The Arab Society of Nuclear Medicine (ARSNM) in cooperation with the American University of Beirut Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine organized the Second Conference of the Arab Society of Nuclear Medicine with the participation of about 615 physicians and researchers from 52 countries. The conference, which was the first to be held after the COVID-19 pandemic, deliberated on the status of nuclear medicine in the Arab world and on topics in cancer diagnosis and modern radioactive therapy for several diseases, including prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and other cancerous diseases, as well as heart and brain pathologies.
Participants in the conference included caretaker minister of health, Dr. Firas Al-Abiad, AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri, president of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, Dr. Youssef Bakhach, president of ARSNM and the conference, Dr. Mohamad Haidar, International Atomic Energy Agency representative, Dr. Enrique Estrada Lobato, president of the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Mohamed Roumieh representing Dr. Bilal Nsouli, president of the Parliamentary Health Committee Dr. Bilal Abdallah, as well as a number of physicians, professionals, and researchers.
Dr. Mohamad Haidar gave the opening address. He spoke about the Arab Society for Nuclear Medicine, which was established with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to boost nuclear medicine in the Arab world, improve knowledge and develop the skills of practitioners in this field, and introduce the Arab community to nuclear medicine and its characteristics and benefits.
He said that with the rapid development of nuclear medicine in recent times and with the addition of new radioactive materials to the arsenal of tools for diagnosis and treatment, the society aimed to support and habilitate nuclear medicine workers to keep pace with this development, as nuclear medicine has become one of the basic pillars of diagnosis and treatment in a number of diseases; prominent among them are cancer, cardiological, and neurological diseases.
AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri spoke about the importance of international experts being in the conference to collectively discuss ways of providing the best and most efficient service while making it accessible to everyone because for the first time an association exists in the Arab world to promote nuclear medicine and improve the quality of service in this practice. He considered that the mission of this conference and the society matches AUB's mission, of working on the quality of education and enriching knowledge through research to serve the peoples of the region. This, he said, is in line with the call of AUB to serve as a beacon of excellence and renewal despite the difficulties.
International Atomic Energy Agency representative Dr. Enrique Estrada Lovato spoke about the importance of this scientific meeting that brought together researchers to share their knowledge and their expertise in the field of nuclear medicine. He said that Lebanon was always in the front lines in cooperation with the agency, especially in terms of educational activities led by Dr. Haidar through the American University of Beirut.
Dr. Mohamad Roumie delivered the speech of the director of the Lebanese Atomic Energy Authority Dr. Bilal Nsouli. The speech reviewed the establishment of the society and its goals and addressed the ARASIA Group and the programs funded by the agency in the nuclear medicine department under the supervision of Dr. Mohamad Haidar and the role of AUB to develop its performance and expertise despite the prevailing circumstances in the country. He said, “We see this clearly through our follow-up of the hospital departments that fall within the framework of the monitoring body and its role in encouraging the peaceful uses of atomic energy, especially in the areas of radiotherapy and diagnostic radiology, and of course, nuclear medicine that we, together with Dr. Haidar, support for the development of new radioactive radionuclide production through the programs funded by the agency".
The president of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, Dr. Youssef Bakhach, spoke about the crisis that affects the country, which led to the emigration of many physicians, especially some nuclear medicine experts, and others. He said, “The problem is that the dream of newly graduated doctors and their hope is to emigrate and to leave the country in search of better opportunities and life. These students represent the essence of our medical community in the future, and their loss will weaken the health system in Lebanon". He talked about the suffering of the doctors who chose to stay, considering that the responsibility of the LOP is to use all its energies and capabilities to protect the medical community and work to direct graduates to the medical specializations that are needed.
Minister of Health Firas Al-Abiad, thanked the conference attendees for expressing their solidarity with Lebanon, as it tries to recover from its current crises. He said, "You will discuss modern and advanced topics in diagnosing and treating a large number of diseases. What you are doing places our region at the center of modernity in terms of treatment and diagnosis. But we, as officials, do not look only from a medical point of view. Through health policies, because we are dealing with many modern fields in the world of medicine, and with the decline in global resources, especially in Lebanon with the financial crisis, we find that these scientific developments must be looked at not only from a medical perspective, but also from the perspective of evaluating modern technology, especially costs and usage ethics".
Minister Al-Abiad announced that Dr. Mohamad Haidar will be granted the golden medal for his medical accomplishments and that the date of the awarding will be set later. He added that the award recognizes Dr. Haidar's hard and relentless work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, his accomplishments in nuclear medicine, and his care for patients among other reasons.
This conference marks AUB as a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine, notably in Lebanon and the region, and reaffirms its commitment to education and service through the use of its advanced facilities and the world-class expertise of its educational staff to improve the practice of nuclear medicine and cooperation in Lebanon and the Middle East.