Impact Stories

“I was thinking about how I could help AUB during these challenging times,” remembers Dr. Suheil Muasher (BS ’72, MD ’76). “That’s how I came up with this idea.” Muasher was also inspired to establish the Suheil Jamil Muasher Endowed Medical Student Research Award by his memories of being a medical student at AUB. “There were no opportunities for medical students to do research back then,” he says. “I know the situation is better now, but more support is needed.” Muasher points out that being able to do research – and perhaps even publish a paper – while still a medical student is an enormous advantage when applying for residencies. Interim Faculty of Medicine Dean Ghazi Zaatari agrees. He notes that the Suheil Jamil Muasher Endowed Medical Student Research Award is “the first of its kind at the Faculty of Medicine. It will invigorate our efforts to promote investigative work by medical students,” he continues, “and greatly serve the education mission of the Faculty of Medicine to graduate physician scientists. I salute Dr. Muasher for this wonderful and inspiring gift that will benefit medical students at his alma mater far into the future.”

This is not the first endowed fund that Muasher has established at AUB. In 1996, he made a gift to set up the Nada Suheil Muasher Endowed Scholarship Fund as a tribute to his first wife and AUB alumna, Nada Attiyeh, who passed away in 1995. “Over the years that fund has supported many students at AUB, so I know how impactful endowed funds are,” Muasher says.

Muasher left Lebanon after earning his MD degree in 1976. He has had a distinguished career in the US where he is currently Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology and former director of Graduate Learning and Academic Development in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University. Over the years, Muasher has stayed in close touch with his alma mater – and with his former classmate Dr. Zaatari.

In addition to supporting medical student research, the Suheil Jamil Muasher Endowed Medical Student Research Award is also a tribute to the Muasher family. “We have a long history and many connections to AUB dating back to my father who graduated in 1942,” says Muasher. “Since then, 20 members of our family have earned AUB degrees – including 4 MDs. Many more attended AUB but were not able to graduate because of the civil war. We all looked to AUB as the place to get an education.”

“We are very grateful to our many alumni like Dr. Muasher who are generously giving to our university during this challenging period,” says VP for Advancement Imad B. Baalbaki, PhD. “This is their university. AUB needs their continued engagement and support – now more than ever.”