ASSAD  TAHA, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Surgery & Physiology

General & Emergency Surgery

Trauma & Critical Care

 

Dr. Taha is an expert in Emergency General Surgery and Critical Trauma Care with a clinical practice focused on the treatment of Shock and Complications. He has a background in Physiology and vast experience in Acute Surgical Care that enabled him to take the lead in the treatment of surgical patients undergoing high risk, complicated and extensive procedures. Dr. Taha is active in basic and clinical research as well as modern teaching methodology of Problem Based Learning, Evidenced Based Medicine and Teaching Effectiveness in Medical Education. He has been in charge of the Performance Improvement Program of the Department of Surgery, the Financial Affairs of the Surgical Private Clinics and the Functional Organization of the Operating Theater. 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Cell: 011-961-3-628627     Home: 011-961-1-735105              

E mail: assadtaha@gmail.com   OR    amt@assadtaha.com 

Current Address: Blue Building, 4th floor, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon         

Mailing Address:  3  Dag  Hammarskjold  Plaza,  8th floor 
                           New York, New York, 10017-2303     U.S.A.

 

EDUCATION


Medical School Graduation (MD) 
  American University of Beirut, Beirut-Lebanon, 1980
 

Doctorate Degree - Physiology (PhD) 
  Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43699-USA, 1992

 

RESIDENCY TRAINING

  Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 - USA  1980-1982 
  Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio         43699 - USA  1982-1985

 

CERTIFICATIONS & FELLOWSHIPS

 American Board of Surgery 1986  
 Recertification (ABS) 1996 and 2006 till 2016 
 

 Added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care 1987  
 Recertification (ABS-SCC) 1997 and 2007 till 2017

 

Royal College of Surgeons of Canada

Specialist in General Surgery 1991

 

 Royal College of Surgeons(FRCS-C) 1992   
 
 American College of Surgeons (FACS) 1988  
 
 International College of Surgeons (FICS) 1986
 

VISITING PROFESSORSHIP

 

Visiting Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A  2000-2001

Visiting Surgeon in Surgical Critical Care,  Brigham & WomenÙs Hospital, 

      Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A  2000-2001

     

     Visiting Scholar in Trauma & Surgical Critical Care, Ryder Trauma Center

           University of Miami School of Medicine,  Miami, Florida, U.S.A.  2003-2004

 

AWARDS,  Forms of International Recognition

 Who's Who in America                                2002-2011
Who's Who in the World                              2002-2011
Who's Who in Medicine and Health Care   2000-2011
Who's Who in Science and Engineering      2003-2011 
 

 

 

PhD Dissertation:    Insulin in the adrenal medulla.   

          Medical College of Ohio at Toledo.            

          ( University of Toledo – College of Medicine )  

          University Microfilms International. 

          Bell & Howell Information Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

          Dissertation Abstracts International, 53(5): 2199 B, 1992.

 

 

Clinical Sub-Speciality Expertise :  Trauma, Shock, Intensive Care, Emergency Surgery,  GI Endoscopy, Nutrition, Re-do GI Surgery, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy,

Courses taught : Trauma, Shock, Critical Care, Nutrition, Homeostasis, Introduction to Clinical Surgery, Surgical Endoscopy, Surgical-Anatomy Correlation, Biophysics, Pulmonary Physiology, 

Expertise that may be discussed with Media : Emergency Surgery, Resuscitation, Accidents & Falls, Paramedical Systems, Trauma Prevention, Emergency Response Team, Disaster Management, Emergency Preparedness, Nutrition 

 

Recent Research Projects

Basic Science - Laboratory Investigation : The effects of Hemorrhagic Shock and Septic Shock on the Absorption of Amino-Acids in the Gastrointestinal Tract 
Clinical Studies : Assessment of Trauma Care at the American University of Beirut-Medical Center  
 

 
MEMBERSHIP, MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS
 
Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCS(C)) 1992
American College of Surgeons (FACS) 1988
International College of Surgeons (FICS) 1986
European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) 2000
Shock Society (SS) 1997
American Association of University Professors (AAUP) 1996
The World Association of Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) 1995
European Association Trauma and Emergency Surgery (EATES) 1993
Royal Society of Medicine (London) (RSM) 1993
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) 1987
Society of American GI Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 1987
Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) 1987
American College of Nutrition (ACN) 1987
American Physiologic Society (APS) 1986
The World Medical Association (WMA) 1986
Laser Institute of America (LIA) 1986
American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) 1986
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) 1985
Association for Academic Surgery (Senior member) (AAS) 1984
American Medical Association (AMA) 1981
American University of Beirut Alumni Association (AUBAA) 1980
Arab Society for Trauma and Emergency Medicine (ASTEM) 2002
American Trauma Society (ATS) 1988
American Heart Association (AHA) 1987
Critical Care Club (CCC) 1989
Disaster Medical Assistant Team (DMAT) 1990
Lebanese Society of Laparoscopic Surgery (LSLS) 1998
American Alumni Association of Lebanon (AAAL) 1997
Lebanese Cancer Society (LCS) 1995
Lebanese Society of General Surgery (LSGS) 1994
 
