Hrayr Attarian, MD

Dr. Attarian obtained a BS and a MD from the American University of Beirut in 1988 and 1992 respectively. He then moved to the United States where he pursued a neurology residency at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, followed by a fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Rochester and another one in sleep disorders at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hrayr Attarian then held faculty positions for the next 20 years at Washington University in St Louis, University of Vermont, Loyola University and Northwestern University Chicago where he is currently a professor of neurology. He also is adjunct professor of Otolaryngology at the Lebanese American University.
Dr. Attarian has more than 70 publications in the field of sleep medicine in addition to many book chapters and three textbooks. He also teaches medical ethics and is involved in global health, having done medical mission trips to Ecuador, Armenia and Zambia. He also is working closely with the American University in Madaba Jordan to improve sleep among war refugees in Jordan. In addition to winning many teaching excellence awards over the past 10 years including Northwestern University’s Nicholas Vick award, Dr Attarian, together with Dr Jonathan Silverberg MD, PhD, was named Patient Care Hero by the American Academy of Dermatology for their collaborative efforts in treating eczema and its complications.

Soha N. Ghossaini, MD

Dr. Soha N. Ghossaini is a Board Certified Otologist -Neurotologist at Ear Nose and Throat Associates of NY. She did her residency training in Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery at the American University of Beirut. She moved to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY to pursue a 2-year clinical fellowship training in Otology-Neurotology. During her fellowship training she was the recipient of the Travel Grant for International Scholars Studying in the U.S sponsored by the Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. Upon finishing her fellowship Dr. Ghossaini joined the faculty at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. She then moved to assume the position of Director of Otology- Neurotology and Director of Cochlear Implant Program, Medical Site Director for Audiology and Associate Professor at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She then moved to Chicago and joined the University of Illinois at Chicago as an Associate Professor.

Dr. Ghossaini’s interests are in cochlear implant surgery, skull base surgery, management of single sided deafness, implantable hearing aids, and middle ear and mastoid surgeries. Her research interest is in the field of hearing and balance and intratympanic treatment modalities.

She has published more than 20 peer reviewed articles, presented at many meetings in the US and Internationally. She has received several awards and wrote a book chapter.

Dr. Soha Ghossaini is a member of several professional organizations including the American Neurotology Society (ANS), American Otological Society, Triological Society, the North American Skull base society, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Dr Ghossaini is an active member of the ANS and AAO-HNS where served and continues to serve on multiple committees. She is a member of the International Steering Committee at the AAO-HNS and serves as their Co-Regional Advisor for the Middle East.

Mohamed Hamid, MD, PhD, EE

Dr. Hamid is the current medical and audiology director at iHearWell Inc. He holds the title of Adjunct Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery at the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine. He is also the Emeritus Associate Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Dr. Hamid obtained his medical degree from the Case Western Reserve University and his Phd in Engineering in Medicine Inner Ear Neuroscience from the Imperial College UK, Royal National ENT Institute.
He was awarded the Diploma of Imperial College Biological (DIC) Signal Analysis. He also underwent further studies in Health Executive Education Geriatric and end of life Medicine postgrad. CME education in USA. He was the founder and medical director of Vestibular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA from 1980 to 1996. He founded and directed the Cleveland Hearing and Balance Center in Cleveland, USA and the iHearWell Inc. foundation at Chagrin falls in Ohio, USA.
Dr. Hamid has 110 publications and abstracts. Dr. Hamid has co-authored a book on the subject, Medical Otology and Neurotology: A Clinical Guide to Auditory and Vestibular Disorders. He has trained 85 fellows worldwide.

