Impact Stories

Dr. Ahmad Husari (BS ’82, MD ’86) is troubled by the knowledge that there are students at AUB today who are about to give up on their dreams. “I think about that all the time,” he says, “and about how even a little support could make a huge difference to some of these students.” That knowledge has inspired him to establish an endowed scholarship in the name of his late mother, Samia Sardouk Husari.

Dr. Husari, knows what a difference a helping hand – especially at just the right time – can make. His mother was “a great success story.” She started out sewing and doing alterations out of her family’s home. Her brother recognized Samia’s potential and helped her secure a six-month lease for a small store. She went on to open her own store and then another store – and another store. The rest is history. “My mother worked hard and never gave up – but still she needed that helping hand from her brother to succeed,” says Ahmad.

Ahmad credits his mother for teaching him about hard work and perseverance. His mother and father also stressed the importance of education. “They wanted to give us all the opportunities that an education provides. That was their gift to us,” he says.

Husari, who is currently on leave from his position as professor of medicine and director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at AUBMC, says that he hears from AUB students all the time. “So many of them are really struggling because of the economic situation, which is especially bad in Beirut. They are about to give up on their dreams. In many cases, they need very little assistance to be able to continue their studies. All of us need to help these students. Now is the time. We have to give these kids a chance to succeed,” he says.

“The support of our generous alumni like Dr. Ahmad are providing not just financial support to our students. They are also helping to keep dreams alive,” says Associate Vice President for Development Walid Katergi.