 
 

  PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters :  Torso, Thorax, Abdomen, Genitourinary, Pregnant Women

Taha A.M.,  Contributing Editor, War Surgery, volume II, C. Giannou and M. Baldan, Editors

International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC, Geneva, Switzerland.  ( to be published in 2011 )

 

Taha A.M.,  Abi Saad G.  Thoracic Trauma in War.  Proceedings of the Pan-Arab Congress of Surgery - Seminar on War Surgery. Lebanese Medical Journal. ( Accepted for Publications 2011 )

Abi Saad G., Taha A.M. Penetrating Abdominal Trauma. Proceedings of the Pan-Arab Congress of Surgery - Seminar on War Surgery. Lebanese Medical Journal. ( Accepted for Publications  2011 )

Charafeddine K.M., Mahfouz R.A., Ibrahim G.Y., Taher A.T., Hoballah J.J., Taha A.M.  Massive Pulmonary Embolism Associated With Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin, and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Mutations in a Young Patient on Oral Contraceptive Pills.  Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, 16: 594 – 598 , 2010

El-Chemaly S.Y., Akkary G., Atoui M., Musharrafieh U., Taha A.M., Tamim H.  Hospital admissions after paediatric trauma in a developing country: from falls to landmines. International  Journal  of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 2007

Taha A.M.  Amino acid absorption is decreased after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. Critical Care Medicine  Vol 35 (12)  2007

El Chemaly S., Tamim H.,  Jaana M.,  Musharrafieh U.,  Jamali F., Taha A.M.  A hospital based study of pediatric injuries in a developing country. Implications for public health. European Journal of Public Health,  2006.

Tamim H., Tamim R., Almawi W., Rahi A., Shamseddeen W., Ghazi A., Taha A.M., Musharrafieh U.  Risky weight control among university students   International  Journal of Eating Disorders, 39(1) : 80-83 , 2006 

Ginzburg E., Habib F., Manning K., Lopez P.P., O'Keeffe T., Olvey S.E. and Taha A. M.  Levofloxacin vs Tobramycin in Combination with Piperacillin/tazobactam in a Neurosurgical ICU: A Retrospective Analysis.  BMC Infectious Diseases 2006.

Tamim H., El Chemaly S., Jaana M., Musharrafieh U., Jamali F., Taha A.M. Trauma  epidemiology and outcome in a developing country : Perspective from a university teaching hospital in Beirut. International  Journal  of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 13(4): 245 – 249 , 2006

Taha A.M. Laparoscopy in the management of splenic injuries. Middle East Journal of Emergency Medicine,  2 ( 2 ) : 9, 2002

Abi Saad G., Taha A.M.  Restoration of continence after shot gun injury to the anus.  The Journal of Trauma, 49(5) : 954-957, 2000.

Kanj N., Khani M., Harb H., Jibrail J., Taha A.M.: Lethality of parathion intoxication and drug overdose in suicidal admissions.  A seven years experience.  Critical Care Medicine, 27(1S): A 67(100), 1999.

Hussein M.K., Khoury G., Taha A.M.: Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair.  International Surgery, 83:253-256, 1998.

Hussein M.K., Taha A.M., Wehbe M.: Laparoscopic Reduction of Intussusception.  Surgical Rounds, 21:375-378, 1998.

Hussein M.K., Taha A.M., Haddad F.F., Bassim Y.R.: Bupivacaine local injection in anorectal surgery. International Surgery, 83:56-57, 1998.

Taha A.M., Hejazi M., Saade N.E., Nassar C.F.: The effect of hemorrhagic shock on the absorption of aminoacids in the rat jejunum.  FASEB, 11(3): A34 (198), 1997.

Shabb B., Taha A.M., Hashem H., Bassim Y., Hubayter R., Ramadan F. Thoracoscopy for Empyema.  Surgical Rounds, 19(8): 313-316, 1996.

Taha A.M., Shabb B., Nassar H.  Surgical Therapy for Pulmonary Hydatidosis.  International Surgery, 81:187-188, 1996.

Shabb B., Taha A.M., Hamada F., Kanj N.: Straight Pin Aspiration in Young Women.  The Journal of Trauma, 40(5): 827-828, 1996.