Maroun Semaan, MD, FACS

A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Semaan graduated from Saint Joseph University School of Medicine in 1999. He pursued residency training in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio and fellowship in Neurotology at the House Ear Clinic-University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Among many leadership positions, he served as Chief Division of Otology and Neurotology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Director of the Cochlear Implant program and President of the Northeast Ohio Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Society. Dr. Semaan has been consistently named by his patients and peers as one of America’s Best Doctors and has been voted to Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
Dr. Semaan recently joined AUBMC as a faculty in the department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery with focus on otology and neurotology. At AUBMC, Dr. Semaan is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology in addition to holding an adjunct Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery position at Case Western Reserve University. Throughout his career, he developed strong clinical expertise in the management of adult and pediatric hearing loss, cochlear implantation and surgery of the lateral skull base. He is active member of many professional societies including the prestigious Triological Society. He has served as a Ad-hoc reviewer for most American Otolaryngology Journals. Alongside his busy clinical practice, he is actively involved in teaching and mentoring residents and medical students. He has been an invited speaker to national and international meetings. He has authored and co-authored over 50 publications and textbook chapters. His research interests are cochlear implantation, Meniere’s disease and vestibular schwannomas.

Alain Sabri, MD, MPH, FACS

Chairman, Otofest for Hearing and Balance Disorders symposium

Dr. Alain Sabri currently serves as Professor and Founding Chairperson of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Assistant Dean at the Lebanese American University Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital.

Dr. Sabri graduated from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in 1992. He subsequently pursued General Surgery Residency training at Georgetown University Medical Center Washington DC, followed by a Residency training in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals of Cleveland,Ohio. Dr. Sabri then completed two sub-specialty fellowships in Head and Neck Cancer/Skull Base Surgery- Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery (1999-2000) and in Otology/Neurotology (2000-2001) at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Dr. Sabri holds a Master’s degree in Hospital and Health Management from Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (affiliated with the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris). He also pursued additional Health Leadership courses at l’Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD). Dr. Sabri began his professional career in 2000 as an assistant Professor at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. He was voted Teacher of the Year at the Mayo Clinic in 2003. Dr. Sabri returned home to join the American University of Beirut Medical Center as an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and was appointed as the Department’s Chairman in 2011. In parallel, Dr. Sabri served as AUBMC Associate Chief of Staff. Dr. Sabri was then recruited by the Cleveland Clinic where he was appointed as the founding Chairperson of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. He was promoted to the rank of Professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. He currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the prestigious American Head and Neck Society. He has lectured extensively in Lebanon and internationally and presented instructional courses, almost on yearly basis for 20 years, at the American Academy of Otolaryngology and subsequently receiving the honor award from that Society in 2010. Dr. Sabri was also involved in numerous humanitarian medical missions in South America and the Middle East. He has published numerous articles in American and International journals in addition to authoring several book chapters including contributions to the Cummings’ Otolaryngology textbook . He is currently co-authoring a textbook on Otology-Neurotology due to be published in 2020.
Dr. Sabri is American Board certified in Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery and American Board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Michelle Bardawil

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Medical Sciences Audiology degree with a minor in Public Health in 2017 from the American University of Beirut. She was one of the first five Audiology graduates in Lebanon. She joined the team in 2018 and is currently the Audiologist at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, ENT clinic. Michelle is very dedicated and passionate about this field. She conducts different diagnostic hearing tests with children and adults. Some of her specific audiological interests are hearing instruments, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. She enjoys working with the pediatric population, and has received a specialized training in caring for newborns.

Marc Bassim, MD, FACS

Dr. Bassim received his undergraduate degree in Biology and completed his medical education with distinction at the American University of Beirut. After spending one year in research at Duke University, he joined the residency program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and then completed a 2-year fellowship in Otology and Neurotology at the House Clinic in Los Angeles.
Dr. Bassim is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as well as the American Board of Neurotology. He is a member of several local and international societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, and the American Neurotologic Society, and represents Lebanon on the board of the Mediterranean Society of Otology and Audiology, and the Arab Academy of Otology and Cochlear Implantation.
Dr. Bassim has given many lectures to both the public and scientific community, and is an invited speaker to several international meeting and teaching courses. He has also published several articles in the field of Otology and Neurotology. His main interests relate to hearing loss and its rehabilitation including cochlear implantation; dizziness and vertigo; and multidisciplinary approaches to skull base tumors (vestibular schwannomas, glomus jugulare, etc). He is the founder and director of the Balance Center at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.
For the last six years, Dr. Bassim has also been the Residency Program Director, overseeing the education and training of Otolaryngology residents in the Department.
Along with a group of experts, Dr. Bassim is also leading the effort to promote awareness about hearing loss in Lebanon, and to encourage early detection and rehabilitation of hearing deficits.

