Collaborations with Health Institutions

LAU engages in collaborations with local, national, and global health institutions to improve health and well-being outcomes. Below are some examples including: Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management, initiatives from the School of Nursing, Partnerships with the School of Pharmacy, Research and Sustainability Projects and initiatives related to Social and Gender Health

These efforts highlight the university’s integrated approach to improving health and well-being locally, nationally, and internationally.

Testing Hospital Preparedness for Times of Crisis

The LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital organized an emergency drill in collaboration with the Red Cross on November 4, 2023 at its ambulatory entrance and emergency room to evaluate its readiness for handling mass casualties while ensuring optimal patient care. It was the first in a series of drills planned for the rest of the healthcare facility, including the intensive care unit, operating rooms, laboratories, and medical imaging department.

“This is the first live drill to be conducted at such a large scale, with more than 100 simulated injuries carried out by volunteering students,” said Dr. George Ghanem, deputy CEO of the medical center.

Physicians, residents, students and other medical center staff, who had undergone several training sessions by the hospital’s emergency committees, honed their skills in effective triaging, zoning, and dispatching of the 100 volunteers portraying different injuries.

The nursing team, led by Christelle Azar, the head nurse in the emergency room, actively participated in both the training sessions and the on-site drill. The experience, said Azar, “provided us with a valuable opportunity to assess our preparedness.”

Following the August 4 explosion, the plan was revised to address the challenges encountered, such as the failure of patient case documentation and the collapse of communication systems.

Dr. Marianna El Helou, the head of the emergency medicine division at the hospital, led the revisions by introducing color-coded vests to differentiate various staff members during crises. A two-way radio was also implemented to prevent a communication breakdown when mobile networks become unreliable.

Her firsthand experience in the aftermath of the explosion offered valuable insights to the global healthcare community, which she has shared in conferences and training sessions at international universities, medical institutions, and organizations, including the World Health Organization.

Dr. Tony Zreik, LAU’s vice president for health affairs, stated that the emergency plans at the LAU medical centers and both university campuses will also be revised following the drill assessment.

In addition to equipping its staff with the necessary skills needed for disaster management, the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital has also taken anticipatory measures regarding medical supplies and medications, said Dr. Ghanem. The medical center is also planning another drill in partnership with the Lebanese Army, he added.

Outreach Programs and Projects in the Local Community

LAU delivers numerous outreach programs and projects to promote health and well-being in the local community. These initiatives include: Health Awareness Campaigns, Nutrition and Hygiene Programs, Student Engagements, Sports and Exercise and Focus on Aging Well and Family Planning.

These efforts reflect the university’s dedication to community engagement and the promotion of well-being across various health-related areas.

The Co-Curriculum: Student Personal and Professional Development

“Gaining More When Actively Involved”

Objectives

LAU’s School of Pharmacy co-curriculum allows pharmacy students to participate in self-directed lifelong learning through personal and professional development activities that are aimed to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes and shape their professional identity, to become well-rounded practitioners. In collaboration with several school and university offices, as well as student societies, a diverse pool of CCAs is specifically designed to develop and advance pharmacy students’ skills and attitudes in the following areas:

• Problem-Solving (Problem Solver) – Identify and define the primary problem, use an innovative mindset to consider and develop alternative ideas, explore multiple solutions, anticipate positive and negative outcomes, and implement the most viable solution (CAPE 2.1).
• Communication (Communicator) – Actively engage, listen, communicate verbally, nonverbally and in writing when interacting with or educating an individual, group, or organization (CAPE 2.2).
• Cultural and structural humility (Ally) – Mitigate health disparities by considering, recognizing and navigating cultural and structural factors to improve access and health outcomes (CAPE 2.3).
• Advocacy (Advocate) – Promote the best interests of patients and or the pharmacy profession (CAPE 2.5).
• Interprofessional collaboration (Collaborator) – Actively engage and contribute as healthcare team members by demonstrating core interprofessional competencies (CAPE 2.7).
• Population Health & Wellness (promoter) – Access factors that influence the health and wellness of a population and develop strategies to address those factors (CAPE 2.8).
• Leadership (Leader) – Demonstrate the ability to influence and support the achievement of shared goals on a team, regardless of one’s role (CAPE 2.9).
• Self-awareness (Self-aware) – Examine, reflect on, and address personal and professional attributes (knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, that could enhance or limit growth, development, and professional identity formation) (CAPE 3.1).
• Professionalism (Professional) – Exhibit attitudes and behaviors that embody a commitment to building and maintaining trust with patients, colleagues, other healthcare professionals and society (CAPE 3.2).

Co-Curricular Activities

CCAs are typically conducted outside the classroom setting and encompass learning outcomes that take time to gain through multiple experiences and exposures in order to hone and attain mastery. They range from self-development workshops to hands-on service learning and community outreach projects. View the CCAs contracted sheet (for students | for faculty and staff).