Taha A.M., Saade N.E., El-Mogharbil N., Barada K., Nassar C.F.: Capsaicin specific effect on aminoacid absorption in the rat jejunum.  FASEB, 9(3): A368 (2130), 1995.

Shabb B., Taha A.M., Nabbout G., Haddad R.: Complete transection of the right mainstem bronchus in a 5 year old girl - Successful Delayed Repair. The Journal of Trauma, 38(6) 964-966, 1995.

Barada K.A., El Dika S.S., Atweh S.F., Taha A.M., Saade N.E., Nassar C.F.: CapsaicinÙs inhibition of alanine absorption in the rat jejunum is neurally mediated and involves a decrease in the affinity for alanine absorption.  Gastroenterology, A716 (108), 1995.

Shabb B., Taha A.M., Khoury G.: Thoracoscopic treatment of two patients with infected hydatid cysts.  Mediterranean Journal of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, X (4): 236-237, 1995.

Nassar C.F., Barada K.A., Abdallah L.E., Hamdan W.S., Taha A.M., Atweh S.F., Saade N.E.: Involvement of capsaicin sensitive primary afferent fibers in the regulation of jejunal alanine absorption. American Journal of Physiology, 268(31): G695-G699, 1995.

Nassar C.F., Hamdan W.S., Barada K.A., Taha A.M., Atweh S.F., Jabbour S.J., Saade N.E.: Dual antagonisitic effects of vagal afferents and efferents on jejunal alanine absorption.  Society of Neuroscience, 20:1377, 1994.

Taha A.M., Budd G.C., Pansky B.: Insulin in the Adrenal Medulla.  FASEB, A19 (108), 1993.

Taha A.M.  Shock, physiologic principles for resuscitation. MEJ. of Anesth. 12(1):63-71, 1993.

Taha A.M., Budd G.C., Pansky B.: Preproinsulin Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Rat Adrenal gland.  Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, 23(6): 469-476, 1993.

Birkhahn R.H., Cardwell R.J., Birkhahn G.C., Crist K.A., Taha A.M., Thomford N.R.: Palmitate Kinetics in Fasting Trauma Patients.  The Journal of Trauma, 32(4): 427-432, 1992.

Taha A.M., Budd G.C., Pansky B., Thomford N.R.: Preproinsulin RNA in the Rat Adrenal gland.  FASEB, A1515 (3358), 1992.

Brown J.A., Renuart D., Gunning W.T., Taha A.M.: Ultrastructural Assessment of Blood Brain Barrier Permeability after Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Rat Forebrain.  American Association of Neurologic Surgeons, 76: 364(1268), 1992.

Taha A., Clark S., Baciewicz F.: Widened Mediastinum Secondary to Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Hospital Physician, 27 (7): 47-51, 1991.

Taha A. Insulin-Like Immunoreactivity in the Adrenal Medulla. FASEB, A1391 (5922), 1991.

Zavell J., Taha A., Thomford N.R.: Cardiac Tamponade From Central Venous Catheterization.  Hospital Physician, 25 (12): 16-19, 1989.

El Shafie M., Taha A., Klippel C.H.: The Apgar Scoring System: A Reliable Early Indicator of Prognosis in Newborn Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.  Contemporary Surgery, 35 (9): 50-53, 1989.

Khan A.H., Taha A., Thomford N.R.: Perforation of the Pulmonary Artery Secondary to Swan-Ganz Catheters.  Contemporary Surgery, 34(1): 53-56, 1989.

Taha A., Kierstead B.S., Cardwell R., Thomford N.R.: Acute Pancreatitis in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.  Undersea Biomedical Research, 16:20-21, 1989

Taha A., Zeiss J., Cardwell R., Chandnani P., Thomford N.R.: Rupture of the Right Diaphragm. An often occult and potentially lethal injury. Contemporary Surgery, 32(6):48-51, 1988.

Chandnani P.C., Taha A., Mukesh J., Thomford N.R.: Localization of Gastrointestinal Bleeding by Radionuclide Scintigraphy.  Hospital physician, 24(7): 61-62, 1988.

Brown J.A., Preul M.C., Taha A.: Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Elevated Intracranial Pressure After Head Injury.  Pediatric Neuroscience, 14(6): 286-290, 1988.

Cardwell R., Taha A., Vonu P., Thomford N.R.: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Pyoderma Gangrenosum.  Journal of Hyperbaric Medicine, 3(2): 78-88, 1988.

VanRynen J.L., Wood D.H., Higley M.R., Taha A.: Evaluation of the BIRD Model 7001 Ventilator Under Hyperbaric Conditions.  Undersea Biomedical Research, 15:73-74, 1988.

