Samia Khoury, Associate Dean for Clinical and
Translational Research, Director of Abu Haidar Neuroscience Institute and
Director of Nehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center at AUBMC
welcomed all the attendees from all departments to the 2nd
Clinical
Research Open House.
Dr. Hani Tamim, Associate professor, Director of the Biostatistics Unit at
the CRI and Director of the Fellowship and Residency Research Program
(FRRP) introduced the Clinical Research Institute (CRI) which plays a
major role in supporting clinical research at AUBMC.
In his turn, Dr. Ali Taher, professor of medicine, associate chair of research,
and Director of the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP)
delivered a presentation on the program which has developed to a
required component at the Faculty of Medicine at AUBMC. First implemented
at the Department of Internal Medicine (IM) in 2011/2012, the program
requires all residents to participate in a research project throughout
their residency period. (Continued on page 2)
Several oral presentations for the second group of graduating residents
who participated in the Fellowship and Residency Research Program
(FRRP) followed. Presentations highlighted the results of their research
projects in diverse topics.
45 graduating residents’ posters were displayed in the back yard of Hisham
Jaroudi Auditorium for the audience to explore. The event featured an award
ceremony for both residents’ posters and oral presentations. Awards that
recognized the unique talents of the presenters were granted to the participants.
The 2nd
Clinical Research Open House shed light on the residents’ painstaking
efforts that culminated in the development of their research. Each resident
had the opportunity to present the results of the work attained under the
supervision of faculty advisors from different AUBMC departments.
ISSUE NO.2 - WINTER 2016
3. FELLOWSHIP AND RESIDENCY RESEARCH PROGRAM
(FRRP) AWARDS
The 2nd group of graduating residents who participated in the Fellowship and Residency Research Program
(FRRP), received awards and prizes in a ceremony which celebrated their participation as follows:
Poster awards:
Dr. Ebla Abdalrahman - Advisor: Dr. Ghassan Dbaibo - Pediatrics Department
Dr. Sami Bdeir - Advisor: Dr. Elie Akl - Internal Medicine Department
Dr. Rony Al Nawwar - Advisor: Dr. Marie Aouad-Maroun - Anesthesiology Department
4. FELLOWSHIP AND RESIDENCY RESEARCH PROGRAM
(FRRP) AWARDS
Oral Presentation Awards
First prize: Dr. Aline El Haddad - Advisor: Dr. Kassem Barada - Internal Medicine Department
Second prize: Dr. Alexandra Ghadieh - Advisor: Dr. Ghassan N. Hamadeh - Family Medicine Department
Third prize: Dr. Alaa Bou Ghannam - Advisor: Dr. Shady Awwad -Ophthalmology Department
5. FELLOWSHIP AND RESIDENCY RESEARCH PROGRAM
(FRRP) PUBLICATIONS
Below is a list of the most uodated Fellowship and Residency Program (FRR) publications:
• Nabulsi M, Yazbeck N, Charafeddine F. Lactose-free milk for infants with acute gastroenteritis in a developing
country: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2015, 16:46
Dr. Fatme Charafeddine is a PGY V fellow in Pediatric Cardiology and participated in the 2015 Open House.
• Massad C, Loya A, Taraif S, Saroufim M, Kibbi AG, Habib R, Novy M, Rauscher B, Oberkanins C, Khalifeh I. BRAF
mutation status in primary and metastatic melanomas in two regions with differing potential ultraviolet radiation
exposure. Clin Exp Dermatol 2014, 39(8):932-43
Dr. Cleo Masaad of the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine will participate in the 2016 Open House.
• Saab M, El Hage H, Charafeddine K, Habib RH, Khalifeh I. Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Why Punch
When You Can Scrape? Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015, 92(3):518-22
Dr. Mario Saab of the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine will participate in the 2016 Open House.