Dr. Fata graduated in 2001 from Saint Joseph University school of medicine. He completed afterwards his residency in ENT at the Saint George Hospital. He then pursued a fellowship in Otology Neurotology at the Université Paul Sabatier in France and then at the Université de Montréal in Canada. Since his return to Lebanon, he has been active in the Lebanese ENT society contributing with talks and discussing his passion for otology. Dr. Fata has been working at the Saint George University Medical Center for nearly 10 years. The main focus of his work is Otology and Neurotology. He is currently an Associate Professor at Balamand University and program director for the ENT program at the same hospital. He is responsible for the cochlear implantation program.
He published several articles in peer-reviewed journals during his residency in Toulouse, fellowship in Canada and current practice. The articles mainly discussed cochlear implantation, bone anchored hearing aids and inner ear issues.
He also served as chief of department at Saint George Hospital for two years between 2015 and 2017. He still contributing significantly in the administrative development of the department.

Elias Eter, MD, MSc

Dr. Eter obtained his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University (USJ). He is specialized in Ear Nose and Throat (ENT). He also obtained a Master of Research II in Neuropsychology from INSERM U455, Federation of Neurology, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France and a Master I in Bio-statistics from Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France. He then pursued a fellowship in Neurootology and skull base surgery at the University of Miami Ear Institut, USA. His interests include lateral skull base surgery and endoscopic skull base surgery, acoustic neuroma, glomus tumors, epidermoid cysts, cochlear implants, Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), bone-bridge and vibrant sound-bridge and stapedectomy and chronic ear surgery.
His hospital affiliations include the Saint Joseph Hospital in Dora and the Hotel Dieu de France Hospital in Ashrafieh both in Lebanon.

Youssef Koaik, PT, MPT, DPT

Dr. Koaik is currently the Clinical Coordinator of the American University of Beirut Medical Center Physical Therapy Department.
He was awarded his Doctorate Degree in “Physical Therapy Management of the Adhesive Capsulitis” from St. Joseph University Faculty of Medicine Physical Therapy Institute. In 2007, he was awarded a Master’s Degree in “Activités Physiques et du Sport” from the St. Joseph University Faculty of Medicine Physical Therapy Institute. In 1990, he received his BS in physical therapy from the Lebanese University, Faculty of Public Health.
Dr. Koaik has trained ENT physicians in all Lebanese regions (governorates) in 7 workshops on Vestibular Rehabilitation organized the Lebanese Society of Otolaryngology.
He was also a speaker in several seminars organized by the AUB (MEMA), and the physical therapy department at AUBMC. He served as a member as a member of the American Institute of Balance-Florida-US. He also served as a member in many scientific activities aiming to public awareness about different subjects in Physical therapy including TV and Radio interviews, patient education sessions about cardiac patient physical activities, vestibular rehabilitation, ergonomic awareness and others. He teaches courses in physical therapy for the AUBMC prostetic and orthotics program (1992-1994), Lebanese University-Faculty of public health (2000-2005), Global University (2009-2010). His scientific publications include the following article: The value of close monitoring in vestibular rehabilitation therapy in the J Laryngol Otol by Sabri, A, Koaik Y in 2017 Mar;131(3):227-231. doi: 10.1017/S0022215116009750. Epub 2016 Dec. 23.