Zeiss J., Smith R.R., Taha A.: Iliopsoas Hypertrophy Mimicking Acute Abdomen in a Bodybuilder. Gastrointestinal Radiology, 12(4): 340-342, 1987.

Taha A., Buganski R., El Shafie M.: Torsion of a Wandering Spleen. A rare cause of acute abdomen. Contemporary Surgery, 31 (7): 16-20, 1987.

Chandnani P.C., Mukesh J., Taha A., Thomford N.R.: Low Dose Intra-arterial Steptokinase for Segmental Renal Artery Occlusion.  Surgical Rounds, 10(4): 75-79, 1987.

VanRynen J., Taha A., Ehrlich R., Parlette M.: Treatment of Cerebral Air Embolism in the Pediatric Patient.  Journal of Hyperbaric Medicine, 2(4): 199-204, 1987.

Cardwell R.J., Birkhahn G.C., Crist K.A., Taha A., Grecos G.P., Thomford N.R.: Palmitate Kinetics in Fasting Trauma Patients.  Clinical Research, 35(3): 365A, 1987.

Taha A., Klippel C.: Pediatric Pancreatic Pseudocyst Associated with Cholelithiasis.  J. of National Medical Association, 78(9): 887-891, 1986.

Taha A., Shah R.: A Modified Technique for Koch Ileostomy.  Surg.  Gynecol. & Obstet., 163 (4): 376-377, 1986.

Thomford N.R., Chandnani P.C., Taha A., Chablani V.N., Busnardo A.C.: Anatomic Characteristics of the Pancreatic Arteries. Radiologic Observation and Their Clinical Significance.  American Journal of Surgery, 151(6): 690-693, 1986.

Taha A., Davidson P., Bailey W.C.: Surgical Treatment of Atypical Mycobacterial Lymphadenitis in Children.  Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 4(6): 664-667, 1985.

Taha A., Welling R.: Acute Torsion of the Gallbladder in a 100-year old female patient.  J. of National Medical Association, 77(5): 404-410, 1985.

Welling R., Taha A., Goel T., Cranley J.J., Krause T., Hafner C., Tew J.: Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms. Surgery, 93(2): 319-323, 1983.

Taha A., Haddad R., Allam C., Baraka A.: The Thymus and Myasthenia Gravis.  M.E.J. of Anesth., 6(2): 99-112, 1981.

 

Abstracts  &  Invited  Presentations

Abdominal Injuries in War.  21st Annual Seminar of International Committee of Red Cross on War Surgery,  Geneva , Switzerland , March 24 – March 29 , 2010

Thoracic Trauma in War. 19th Annual Congress of the Pan Arab Associations of Surgeons and 12th Spring Lebanese Congress of Surgery,  Beit El Tabib, Lebanese Order of Physicians, Beirut, Lebanon , June 24 – June 27, 2009

Thoracic Trauma in War. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Zahle, Lebanon , June 20 – June 21 , 2009 

Major Incident Medical Management Support (MIMMS). Emergency Health Rehabilitation Project – Iraq.  Beirut, Lebanon, March 14 – 16 , 2008.

Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN). Emergency Health Rehabilitation Project – Iraq. Beirut , Lebanon , March 7 – 10 , 2008.

Thoracic Trauma in War. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Zahle, Lebanon , July 12 – July 13 , 2008. 

Thoracic Trauma in War. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Beirut, Lebanon , July 5 – 6 , 2008.

Resuscitation Session – Moderator . Society of Critical Care Medicine  37th Critical Care Congress. Honolulu , Hawaii , February 3 , 2008

Penetrating Abdominal Wounds – State of the art . Advances in Trauma Management . Iraqi Medical Association Conference. Beirut, Lebanon, August 31 – September 2 , 2007.

Penetrating Abdominal Wounds. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Tyre, Lebanon, June 30 – July 1 , 2007.

Thoracic Trauma in War. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Tyre, Lebanon , June 30 – July 1 , 2007

Thoracic Trauma in War. International Committee of Red Cross War Surgery Seminars. Beirut, Lebanon , July 7 – 8 , 2007

Minimally Invasive Airway Access in the ICU. Lebanese Society for General Surgery. American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut , Lebanon , February 25 ,  2006.

Parenteral nutrition in surgical patients. 6th International Surgical Update. Muscat , Oman , January 24 – 26 , 2006.

Intravenous fluids in Surgical ICU. 6th International Surgical Update. Muscat , Oman ,  January 24 – 26 , 2006.

