The Lebanese Physicians' Podcast

AI for Health: Innovating Lebanon’s Future with Dr. Sandy Rihana

Podcast Title:
"AI for Health: Innovating Lebanon’s Future with Dr. Sandy Rihana"

Podcast Description:
Join us in a compelling conversation with Dr. Sandy Rihana, Head of Biomedical Engineering at USEK in Lebanon, as we explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. From the global frameworks developed by the WHO to Lebanon’s unique readiness and ethical considerations, Dr. Rihana shares insights into successfully integrating AI in both resource-rich and resource-constrained environments.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The WHO’s new framework for AI-based medical devices and its applicability to Lebanon.

• Challenges in adapting AI technologies designed in high-income settings to Lebanon’s healthcare realities.

• Inspiring examples of successful AI applications across diverse global contexts.

• Lebanon’s current digital health maturity and Dr. Rihana’s personal experiences in AI healthcare projects.

• Ethical AI deployment amidst Lebanon’s crisis-prone healthcare environment.

• The future of Large Multi-Modal Models (LMMs) like ChatGPT in healthcare, along with their potential risks and benefits.

• Dr. Rihana’s vision, advice for healthcare leaders, and what gives her hope for Lebanon's AI-driven health innovation.

Tune in to uncover the possibilities and navigate the complexities of bringing meaningful AI innovation to healthcare in Lebanon and beyond.

#AIinHealthcare #DigitalHealth #LebanonHealth #BiomedicalEngineering #HealthcareInnovation #EthicalAI #WHOFramework #HealthTech #Lebanon #GlobalHealth #HealthcareLeadership #AIResearch #FutureofHealth #EmergingTech #AIgovernance #MedicalAI

 

This episode is also on available on YouTube

 

Treating Eating Disorders with Compassion and Science with Carine El Khazen Hadati

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Dr. Carine El Khazen Hadati, clinical psychologist and director of the Eating and Weight Disorder Program at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology. A leading expert in the Middle East, Dr. El Khazen shares her insights on the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of eating disorders across the region. We explore how she applies enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) to treat complex cases with empathy and scientific precision. The conversation also dives into the cultural and social taboos that impact care, and how stigma around mental health and body image is slowly being challenged. This is a powerful discussion for anyone interested in mental health, cultural change, and compassionate care.

#EatingDisorders
#MentalHealthAwareness
#CBT
#CBTE
#BodyImage
#MiddleEastMentalHealth
#CompassionateCare
#PsychologyPodcast
#DisorderedEating
#MentalHealthMatters
#EDRecovery
#BreakingTheStigma
#EatingDisorderTreatment
#HealthAndWellness
#TherapyTalk
#WomenInPsychology
#MindBodyConnection

This podcast is available on all podcast apps and on YouTube

How Doctors Grow: Empathy, Burnout & the Human Side of Medicine

What does it truly mean to grow as a doctor, not just in skill, but in humanity?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Tarek Souaid joins us to discuss his book How Doctors Grow and reflect on the emotional journey of becoming a physician. From the high-stakes environment of the Cleveland Clinic to the quiet moments that shaped his empathy, Dr. Souaid opens up about what medical training often overlooks: the importance of emotional intelligence, patient connection, and self-care.

We dive into the common communication pitfalls young doctors face, how to foster meaningful doctor-patient relationships, and why burnout continues to plague the profession. Dr. Souaid also shares insights on navigating stress during residency and how institutions can better support physician wellbeing. Whether you're in medicine or simply curious about its human side, this episode is a thoughtful exploration of growth, resilience, and purpose.

 

#HowDoctorsGrow
#MedicalHumanism
#PhysicianWellbeing
#EmpathyInMedicine
#DoctorBurnout
#EmotionalIntelligence
#ResidencyLife
#MedicalTraining
#DoctorPatientRelationship
#HealthcareLeadership
#NarrativeMedicine
#ClevelandClinic
#MedicalEducation
#HumanSideOfMedicine
#PhysicianGrowth

Reprogramming Immunity: Unlocking CAR-NK Cells with Dr. Hind Rafei

In this episode, Dr. Hind Rafei dives into the cutting-edge world of CAR-NK cell therapy and its potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. Unlike their T-cell counterparts, CAR-NK cells promise enhanced safety and innate tumor-killing ability. But what if their power could be dialed up even further?

Dr. Rafei discusses her team's groundbreaking discovery of CREM, a transcriptional regulator that shapes CAR-NK function and limits its full therapeutic potential. We explore how modulating CREM—particularly by deleting or suppressing it—can reprogram these cells to become more effective, resilient cancer fighters.

We unpack the science behind the PKA–CREB pathway, CREM-driven epigenetic changes, and how these findings might lead to next-generation immunotherapies and even cancer vaccines. Finally, Dr. Rafei offers insights on clinical translation and the path ahead for CREM-tuned therapies.

Whether you’re a researcher, clinician, or patient advocate, this episode sheds light on one of the most promising frontiers in cellular immunotherapy.

• #CARNKCells

• #CellTherapy

• #CancerImmunotherapy

• #GeneEditing

• #Epigenetics

• #TranscriptionFactors

• #CREMgene

• #CancerBiology

• #ImmunoOncology

• #NextGenTherapies

• #CancerInnovation

• #PodcastEpisode

• #SciencePodcast

• #MedicalPodcast

• #CancerResearch

• #Immunotherapy

Unfinished Stories: Dr. Marie Nakhoul on Memory, Medicine, and the Meaning of Home

Dr. Marie Nakhoul reflects on growing up in Lebanon, the emotional complexities of migration, and how her work as an OBGYN in the U.S. deepens her understanding of grief, memory, and identity. A powerful conversation on belonging, nostalgia, and writing as a way to return home.