Anis Nassif, MD

Dr. Anis Nassif is an American educated and trained Diagnostic and Interventional neuroradiologist with over 18 years of experience in neuroradiology.
Dr. Nassif obtained his BS in Biology and medical degree from Cum Laude from St. Louis University in St. Louis Missouri, USA. He completed his Radiology residency and Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology fellowship at St. Louis University. Then, he joined the faculty of the School of medicine at St. Louis University in 2001 until 2013 as a neuroradiologist. He went on to become the chief of neuroradiology at that institution.
His main interests are in neurovascular imaging and interventions, head and neck imaging and intervention, advanced neuro-imaging for brain and head and neck tumors and neuro-embolizations; as well as Stroke imaging and endovascular treatments for acute stroke.
Dr. Nassif joined the Lebanese American University in 2013 as a neuroradiologist and expert in all aspects of neuro imaging and interventions.
He holds numerous publications in neuroradiology journals. He has won numerous awards most notably teacher of the year at St. Louis University. He served as associate residency program director in St. Louis and as residency program director and Vice Chair of radiology from 2013 till 2018.

Michael Nehme, MD

Dr. Nehme’s Subspecialty is Otology/Neurotology and Pediatric ENT.
Dr. Nehme Obtained his Medical Degree from the Lebanese University in 2010, after which he completed his Residency in general ENT. He then pursued his studies abroad in Toulouse, France at the Université Sabatier from which he received his “Diplome de Formation Medicale Specialisee” in Otology/Neurotology and Pedicatric ENT in 2015. During his fellowship in France, Dr. Nehme was nominated as “Assistant Hospitalier Universitaire” in 2016.
He was involved in teaching and clinical research especially in bilateral Cochlear Implant, Otosclerosis, and Superior canal dehiscence.
He was a Speaker at the international SFORL ( Société Française d’ORL).
He authored and co-authored several articles and chapters most importantly the chapter of inner Ear Pressure Variation in the “Rapport de la Societe Francaise d’ORL”.

Charbel Rameh, MD

Dr. Charbel Rameh is an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery specialist. He completed his medical school at the American University of Beirut, and he continued his training in ENT at the AUB Medical Center.
He then pursued training in Marseille - France where he did a fellowship in Otology and Neurotology, focusing on problems of the ear, such as vertigo, dizziness, and hearing, with practical hands-on training in cochlear implants, hemifacial spasms, and CPA brain tumors surgeries.
Dr. Rameh is now an assistant professor working at Mount Lebanon Hospital and at the Abou Jaoude Hospital.
Dr. Rameh has more than 30 publications in the field of Otolaryngology. He is a member in many ENT societies, and an active speaker and moderator in several national and international ENT meetings.

Ibrahim Saikali, MD

Dr. Saikali has over 20 years of experience in the surgical management of complex neurovascular and skull base lesions (aneurysms, AVMs, tumors…). He has a vast experience with neuroendoscopy (skull base and ventricular) and in computer-assisted surgery. After graduating with distinction from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in 1992, Dr. Saikali did his surgical internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan, USA followed by a research fellowship in vascular neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA). He completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Montreal (Canada) and passed the American Board of Neurosurgery and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada examinations. His is currently the Chair of the Neurosurgery Division and the Director of the Neurosurgery Residency Program at the Lebanese American University School of Medicine.

Samer Serhal, MD

Dr. Samer Serhal is currently a clinical assistant professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the LAU School of medicine and LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital. He graduated from the American University of Beirut Medical school in 1996 and trained in Ear Nose Throat-Head and neck surgery at the AUBMC. He is in private practice since 2002 with a special interest in face and neck aesthetic surgery, cosmetic surgery, general otolaryngology, pediatric ENT surgery and ear surgery. He participated in many international ENT hands-on courses and congresses. Dr. Serhal is a member of the global smile foundation that takes care of the surgery and follow up of children born with a cleft lip and palate worldwide.