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

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
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
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
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
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
Diploma in Laparoscopic General Surgery, University of Strasbourg, France, 2011
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
Diploma in Eso-Gastro-Duodenal Surgery, Universities Lille 2, Bordeaux 2, Paris 5 and Paris 7, France, 2012
Lebanese Board of General Surgery Certification, 2013
Diploma in Simulation in Medical Education, LAU Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Byblos, Lebanon, 2018
Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon, 2019
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
Valedictorian and recipient of Karl Storz Award, for Diploma in Laparoscopic Surgery, Saint Joseph University-Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon, 2010

Keywords

Surgery, minimally invasive surgery, bariatric, digestive, colorectal, hernia, laparoscopy, redo bariatric, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, RYGB, mini-bypass, OAGB, gastroesophageal surgery, peritoneal catheter