#MelhemScientific
Speakers
“Conferences like these play a vital role in shaping the next generation of physicians - they expose medical students to cutting-edge research, inspire career exploration, and foster meaningful connections with experts and peers alike.”
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Joseph Abi Ghanem
Director of Student Engagement
NEHME GERGES
MELHEM
Melhem Scientific
Johns Hopkins University
Nehme Gerges Melhem is a dynamic leader in medical education and public health who serves as President and Chairman of Melhem Scientific, a Boston-based organization driving global research innovation and collaboration. He also heads Aid Lebanon as President and CEO and continues his academic pursuits as an MS candidate in Information Systems & Artificial Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University. Passionate about intergenerational leadership, Melhem is known for fostering inclusive teams that span diverse age groups and expertise.
ANNOIR
SHAYYA, MD
Lebanese American University
Dr. Annoir Shayya is a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital. He currently serves as the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Coordinator, reflecting his dedication to medical education and academic development. Dr. Shayya has a strong interest in palliative care and gynecologic malignancies, and is actively engaged in multidisciplinary cancer care.
CYNTHIA
SEARS, MD, FIDSA
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Sears is a renowned infectious disease physician‑scientist whose 35‑year career bridges gut pathogens and cancer. Her lab studies how specific bacteria, promote colon inflammation and carcinogenesis, as well as modulate responses to immunotherapy. She serves as microbiome program leader at the Bloomberg‑Kimmel Institute and directs the germ‑free mouse core. Her work aims to harness microbiome insights for colorectal cancer prevention and therapy.
Vanda Abi Raad, MD, MHPE, EMBA
Lebanese American University
Dr. Vanda Abi Raad is Clinical Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology at the LAU School of Medicine, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development.
Her work spans regional anesthesia, pain medicine, medical education, simulation, and leadership, with numerous publications and editorial roles. Dr. Abi Raad founded the LAU Clinical Simulation Center and has held prominent leadership roles, including Past President of the Lebanese Society of Anesthesiologists. She is currently a board member of the Pan Arab Federation of Societies of Anaesthesia (PAFSA) and a member of the Education Committee of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA). She was recently elected Associate Member of the National Academy of Surgery in France.
Reezwana
Chowdhury, MD, FACG
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Chowdhury is a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a known risk factor for colorectal cancer. She leads the IBD Ultrasound Program and is actively involved in research and advocacy focused on early detection, prevention, and care for high-risk populations. Through her work with the American College of Gastroenterology and global IBD networks, she is committed to advancing awareness and improving outcomes in colorectal cancer.
ABDO
SAAD, MD, FACG
Lebanese American University
Dr. Saad completed his medical degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon in 2004. He then pursued his medical training in the United States: residency in Internal Medicine at Indiana University-Indianapolis,then the Geriatric fellowship at University of Wisconsin in Madison, followed by the Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Additionally, he completed an advanced fellowship dedicated to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the University of Chicago, Illinois. He subsequently joined Presbyterian Healthcare System in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A., where he also served as medical director.
CATHY
ENG, MD, FACP, FASCO
Vanderbilt-Ingram
Dr. Cathy Eng is a nationally recognized leader in gastrointestinal oncology and currently serves as the David H. Johnson Endowed Chair of Surgical and Medical Oncology at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). She is Co-Director of GI Oncology, Co-Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program, and Executive Director of the Young Adult Cancers Program. As VICC’s Associate Director for Strategic Relations and Research Partnerships, Dr. Eng plays a key role in clinical innovation and collaboration.
She is a two-time co-chair of the NCI GI Steering Committee, past Chair of the NCI Rectal/Anal Task Force, and has held leadership positions with SWOG, ECOG, and ASCO. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Fight Colorectal Cancer and is a Fellow of the ELAM Program (Class of 2022). Her research focuses on phase I–III clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic strategies for colorectal, appendiceal, and anal cancers. Dr. Eng is a VUMC Biomedical Scientific Impact Award recipient and a prolific author in top-tier journals including NEJM, JCO, Lancet Oncology, and Cancer