"No child should die of heart disease because of a lack of funds."
Stemming from this pledge to delivering the best healthcare to the community, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) cardiac surgeon, Dr. Issam El Rassi extends his expertise towards patients with financial hardships by operating on Syrian and Palestinian refugees once every week in an attempt to save their lives.
When asked about his motif, Dr. El Rassi said that he had lost many babies while their parents were desperately seeking financial help and that he has decided to change that. “AUBMC is a non-profit organization that is primarily concerned with improving the well-being of the people in the Middle East by enhancing their lives. We can’t stand and watch children die of heart disease while we can help .With the assistance of Brave Heart Fund, we make sure that children with cardiac disease are given a better chance at life regardless of financial cost,” he explained.
The Brave Heart Fund is a charitable fundraising initiative, established in November 2003, at the Children’s Heart Center at AUBMC. The fund helps cover the medical and/or surgical expenses for underprivileged children suffering from Congenital Heart Disease.
AUBMC has been dedicated to improving the health of its entire regional community, particularly those that need it most, regardless of their socio-economic status. That includes patients with limited financial resources, as well as those that have been most affected by the turmoil that has plagued our region over the past several years. With the increasing need of financial support to the most vulnerable in our society, a sixth path has been added to the AUBMC 2020 Vision reaching out to supporting the health of local and regional patients in need by ensuring their access to care. AUBMC has also been involved in extensive work towards raising funds to help hundreds of needy patients, who very often have exhausted all options and are in need of financial assistance to secure their medical treatments.
“The medical center is known for its tremendous humanitarian legacy, and our hope is that no patient should ever die for lack of funds. Our commitment to patients in need of financial assistance stems from our oath”, Dr. El Rassi added.
