On September 15, 2015, the Children’s Heart Center (CHC) celebrated its 20th Anniversary in a ceremony which highlighted the center’s tremendous achievements and honored Dr. Mounir Obeid, the legendary cardiac surgeon and Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the American University of Beirut (AUB). The honoring ceremony took place at Issam Fares Auditorium in the presence of AUB President, Fadlo Khuri, members of the Board of Trustees at AUB, Executive VP for Medical Affairs and Global Strategy and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Mohamed H. Sayegh represented by Deputy Vice President/ Dean and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Ziad Ghazzal, the Associate Dean for External Medical Affairs and Director of Children’s Heart Center, Dr. Fadi Bitar, and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at CHC Dr. Issam El-Rassi, in addition to AUBMC faculty and staff, CHC founders and friends, AUBMC/AUB Community and several dignitaries.
Stating Dr. Obeid’s noteworthy achievements, Dr. Fadi Bitar reflected on the distinguished role Dr. Obeid played since the early 90s as he headed the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program at AUBMC. Dr. Obeid continued to be the lead surgeon at AUBMC before he spearheaded the efforts to recruit Dr. Issam El-Rassi who has joined the Cardiothoracic Division at AUBMC in 2013. Dr. Bitar noted Dr. Obeid’s exemplary contribution, superb dedication and assertive commitment that led to the advancement of the CHC to become a beacon of hope and a world class center to treat children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and deliver start-of-the-art care, outstanding innovative research and excellent education programs.
Dr. Obeid has performed thousands of cardiac surgeries since his joining AUBMC. Ex-co-director and co-founder of the CHC in the mid-90s, Dr. Obeid has held several landmark positions throughout his journey, including Ex-Chief of Staff at AUBMC, founding member of the Lebanese Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Society, and Ex-president of the Lebanese Society of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery. He was the Vice President of the Middle East - North African Chapter (M.E.N.A.).
Currently, Dr. Mounir Obeid, Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), holds the position of the Medical Director of AUBMC affiliate Keserwan Medical Center (KMC). Through his role, he actively embraced the implementation of the AUBMC 2020 Vision while continuing to perform cardiac surgery to the people of Lebanon and the region.
In his short speech, Dr. Obeid illustrated the history of cardiac surgery at AUBMC and in Lebanon. He acknowledged the contribution of the generation of outstanding surgeons that led the program at the Medical Center stressing on the importance of building on the past to reach the future.
A token of appreciation was presented to Dr. Obeid “for the unwavering commitment and invaluable support towards the betterment of the children with congenital heart disease.” His many contributions to the Children’s Heart Center (CHC) in specific and to the field of Cardiac Surgery at large will inspire many generations to come.
