The American University of Beirut Medical Center unveiled its newly renovated lobby, which was named after Hisham Jaroudi, AUB alumnus and devoted donor, during a special dedication ceremony held on June 13, 2013, in the presence of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam and members of AUB Board of Trustees.
“With this gift, Hisham Jaroudi has made an important statement that our mission and goals are worthy of patronage and that the enhancement of the AUB Medical Center through the 2020 Vision is crucial to the future of healthcare in Lebanon and the region,” said AUB President Peter Dorman. “In our drive to cement AUB’s position as the top destination for higher education and medical care in this region and beyond, we will need the cooperation of the broader community and the active support of our network of friends.”
“As we approach AUB’s 150th anniversary, we are conscious of the great impact our university has had in the Arab world, an impact that Hisham Jaroudi is well aware of,” Dorman added. “This gift of a new lobby for the Medical Center reinforces his noble commitment to the humanitarian mission of this hospital and its dedicated staff.”
Jaroudi is a long-time donor to AUB whose many donations have helped upgrade and renovate several buildings and halls, which were dedicated in his name. These include the Hisham Jaroudi Building, which houses the auxiliary services and the Hisham Jaroudi Auditorium at the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing. He has also contributed to the reconstruction of College Hall and the renovation of the lobby of Bechtel Building at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.
“This main lobby renovation and many other projects at AUB and AUBMC would not have been possible without the generous support of Hisham Jaroudi,” said Dr. Mohamed Sayegh, Vice President for Medical Affairs and the Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center. “He not only supports us through his own generous donations but he is a staunch supporter of our institution and helps spread the word to get us even more supporters.”
Sayegh described the renovated lobby not just as the first point of contact and entrance to AUBMC, but as an embodiment of the journey ahead to fulfill the AUBMC 2020 Vision and propel the medical center to heights that will allow AUBMC to compete with the greatest academic medical centers in the West.
“Our vision is to be a part of something great – part of an initiative that will not only lift the name of AUB and AUBMC, but that of Lebanon and the Middle East throughout the world,” said Sayegh. “Let’s give the world something positive to talk to about and show them what our people are known for – strength, determination, and the ability to succeed against all odds as we move towards attaining our AUBMC 2020 Vision.”
“A couple of years back I was admitted to this same hospital with severe brain hemorrhage, and it is only by the grace of God and the expertise of the AUBMC medical staff that I stand here among you today,” said Hisham Jaroudi (B. Arch. 1966). “Some of the reasons behind my donation to this lavish lobby are the expression of my gratitude to the doctors, nurses and medical staff that were instrumental in saving my life with God’s blessing.”
Jaroudi founded his own real estate, consulting and engineering firm in Lebanon in 1992 and formerly co-founded an engineering firm in Doha, Qatar in 1969. He has designed and constructed a number of villas in Qatar and Bahrain, and the Gulf Hotel in Doha, as well as several real estate projects in the Gulf area, France, England and Portugal.
Since 1992, he has been the President of Al-Riyadi Club; one of the founders of “Beirut Heritage Foundation;” and board member of several charity organizations, including the Makassed Philanthropic Association, the Zakat Fund (the Islamic charity fund of Dar al Iftaa), and Child and Mother Care Society. Previously, he was also a member of the Beirut Water Authority and an official engineering expert at the Ministry of Justice (1967-2000).
Jaroudi profusely thanked Sayegh for his forward-thinking “AUBMC 2020 Vision” that is showing its seeds today with the full-scale development and construction that will not stop before the vision is realized.
Jaroudi promised to never stop giving to his beloved AUB and any worthwhile project that would help his beloved Lebanon, as well as calling on others to do the same.
“I am and remain a believer and an optimist, as pessimism never achieved anything, and I will always give to both my beloved city Beirut and country Lebanon so they remain an oasis of peace despite all the turmoil around,” he said in closing. “I have worked and will always work and be there for my community as whatever helps people remains and the rest goes into oblivion.”