LAU School of Medicine Faculty Among the World’s Most-Cited Scientists

Four distinguished scholars from the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine have been recognized among the world’s top two percent most-cited scientists in the 2025 Scopus Elsevier list, reflecting the depth and global influence of their work across clinical care, teaching, and research.

Leading the group is Professor Michel E. Mawad, former LAU President and a global leader in neuroradiology and interventional radiology. He has devoted his career to advancing the acute treatment of stroke and establishing multidisciplinary stroke centers in Houston, Abu Dhabi, and LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital. Dr. Mawad has authored over 300 publications, holds several patents, and has developed numerous clinical and research protocols. His work has shaped best practices in neurovascular care worldwide and exemplifies the integration of clinical expertise with research and education.

Professor Andre Megarbane heads a dynamic team of geneticists at LAU, driving groundbreaking discoveries in medical genetics. His team has identified POLD3 deficiency, a novel genetic disorder causing severe immune dysfunction, neurodevelopmental delay, and hearing impairment, and connected POLD3 variants to adult-onset hearing loss and balance issues. They also uncovered the role of the SH3GL1 gene in primary immunodeficiency diseases. Through this work, Dr. Megarbane, who has authored or co-authored more than 400 research papers, demonstrates how innovative, collaborative research can rapidly translate genetic insights into patient care, expanding both scientific knowledge and clinical applications.

Clinical Professor Eddie Abdalla bridges complex surgical oncology and advanced robotic surgery, focusing on cancers of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and neuroendocrine system. He performs major liver resections and complex pancreatic surgeries, using innovative strategies such as portal vein embolization and staged hepatectomy to enhance safety and outcomes. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, numerous book chapters, and many invited presentations/abstracts. Dr. Abdalla integrates surgery with multidisciplinary cancer care and systemic therapies, demonstrating how advanced techniques and collaborative care can significantly improve patient outcomes.

Clinical Professor Cesar (Kaissar) Yammine specializes in foot and ankle surgery, with expertise in the medical and surgical management of diabetic foot conditions and hand surgery. In 2024, the Diabetic Foot Clinic he heads at the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital was recognized for best research in systematic reviews in the field worldwide. Dr. Yammine’s research, with close to 170 published papers, has focused on treating complex foot and ankle conditions, diabetic foot surgery and reducing diabetic limb amputations to enhance, thereby improving, patient care.

Together, these faculty members illustrate the school’s commitment to cutting-edge clinical care, high-quality education, and impactful research. Their recognition among the world’s most-cited scientists highlights LAU’s global influence in medical scholarship and its role in advancing knowledge that directly benefits patients worldwide.

“Being among the world’s most cited researchers is not only an honor for our faculty,” said Dean Sola Aoun Bahous. “It is a signal of how far our school has come in shaping the global dialogue in science and medicine. Our researchers are not simply generating data; they are generating impact.”

The four faculty members were among the 28 full-time faculty who were included in the list, up from 17 in 2023 and 25 in 2024, representing 6.5 percent of LAU’s full-time faculty.