 

From the smells of her childhood village to the silence of clinical spaces, this conversation weaves together stories of home, healing, and hope. Whether you're part of a diaspora or simply navigating your own journey of identity and place, this episode will resonate deeply.

#UnfinishedStories #MemoryAndMigration #DiasporaVoices #CulturalIdentity #ImmigrantStories #WomenInMedicine #LebaneseVoices #HomeAndBelonging #GriefAndHealing #MemoirWriting #Nostalgia #MedicineAndMeaning #OBGYNVoices #WomenInHealthcare

 

Episode 124: Inside the Chest: NodeAI and the Future of Endobronchial Ultrasound

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Wael Hanna, thoracic surgeon and founder of NodeAI, a pioneering startup transforming the evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes through artificial intelligence. Dr. Hanna shares the inspiration behind NodeAI, the clinical problem it aims to solve, and how its cutting-edge platform helps stratify lymph node malignancy risk with speed and precision. We explore the implications of this innovation for lung cancer diagnosis, biopsy decision-making, and patient care — and take a look at what the future holds for AI in thoracic oncology. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or health tech enthusiast, this conversation offers a compelling look at how AI is reshaping diagnostic medicine from the inside out.

#NodeAI #AIinHealthcare #MediastinalLymphNodes #LungCancerDiagnosis #HealthTech #MedicalAI #ThoracicSurgery #AIinMedicine #PrecisionDiagnostics #StartupSpotlight #CancerDetection #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfMedicine #RadiologyAI #ChestImaging #DigitalHealth #AIStartup #OncologyTech #HealthcareInnovation

This episode can also be found on YouTube

 

Episode 123: Advancing Healthcare Quality in Lebanon – A Conversation with Maysaa Jaafar

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Maysaa Jaafar, President of the Lebanese Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare (LSQSH), to explore the remarkable journey of the society since its inception.

Maysaa shares the story behind the establishment of LSQSH, shedding light on the visionaries and healthcare professionals who came together with a shared commitment to improve healthcare standards in Lebanon. We delve into the mission and core objectives of the society, which center on promoting excellence in healthcare quality, patient safety, and clinical best practices across the country.

Throughout the conversation, Maysaa highlights the key milestones and achievements LSQSH has reached to date, including successful initiatives, training programs, and awareness campaigns. She also offers candid reflections on the challenges the society has faced—ranging from limited resources to navigating complex healthcare dynamics in a time of national crisis.

We discuss the importance of collaborations and partnerships, both locally and internationally, that have played a pivotal role in amplifying the society's impact. Looking ahead, Maysaa outlines LSQSH’s strategic plans for the future, emphasizing innovation, capacity building, and broader community engagement to sustain and scale their mission.

This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and anyone passionate about improving healthcare systems through quality and safety frameworks.

🔗 Listen now to learn how the LSQSH is shaping the future of healthcare in Lebanon—one quality initiative at a time.

 

• #HealthcareQuality

• #PatientSafety

• #QualityImprovement

• #HealthSystems

• #GlobalHealth

• #LebanonHealthcare

• #HealthcareInLebanon

• #LebaneseHealthLeaders

• #MENAHealth

• #HealthcarePodcast

• #MedicalPodcast

• #PodcastInterview

• #HealthLeadership

• #ListenNow

Episode 122: AI Horizons: Transforming Healthcare and Navigating Ethical Frontiers

In this episode with Luna Maroun, Product Manager and Adobe, and previous start-up coach and teamlead at MIT, we explore the transformative rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare — from streamlining data collection to reshaping clinical decision-making. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into patient care, what are the benefits, risks, and ethical boundaries we must navigate? Join us as we unpack how AI is changing the dynamics between technology, privacy, and trust, and discuss the evolving role of physicians in an era where machines assist with diagnosis, treatment planning, and even patient monitoring. What does the future hold for the human touch in medicine, and how can we ensure AI enhances care without compromising our core values

• #AIinHealthcare

• #HealthTech

• #DigitalHealth

• #MedTech

• #ArtificialIntelligence

• #FutureOfMedicine

This episode can also be found on all podcast apps and on Youtube

Episode 121: Leading the way: Women in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

In this episode with Dr. Rania Esteitie, Assistant Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Central Michigan, and a strong advocate for women in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Michigan and at the American Thoracic Society, we share her journey, challenges, and triumphs in a field historically dominated by men. 

We explore topics such as mentorship, gender equity, leadership development, and the importance of diversity, and representation in medicine. 

This episode can be found on Apple, Spotify, Anghami, and all podcast apps. 

 

#WomenInMedicine #CriticalCareMedicine #WomenInSTEM #MedicalLeadership #DiversityInMedicine #HealthcareHeroes
#WomenInHealthcare #MentorshipInMedicine #LeadingTheWay
#GenderEquity #WomenInICU #FutureOfMedicine

Episode 120: Gender Perspectives in Kidney Care with Dr. Farah Wehbe

Join us in this interesting episode with Dr. Farah Wehbe, Advanced Nephrology Fellow at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver as she discuss herpublication in #CJASN—“Sex and Gender in Science, Medicine, and Nephrology: Where Are We and Why Does It Matter?” 

 

In this episode, we explore the unique challenges and experiences faced by men and women in nephrology. We also discuss how gender differences impact kidney disease diagnosis, management, and outcomes. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a patient, or simply curious about kidney diseases, tune in to gain insights that could transform your understanding of kidney health. Together, let us bridge the gap in nephrology through awareness and education!

#KidneyHealth #GenderDifferences #KidneyCare #Nephrology #WomeninMedicine #KidneyDisease #PatientPerspectives #HealthEquity #NephrologyPodcast #ChronicKidneyDisease #InclusiveHealthcare

This episode is on all podcast apps