Rodrigue Chemaly, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Program Director, Residency in General Surgery
Minimally Invasive and Laparoscopic Surgery
Dr. Rodrigue Chemaly obtained his M.D. degree and General Surgery diploma from the Lebanese University in 2006 and 2011, respectively. He obtained a diploma in laparoscopic surgery from Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, for which he received the Karl Storz Award in 2010. He pursued additional training in France, completing a fellowship in Colorectal and Bariatric Surgery, as well as a laparoscopic diploma at the University of Strasbourg.
As part of his post-graduate training, Dr. Chemaly completed several university diplomas and certificates in a broad range of disciplines, including the following: surgery, simulation-based medical education, healthcare leadership, and surgical leadership. (Refer to “Education, Training, and Certification” section of this profile.) He successfully graduated at the top of his class from the Surgical Leadership Program of Harvard Medical School in 2020, and recently became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Chemaly has been an instructor for the Lebanese University Laparoscopic Diploma since 2016, and has been a member of IFSO (International Federation of Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Disease) since 2013. He currently holds the position of Chair of the Young IFSO MENAC (Middle East-North Africa Chapter), and is an active member of five medical organizations. He has served as an Executive Board Member (General Secretary) of the IFSO Lebanese Chapter since 2018, and as an active practitioner and faculty member at Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital in Beirut since 2017.
Dr. Chemaly is an expert in the laparoscopic sector and particularly in the field of bariatric surgery. As a general, bariatric, and laparoscopic surgeon at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, the LAU Medical Center-St. John’s Hospital in Jounieh, and the Middle East Institute of Health - University Hospital (MEIH-UH) at Bsalim, he has successfully performed more than 2000 bariatric surgical procedures. Dr. Chemaly sets high standards for preoperative and post-operative care, to ensure optimal treatment and follow-up of patients.
Dr. Chemaly is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the LAU Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, and Director of the Residency Program in General Surgery in the Department of Surgery at LAU’s medical centers. With a growing interest in laparoscopic simulation, he aspires to enhance the surgical residency curriculum by developing a standardized laparoscopic surgical module which could be applicable on a national or regional basis.
Selected Publications
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Khalil C, Chaker D, Salameh R, Germanos Y-E, El Kayem E, Nader F, Habbouche J, Chemaly R, Azar A, Ibrahim A. Autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells embedded in platelet-rich fibrin in diabetic foot ulcers. Open Journal of Regenerative Medicine (2021 Jun) 10:19-30
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Al Hajj G, Chemaly R. Fistula following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: A proposed classification and algorithm for optimal management. Obesity Surgery (2018 Mar) 28(3):656-664
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Romain B, Chemaly R, Meyer N, Chilintseva N, Triki E, Brigand C, Rohr S. Diagnostic markers of postoperative morbidity after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for obesity. Langenbecks Arch Surg (2014 Apr) 399(4): 503-8
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Romain B, Chemaly R, Meyer N, Brigand C, Steinmetz JP, Rohr S. Prognostic factors of postoperative morbidity and mortality in strangulated groin hernia. Hernia (2012 Aug) 16(4):405-10
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Romain B, Chemaly R, Meyer N, Brigand C, Steinmetz J-P, Rohr S. Value of a preoperative checklist for laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy. J Visc Surg. (2012 Dec) 149(6):408-411
Professional and Research Interests
- Laparoscopy – Laparoscopic simulation
- Bariatric surgery – Re-do bariatric surgery
- Acid reflux, bile reflux and risk of cancer after bariatric surgery
- Gastroesophageal cancer after bariatric surgery
- E-learning – Leadership
Education and Training
- Lebanese Baccalaureate in Experimental Sciences, Collège Central des Moines Libanais, Jounieh, Lebanon, 1998
- Pre-medical studies in biology, Lebanese University-Faculty of Sciences Section 2, Fanar, Lebanon, 2000
- Doctor of General Medicine, Lebanese University-Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dekwaneh, Lebanon, 2006
- Diploma in Laparoscopic Surgery, Saint Joseph University-Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon, 2010
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Diploma in Laparoscopic General Surgery, University of Strasbourg, France, 2011
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Degree in General Surgery, Lebanese University-Faculty of Medical Sciences, Hadath, Beirut, 2011
- Fellowship in Colorectal and Bariatric Surgery, CHU de Hautepierre - University of Strasbourg (DFMS-DFMSA), France, 2012
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Diploma in Eso-Gastro-Duodenal Surgery, Universities Lille 2, Bordeaux 2, Paris 5 and Paris 7, France, 2012
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Lebanese Board of General Surgery Certification, 2013
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Diploma in Simulation in Medical Education, LAU Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Byblos, Lebanon, 2018
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Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon, 2019
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Surgical Leadership Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 2020
Professional Organizations, Memberships, Affiliations, and/or Honors:
- Member, Lebanese Society of General Surgery
- Member, AFC (Association Française de Chirurgie); Membre Francophone
- Member, IFSO (International Federation of Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Disease)
- Executive Board Member (General Secretary), IFSO Lebanese Chapter
- Chair, Young IFSO MENAC (Middle East North Africa Chapter) since 2020; Co-Chair, 2018-2020
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
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Valedictorian and recipient of Karl Storz Award, for Diploma in Laparoscopic Surgery, Saint Joseph University-Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon, 2010