
Dr. Ismat Ghanem. (Credit: Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Beirut)
In a press release posted on social media on Jan. 14, Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Beirut congratulated Ismat Ghanem, its head of orthopedic surgery and head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine at Saint Joseph University (USJ), on his election as president of the French Society of Pediatric Orthopedics (SoFOP).
SoFOP is a French association of pediatric orthopedists — doctors who specialize in the bones, tendons and ligaments of infants, children and young adults. The association regularly organizes teaching and training seminars across France.
The position of chair is currently held by Philippe Gicquel, a French national. The announcement by Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital marks a milestone as Ghanem becomes the first non-French person to hold this position. The hospital’s press release described the achievement as a testament to "his international expertise and his commitment to innovation and training."
Ghanem earned his bachelor's degree in 1981 in Lebanon from Collège des Frères Maristes in Champville, Metn. He co-founded the biomedical engineering module at the Beirut College of Engineers at USJ and is also a co-founder and co-director of the university’s Biomechanics Laboratory.
The professor has won seven best paper awards at international conferences and authored dozens of scientific publications and chapters in specialist books and encyclopedias.
On a more humanitarian level, Ismat Ghanem has been active with the Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF), tackling the medical and humanitarian difficulties faced by children in the Middle East region, treating and operating on children from the Palestinian refugee camps of Ain al-Helwe near Saida (southern Lebanon) and Nahr al-Bared in the North.
On a humanitarian level, Ghanem has been active with the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), addressing medical and humanitarian challenges faced by children in the Middle East. He has treated and operated on children from Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, including Ain al-Hilweh near Saida and Nahr al-Bared in the north.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.