Road Traffic Injuries in Lebanon. Role of Emergency care. American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut , Lebanon , January 7 , 2004.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Injured patients: A Hospital based study. Lebanese Epidemiological Association 10th Annual Conference. Beirut, Lebanon, November 26-27, 2004 

Trauma Registry at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. The 37th Middle East Medical Assembly. American University of Beirut , Lebanon , May 2-5 , 2002.

Laparoscopic Choledochoduodenostomy. Jordanian Surgical Society . Amman , Jordan ,  April 24-27 , 2002.

Laparoscopic Cardiomyotomy for Achalasia. Jordanian Surgical Society . Amman , Jordan ,  April 24-27 ,  2002.

Hemorrhagic shock decreases alanine absorption in the rat jejunum.  The Qatar International Trauma and Emergency Medicine Conference and Doha Neurotrauma Symposium Doha , Qatar,  April 13-16 , 2002.

Surgical Critical Care Symposium, Lebanese Society of General Surgery, American University of Beirut, Medical Center, January 26, 2002.

End points in resuscitation, Surgical critical care conference. Lebanese Society of General Surgery, American University of Beirut , Lebanon, January 26, 2002.

Outcomes in Surgical Critical Care: Critical Care Conference, Brigham and WomensÙ Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, January 25, 2001.

Acute Pancreatitis: Critical Care Conference, Brigham and WomensÙ Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, January 16 and February 15, 2001.

Ano-rectal Surgery: Fourth Lebanese Surgical Congress, Saida, Lebanon, March 24, 2000.

Critical Care Seminars: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, May 25 and June 23, 2000.

Upper Endoscopy – Update: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, April 5, 1999.

Critical Care Seminars: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, April 7 and May 7, 1999

Critical Care Rounds: Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland, September 14, 1998.

Assessment of the Injured Patient: Trauma Symposium.  Second Lebanese Surgical Congress.  Beirut, Lebanon, June 6, 1998.

Surgical Emergencies in the elderly: 8th International Health and Hospitalization Congress.  Beirut, Lebanon, October 8, 1997

Abdominal Trauma - Controversies and Myths: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, December 4, 1995.

Shock Resuscitation: Ain Wazein Hospital Conference.  Ain Wazein, Lebanon. August 5, 1995.

Hemorrhagic Shock: The Lebanese Society of General Surgery. Saida, Lebanon, June 29, 1995.

Trauma and Sports - Overview: The Lebanese Society of Family Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon, May 28, 1995.

Enteral Nutrition: The Lebanese Association for Food sciences and Nutrition.  Beirut, Lebanon, May 26, 1995.

Surgical treatment of obesity: The Lebanese Association for Food Sciences and Nutrition.  Beirut, Lebanon, November 5, 1994.

Resuscitation and Triage of the Trauma Victim: Lebanese Red Cross Conference, Beirut, Lebanon, April 4, 1994.

Diagnosis and Resuscitation of Ruptured Aortic Aneurysms -Thoracic and Abdominal: The Third Congress on Emergency Medical Treatment. Jounieh, Lebanon, February 16, 1994.

Trauma team and Resuscitation of multiple trauma victims: The Lebanese Society of General Surgery Symposium.  Saida, Lebanon, December 11, 1993.

Physiologic Principles of Shock Resuscitation: Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, January 9, 1993.

Shock, Surgical Endoscopy, Nutrition and Critical Care: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, June 5,9,16, 18 and 19, 1992.

Complications of Thoracic Injuries: Trauma Symposium, Toledo, Ohio, May 4, 1991.

Oxygen Consumption in Critical Care, Nutrition in Critical Care and Management of Shock: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, August 21, 23 and 24, 1990.

Critical Care Management of the Injured Patients: Wyandot Hospital, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, June 26, 1990.

Surgical Endoscopy: St. Charles Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, March 2, 1990.

Hemorrhagic Shock: St. Charles Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, January 26, 1990.

Multiple Organ System Failure: Trauma Symposium, Toledo, Ohio, November 18, 1989.

Insulin-like Immunoreactivity in the adrenal gland : Miami University Oxford, Ohio,  September 15, 1989.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: St. Charles Hospital, Toledo, Ohio, August 18, 1989.

Shock- Current Status: Bryan Hospital, Bryan, Ohio, May 23, 1989.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: McGruder Hospital, Port Clinton, Ohio, April 14, 1989.

The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Orthopedic Trauma: Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, March 4, 1989.

Surgical Endoscopy: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, November 21, 1988.

Surgical Nutrition and Wound Healing : Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay, Ohio,  September 30, 1988.

Decompression Sickness and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, May 21, 1988.

