Impact Stories

2022 is a very special year for Dr. Henry A. Nasrallah (MD ’72) and Amelia Nasrallah (MA ’70). It was in June 1972, 50 years ago, that they got married and that Henry graduated from AUB. “We both wanted to do something for our alma mater to mark this occasion – and also to give back during these terrible times,” says Dr. Nasrallah. “AUB needs all of us to do what we can to help. If all alumni contribute, it will make a huge difference.”

Dr. Nasrallah is professor of psychiatry, neurology, and neuroscience; editor of three journals; and has published more than 600 articles and 13 books. He served as chair of psychiatry for 18 years. Amelia has published dozens of articles, served as faculty and director of clinical research at the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry, and is currently senior managing editor of two scientific journals. Henry and Amelia have been contributing to AUB for many years and are long-time members of the Daniel Bliss Society. They recently set up two endowments to support the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Endowed Research Award and the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Endowed Teaching Award for psychiatry residents at the AUB Department of Psychiatry. Both awards were granted for the first time on June 3, 2022. “All of us at the Department of Psychiatry are deeply grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Nasrallah for their generosity. Today, perhaps more than at any other time, we need this support to sustain academic excellence,” says Dr. Fadi Maalouf, chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry.

Nasrallah especially enjoys helping young people – like Dr. Karine Kahil (MD ’20), who was selected to receive the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Research Award, and Dr. Michele Cherro, who was selected to receive the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Teaching Award. “I take great pride and deep pleasure from helping young people. I hope the awards we have established at AUB will inspire the recipients to pursue an academic career in psychiatry.” It’s a “calling” that Nasrallah has found enormously rewarding – and that he knew he wanted to pursue since he was a student at IC.

Although Dr. and Mrs. Nasrallah have spent very little time in Lebanon since they left in 1972, they feel a strong connection to their alma mater and care deeply about the institution. “I so appreciate the people – the faculty and the students – who are staying at AUB ensuring that our university survives these times,” says Dr. Nasrallah. He feels an especially strong affinity for the students who may be struggling because of the economic and financial situation. “My father borrowed money to put me through AUB, so I know what it’s like to need help – and how gratifying it is to help others,” he says. Nasrallah has made many philanthropic donations during his career. “I am in the habit of giving,” he explains. “It is something I learned from my father. He was a pastor and earned only a modest income, but still he gave half of his salary to help people in need.”

“We deeply appreciate – and need – the support of alumni like Dr. Henry and Ms. Amelia who care deeply. Their gift is having an immediate impact and will also benefit our students for generations to come,” says Associate Vice President for Development Walid Katergi.