• Aoun J, Habib R, Charaffeddine K, Taraif S, Loya A, Khalifeh I. Caseating Granulomas in Cutaneous
Leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014, 23;8(10):e3255
Dr. Jessica Aoun completed the Pathology and Lab Medicine residency program requirements in 2015.
• Abou Rahal J, Kurban M, Kibbi AG, Abbas O. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in alopecia areata. J Eur Acad Dermatol
Venereol 2014 (Impact Factor: 3.105) [Epub ahead of print]
Dr. Abou Rahal completed the Dermatology residency program requirements in 2015 and is currently pursuing
her fellowship training in France.
• Sleiman R, Kurban M, Abbas O. Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Differentiating
the Lymphocytic Cicatricial Alopecias. Dermatology 2015, 231(2):158-63.
Dr. Sleiman completed the Dermatology residency program requirements in 2015 and is currently in private
practice in Beirut.
• El Sayed MJ, El Zahran T, Tamim H. Acute stroke care and thrombolytic therapy use in a tertiary care center in
Lebanon. Emerg Med Int. 2014, 2014:438737
Dr. Tharwat El Zahran is a PGY4 resident in the Department of Emergency Medicine. She will graduate in
June 2016.
• Abou Dagher G, Harmouche E, Jabbour E, Bachir R, Zebian D, Bou Chebl R. Sepsis in hemodialysis patients.
BMC Emerg Med 2015, 14;15(1):30
Dr. Elsy Jabbour is a PGY4 resident in the Department of Emergency Medicine. She will graduate in June 2016.
• Dalle I, Reljic T, Nishihori T, Antar A, Bazarbachi A, Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Kharfan-Dabaja MA. Extracorporeal
photopheresis in steroid-refractory acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease: results of a systematic review
of prospective studies. BiBiol Blood Marrow Transplant 2014, 20(11):1677-86
Dr. Iman Abou Dalle is a fellow in Hematology Oncology; she graduated from the Department of Internal
Medicine in June 2014.
• Masri O, Ibrahim F, Badreddine R, Chalhoub J, Sharara A. Prevalence of Barrett’s esophagus in Lebanon. Turk
J Gastroenterol 2015, 26(3):214-7
Dr. Feras Ibrahim is now a fellow in Gastroenterology; he completed his residency program requirements
from the Department of Internal Medicine in June 2015.
• Talih F, Warakian R, Ajaltouni J, Shehab AA, Tamim H. Correlates of Depression and Burnout among Residents in a
Lebanese Academic Medical Center: a Cross-Sectional Study. Acad Psychiatry 2015, Aug 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Dr. Razmik Warakian completed the Internal Medicine residency program requirements in 2014.
• Ghadieh AS, Hamadeh GN, Mahmassani DM, Lakkis NA. The effect of various types of patients’ reminders on
the uptake of pneumococcal vaccine in adults: A randomized controlled trial.Vaccine 2015, 26;33(43):5868-72
Dr. Alexandra Ghadieh completed the Family Medicine residency program requirements in 2015, and she is
currently practicing Family Medicine outside AUBMC.
• Mirza FG, Ghulmiyyah L, Tamim H, Bou Hamdan F, Geagea S, Breidy J, Usta I, Adra A, Nassar A. Echogenic
Intracardiac Focus on Second Trimester Ultrasound: Prevalence and Significance in a Middle Eastern
Population. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015, 15:1-4. [Epub ahead of print]
Dr. Sandra Geagea is a PGY4 chief resident in the Department of OB/GYN and will graduate in June 2016.
6. RESIDENTS’ NEWS
Below is a list of 3 selected activities carried out by residents regarding their Fellowship and Residency Program
(FRR) projects:
1. Dr. George Assaf (2015 graduate), from the Department of Family Medicine, presented his FRRP project during
the 9th
Annual Research Day 2015 held on the 11th of April 2015 at the American University of Beirut (AUB).
The Annual Research Day is organized by the Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE) of the
Lebanese Medical Students’ International Committee (LeMSIC) in collaboration with Alpha Omega Alpha
(AOA) and the Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Science (LAAS).