Intracellular Insulin-Like Material in the Adrenal Gland: Graduate Student Forum, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, March 1-2, 1988.

Laser in Surgical Endoscopy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Severe Surgical Infections: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, September 2, 8 and 15, 1987.

Desmoid Tumors Associated with Gardner Syndrome: Midwest Pediatric Surgical Meeting, Toledo, Ohio, March 21, 1987.

Pediatric Pancreatic Pseudocyst associated with cholelithiasis: Midwest Pediatric Surgical Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio, May 3, 1986.

Advanced Trauma Life Support Course: Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, November 1-2, 1985.

Treatment of Atypical Mycobacterial Lymphadinitis in Children: Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons (PAPS), San Diego, CA, May 20-24, 1984.

 

 TEACHING PORTFOLIO

Departments of Surgery & Physiology
Faculty of Medicine
American University of Beirut

Table of Contents
1- Teaching Responsibilities
2- Teaching Philosophy, Methods, Strategies & Objectives
3- Efforts to Improve Teaching
4- Teaching Goals

5- Research focus and plan 

1- Teaching Responsibilities
a- Basic science teaching, the pulmonary physiology section in physiology 246 course. This is taught once a year to undergraduate students in nursing, medical technology and nutrition. There are about 40 students per class. It involves lecture series followed by discussion sessions and written exams. It deals with the fundamental principles of human physiology and the mechanisms governing the function of different body organ.
b- School of Medicine (First Year)
The Med I class (about 75 students) are divided into groups. Each group will attend a discussion session for two hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays) each week. The students would have dissected the region of the body that will be discussed. There is a review of the surgical anatomy of the region and the discussion will center around clinical situations affecting organs and structures in that region.

c- School of Medicine (Second Year)
The Med II class (About 75 students) is divided into groups and each group will spend 3 hours a week for 2 weeks in the department of surgery. The students rotate with different surgical specialists who will teach them the pertinent points of history taking and physical examination of the surgical patient. Teaching will take place in surgical clinics, on the surgical wards and in the surgical library.
d- School of Medicine (Third Year)
The Med III class (about 75 students) is divided into 4 rotations, each rotation is for 3 months and each rotation is further subdivided into General Surgery, Emergency Room and Elective subspecialty sections. The students receive lecture series about Hemorrhage, Shock, Transfusions, Trauma, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, Hypoxic State, Airway Obstruction and Nutrition. This is followed by discussion sessions about Shock , Trauma , Fluids and Nutrition. Then, there are formal bedside rounds on the surgical floor and in outpatient surgical department. This is coupled with informal discussions in the Operating Room and Conference Room.
The Emergency Room rotations provide a very close encounter between myself , as an attending faculty, and all of the third year medical students who must pass by ER throughout the year in small groups of four to five students at a time. The average time that is spend in the ER is about forty hours a month. In addition, there are General Surgery case discussion sessions (one hour every week, all year) and Surgical Grand Rounds (one hour every month, all year). Practical skills and live experiences are learned by the students every day with every encounter with the patient in the Emergency Room, Operating Room, Surgical Wards and Outpatient Surgical Clinics.
e- School of Medicine (Fourth Year)
Med IV students may choose to take an elective in Surgical Emergency Room and Surgical Intensive Care Unit. This is done on a Preceptorship basis and is intended to give medical students who are interested in Shock and Trauma more clinical experience.

2- Teaching Philosophy
Methods, Strategies and Objectives
We, as teachers fall in love with our subject, adore it and want to present it to our students in the best possible shape. We project our own soul and our deep understanding of the material. We must know ourselves first as this is as crucial to good teaching as knowing the students and the subject. This focus on the passion for teaching is the engine that motivates teachers and attracts the students to persist in their approach to problem solving type of education. It is through deeper sense of identity and integrity that educational dilemmas are solved, and new techniques are adopted and curricula are changed. What subjects to teach and how to teach them should be less critical than the process by which we relate to our students, our subject, our colleagues and the world. Hence, the notion that good teaching can only be realized with good research and good clinical practice. It is this old/new desire to discover and spread knowledge that is truly human. The intellectual approach focus on the way we think about teaching and learning, about our students and the material we teach. The emotional approach explores the feelings our students and ourselves share in the process of teaching/learning. The spiritual approach goes beyond all of that to connect our hearts and souls with the largeness of life.
The journey to deepen our understanding of the teaching self is life long. AUB as an educational institution can help us sustain and deepen our selfhood and it should guide students and encourage them to seek new ways of thinking about the subject matter at hand and even at the methods of teaching it. Growth in our profession as teachers requires an ongoing process of reflection and constant renewal of the mind, heart and spirit. For the soul to come forward and speak its truth, a practice of openness to each other with exploration of our inner reality is essential.
Our physical settings may not be able to always provide a comfortable atmosphere without distractions nor interruptions. A scheduled time is set aside and adhered to in a strict sense. The Operating Room is our holy shrine and it is treated with utmost respect. Surgical disciplines are as tough as the military in their physical restrains. Nonetheless, meeting in non-conventional places tend to deepen the conversation considerably. The aim is always to promote an open and honest dialogue. Privacy is important when it comes to discussion of medical issues and we insist on it in every place, all the time. Round table discussion in an unbroken circle is most helpful in giving the sense of access to one another. This is done on a daily basis sitting in the ICU conference room, standing at the bedside with a surgical patient or in a corner in the Emergency Room.
The leadership role in modern teaching is nothing more than convening and facilitating a group inquiry about a subject. Fruitful sessions can be conducted within the boundaries of the space keeping it open for all and resolving conflict in a creative manner and yet reaching consensus while allowing individual differences. I find that writing notes and formulating agenda with priorities help focus the discussions and streamline the thoughts leading to a meaningful conclusion. There is an inherent tension between the conceptual boundaries that keeps the focus on a topic and the openness that is necessary to explore that topic. It is a difficult task to introduce the concepts and subjects clearly while allowing the group to expand on them and come up with their own ideas. This is particularly true in the field of surgery and critical care where our knowledge is changing very quickly and events are progressing rapidly. I make every effort to choose carefully the questions and activities in my teaching sessions as to their appropriateness and the best time to introduce them.
Large group dialogue versus small group discussion has to be tailored to the subject. Certain time must be preserved at the end to reach a consensus opinion or a meaningful conclusion with a plan of action. Every participant should be able to express his thoughts openly in a safe intellectual space that allows creative conflict. At the end, decisions have to be made and orders carried out. Certain methods and techniques may be implemented at the beginning of the session to till the soil for an open and respectful discussion. My function as a stimulator and facilitator is to open the intellectual space rather than to fill it up with preconceived notions and ideas.
People learn better by thinking in silence and in conversation rather than listening passively. We can keep the focus on the subject by asking more than telling and exploring more than advocating. Ground rules for such an intensive exchange must keep note of both what is agreed with and what is disagreed with in every response and a checklist is finalized at the end of every session. This is especially true when we are discussing a difficult and complicated case like a patient with multiple trauma or a patient in sepsis.
Teachers' feelings are an essential part of this process and we need to express them truthfully. We must foster a hospitable emotional space by listening attentively, asking pertinent questions, offering supportive words and practicing non-judgmental attitude. This will create an atmosphere of trust and builds confidence where passion and discipline help fuel an eternal discussion about things that matter. An atmosphere of dignity and regard to each participant is crucial for people to be open with each other. We are willing to share personal experience when we know that our voices will be heard. Emotional honesty and a commitment to confidentiality are a must. People can speak for themselves without speaking against others.
We, as teachers, need the community to help us hear the inner teacher in each one of us. We should refrain from invading and fixing each other instead of listening and being receptive. The soul flees and hides when pursued by someone who wants to fix it. The soul wants to be heard by others who are willing to be present for it. So, instead of giving gratuitous analysis or advice, we must learn to ask honest open questions. We should ask the question and not expect to get the answer we have in our mind. The community of truth must avoid self-destruction by becoming supportive of the soul rather than being invasive. These are accomplished by sharing information, having respectful disagreement, and allowing creative conflict over ideas.

3- Efforts to Improve Teaching

In addition to attaining the highest level of basic university degrees which are the MD and PhD, I have attained specialty certification and re-certification in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery. I am also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons as a mark of continuing medical education. Lately, I made further progress through a distinguished visiting professorship. I was a Visiting Surgeon in Surgical Critical care at Harvard Medical School in Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (2000-2001) and a Visiting Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (2000-2001). Furthermore, my educational and professional career had been enriched through participation in various societies and associations, such as Society of Critical Care Medicine, Shock Society, the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, European Association of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine and many others.
Tremendous insight had been gained through my participation in professional workshops about Teaching and University Education. These were Improving Effectiveness in Medical Education, Clinical Research Methods, Assessment Methods and Clinical Teaching, Seminars on University Teaching, Basic WEB Technology Skills, Evidence Based Medicine, Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness, Academic Advising , Developing a Teaching Portfolio, Seminars on Learning and Teaching Excellence. Moreover, I have developed a vast experience in teaching formal courses to medical students, residents and colleagues in the fields of Trauma (Advanced Trauma Life Support-ATLS) and Critical Care (Fundamental Critical Care Support-FCCS).