Dr. Assaf won the Research Day 2015 Alpha Omega Alpha Award for the Best Oral Presentation based on his
FRRP project entitled, “Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Associated Risk Factors in Ambulatory
Senior Patients”.
The Principal Investigators for this project were Dr. Georges Assaf and Dr. Diana Rahme from the Department
of Family Medicine.
2. Two FRRP projects supervised by Dr. Pascal Karam from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
have been accepted for an oral presentation at the 12th Middle East Metabolic Group regional meeting held in
Muscat, Oman between October 29 and Nov 1, 2015.
The first project, entitled Diagnosis and Outcome of Maple Syrup Urine Disease: a Retrospective Study of 35
Lebanese Patients, was prepared by Dr. George Al-Haddad during his residency training under the mentorship
of Dr. Pascal Karam. The second project, entitled Outcome of Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia in Correlation
with Therapeutic Modalities, was prepared by Dr. Parisa Pakdel during her residency training as well. Both
studies are currently being prepared for publication.
3. Another FRRP project prepared by the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine was accepted for
an oral presentation in the 36th Union of Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean Pediatric Societies (UMEMPS)
conference that was held in Greece, Athens from October 1st to October 3rd
, 2015.
This project, entitled “Computed Tomography before Lumbar Puncture in Suspected Meningitis”, was prepared
by Dr. Lucie Tawk during her residency training under the mentorship of Dr. Rima Hanna Wakim. The final
manuscript for the study is currently being drafted for publication.
7. WHY RESEARCH
• Residency research programs help conduct research that is directed towards defining mechanisms of
human diseases.
• Residents will have a good perspective towards developing a career in biomedical research.
• Integration of research and medical training may help develop theoretical- and experimental- approaches
to solve problems on hypothesis-driven research.
• Residents with ongoing medical research may translate basic, clinical and translational discoveries from the
bench to bedside.
8. IN THE SPOTLIGHT
OSSAMA ABOU HASSAN
PGY3 RESIDENT
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Q: In what way, did the FRRP enhance your research abilities?
A: One of the most important things I have learned with the FRRP is to
ask the right research question. This is not to mention the meticulous
process that goes from making sure the question is ethical and that
all procedures that follow fulfill the patients’ own good, including
collecting and extracting the data that serves this ultimate aim.
Q: Do you consider research an integral part of a physician’s duties? Why?
A: Physicians are constantly bombarded with unanswered questions.
Engaging in this reactive community should occur as part of our daily
routine. Even research that shows negative results gives great insight for
other questions to follow.
Q: What advice would you give to future residents regarding the FRRP?
A: Send your IRB proposal early, very early.
ZEINA AYOUB
CHIEF RESIDENT
DEPARTMENT OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Q: Do you believe that your involvement in medical research during your
residency years serves as a determinant of your future involvement in
clinical research?
A: Participating in a research project during residency has strengthened
my medical knowledge and made me a better resident. I strongly believe
that the skills I learnt during my FRRP project will be very helpful and will
definitely be part of my future practice in an academic setting.
Q: Will you continue pursuing research after the graduation or was it
just a phase leading to your graduation?
A: I consider research an integral part of my career and will definitely
pursue research after I graduate.
Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced while working on your FRRP project?
A: My project was a retrospective study looking at patients treated since 2003. I had to obtain oral consent
from patients, and it wasn’t always easy to reach them. I faced another challenge with the data collection
since some of the charts were incomplete and lacked follow-up data, so I had to search different sources for
the missing information.
FELLOWSHIP AND RESIDENCY RESEARCH PROGRAM (FRRP)
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Gefinor- Block B- 4th
Floor
For questions and comments:
frrp-fm@aub.edu.lb
Tel: +961 1 350000 ext. 5776
Departmental Leadership:
Ali Taher, MD, PhD, FRCP
Hani Tamim, PhD
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