4- Teaching Goals
We need a revolution in our teaching methods in order to make a quantum leap into the future and capture the new generation of students. There should be a reduction in the excessive class hours and less emphasis on didactic teaching. More time should be devoted for interaction with peers and faculty. Time should be taken by students to explore questions raised by their intellectual curiosity. More preparations are needed for patient interaction. More electives are needed in the fourth year so that the students will have the opportunity to explore other educational systems in other countries and try specialties that they like in order to make an informed and educated choice about their subsequent specialization and career orientation. We need to have a standard appraisal of students' clinical performance. We have to move from fact based system that is measured by test scores to an open approach of education. Changes have to be made in both, process and content in order to promote Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). Students have to develop a life long commitment to learning and recognize the integration of basic science into the clinical disciplines. Specific educational objectives must be defined. Improvements in the integration of the medical students into the patient care team are very much needed. Explicit criteria should be developed to define and measure teaching contributions by the faculty. Detailed evaluation and feedback is needed for the faculty to correct any deficiency or weakness if present. The faculty should have ample opportunity to progress in self education and self improvement. This is especially true today with the present changes in methodology and curricula.
Students must be geared away from the present system where their performance is assessed mainly by written exams with memory/recall type of questions and where teaching is oriented toward the examination itself. Instead, students should be concerned about the utility of this knowledge to future clinical practice. Therefore, the use of real patients situations with clinical problems in an intensive group discussion may provide tentative solutions. This promotes self learning and critical thinking. The process should also introduce cooperative learning and collaborative learning.
In the field of surgical specialties, innovations are needed to provide an extensive hands-on learning of technical skills and practical training. The use of animal facilities and computer simulations are a must.
Some of the methods that I have learned at the Brigham's Hospital may revive our teaching approach. Educational activities include daily conferences that are multi-disciplinary and in an interactive format. The Mortality and Morbidity weekly conferences are live discussions with pros and cons arguments between a presenter and a critic where relevant statistics are used to support their different points of view. Professor Rounds are conducted weekly focusing on the operative care where special emphasis is made on surgical indications and technical approach.
Resources for medical information must be abundant with easy and quick access. It should range from asking the expert to a comprehensive meta-analysis review of the known literature. Manuals for new comers are essential. Clinical pathways must be developed and adopted. Teaching is patient based and education is student centered. There is an urgent need for a well developed and widely applied student evaluations (SRTE) with feedbacks to the faculty. WEB based instructions is something for the future to be considered. However, Online Search Enginesť and the use of palm technology should be common. Time management and coordination of services is a necessity. We need to follow the guidelines of the Residency Review Committee in our residency programs.
Finally, advanced communication skills and ultra modern computer technology will lead the way in improving teaching effectiveness. Computers can be used for presentations by faculty and students, submission of papers, preparation of tests, on-line testing, search for information and simulation of case scenarios and real operative situations. Interactive websites that are capable of receiving input and sending output will become widely available in all medical schools and hospitals. This will be followed soon with the development of interactive on-line courses that can be delivered through the Internet. Telemedicine and Robotic Surgery are two examples of how marvelous advances are being made today.

5- Research focus and plan
My research focus is to study the effects of Hemorrhagic Shock and Septic Shock on the absorption of Amino Acids in the Gastro-intestinal tract. I have developed an animal model and discussed the findings in several scientific meetings. The latest original article is accepted in the Journal of Investigative Surgery. I plan to define the absorption defect in the gut after resuscitation from shock and explore its patho-physiology and molecular basis then identify its therapeutic implications. The findings are then taken into the clinical arena where clinical trials can be conducted in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and on Trauma patients. Interactions with other disciplines will include Basic Scientists, Nutritionists, Intensivists, Gastroenterologists and Surgical Colleagues that will lead to better management of the critically ill patients. Support for this research can be obtained from extramural sources including pharmaceutical companies, surgical societies and associations, scientific organizations, the National Council for Scientific Research and the National Institute of Health. Another clinical focus will include the use of our Trauma Registry that was established for the study of various aspects of trauma care at AUH where several clinical trials may be conducted over the coming years that would be supported by the pharmaceutical industry and the scientific community. A third clinical focus would be the study of various laparoscopic approaches for the treatment of surgical diseases which will improve the level of patient care and can be supported by funds generated by the clinical practice as well as the industry and scientific organizations.

 

ASSAD  M. TAHA, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS(C)

Private Clinic :  Blue Building, 4th floor, Abdel Aziz & Bliss Streets

Hamra,  Beirut,  Lebanon

03 - 628 627

assadtaha@gmail.com