The co-curriculum program consists of required and optional CCAs. CCAs allocated to each professional year address specific themes of development:

Pharmacy Professional Year 1 – Self-Awareness and Personal Development

Pharmacy Professional Year 2 – Cultural Sensitivity and Advocacy

Pharmacy Professional Year 3 – Inter-professional Collaboration and Communication

Pharmacy Professional Year 4 – Emotional intelligence and conflict resolution/Leadership and Innovation

Sharing Sports Facilities with the Local Community

Sharing sports facilities with the local community is an integral part of fostering inclusivity and promoting healthy lifestyles. LAU exemplifies this spirit by offering a range of facilities and programs that extend beyond the university’s immediate student body.

Beirut Campus Athletics Facilities

Joseph G. Jabbra Gymnasium

The Joseph G. Jabbra indoor (main) gymnasium is located on the lower campus next to Irwin Hall. It has four levels and is well suited to the needs of LAU students and the university community at large.

(L1) On the basement level is a state-of-the-art, heated swimming pool. It is 20mx12m and is frequently used for intercollegiate, interscholastic and other competitions. Showers and changing areas are available for everyone’s comfort. All swimming classes, academic and non-academic, are conducted here and free times are scheduled throughout the academic year for students, faculty, and staff.

(L2) On court level, the following are available:

• A wooden (parquet) floor primarily used for basketball, volleyball and tennis classes and activities. The court is equipped with an electronic scoreboard and 24-second shot clocks for basketball.
• Men’s locker rooms and showers.
• A multipurpose room for classroom usage and coaches’ lounge.
• An equipment storage room.

​(L3) The ladies’ locker rooms and showers, a large multi-purpose activities room, the athletics’ staff and athletics director’s offices are all located on the main level.

(L4) Two tennis courts (with lights) are located on the roof, adjacent to the Safadi Fine Arts Building are artificial grass courts specifically for Tennis.

The main gymnasium is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Fitness and Weight Center

With the constant increase in the number of health and fitness conscious individuals, the fully equipped – with some world famous brands – fitness and weight center is an ideal place to work out and establish good exercise habits. Qualified instructors are available all day to ensure that everyone gets the most out of their daily workout.

The fitness center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is located in the basement of the Wadad Khoury Student Center (Upper Campus).

Byblos Campus Athletics Facilities

The Byblos campus has two outdoor courts, an indoor weight lifting room and other facilities for specific sports. Off-campus sports facilities are used when necessary for games, tournaments, etc.

Kahraba Stadium: Located in Zouk Michael area, very close to the Kaslik exist on the Beirut Tripoli Highway. Take the left turn after modish fashion shop. The court has a wooden floor that best serve our basketball varsity trainings and league games.

Ghazir Club Stadium: Court in Ghazir area, next to Casnio Du Liban intersection. That hosts our volleyball team trainings, and our indoor soccer trainings. It was selected for the very convenient distance from the Byblos campus.

LAU Byblos outdoor courts: The outdoor courts, located next to the cafeteria building. That can host mini-football, tennis, volleyball and basketball. Their surface is a solid surface, the courts were newly renovated.

Athletico Club: Located on the Metn area- Dbayeh. The court is a state of the art green field it is considered the best facility for football in the region.

Byblos Club stadium: Located in the city of Jbeil. That hosts the trainings of our volleyball teams. It was selected for the very convenient distance from the Byblos campus. The court has a wooden floor that was newly renovated.

Rimal club: Located in Zouk area, on the Sea road. That hosts our swimming team trainings.

Weight lifting room and cardio vascular: Situated in the student lounge building equipped with showers/wc and changing rooms for both men and women. The weight lifting room contains all necessary machines for mainly all muscles. The facility is open for students from 8:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m.

Table Tennis and Billiard area: Located in the student lounge building equipped with necessary equipment from table tennis tables, billiard table and chess boards that can entertain our students from 8:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m.

Aerobics Room: Located in dorms block A room 90, that has its showers and music system, all aerobics, yoga, aikido sessions are scheduled there.

Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health-Care Services

LAU provides students with access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including education and information. Through its fully staffed campus health clinics, the university offers wellness visits that include psychosocial assessments, physical exams, and comprehensive sexual education. These sessions address safe sex practices and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, students benefit from academic courses and experiential learning in areas such as reproductive health, lactation, and obstetrics/gynecology, ensuring they are equipped with both theoretical and practical knowledge in sexual and reproductive health.

LAU HEALTH Campus Clinics

Both campuses include fully-staffed Health Clinics with nurses and medical doctors on a rotating basis. They provide LAU community members with compassionate health-care services including information and education services.

LAU students are eligible for a wellness care visit at the LAU HEALTH Clinics, free of charge, once a year.

The wellness visit is a psychosocial assessment and physical exam done by a family medicine physician during which comprehensive sexual education including prevention of sexually transmitted infection and promotion of safe sex practices, is provided.

Since LAU has two medical hospitals, the university has excellent access to all health-care services including information and treatment on sexual and reproductive health issues.

Mental Health Support

LAU is deeply committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment by providing comprehensive access to mental health support for both students and staff. Through dedicated counseling sevices, employee assistance programs, and a robust network of mental health professionals, we ensure that our community has access to confidential support services. Additionally, the university organizes workshops, training sessions, and wellness programs aimed at promoting mental well-being and reducing stigma around mental health. By integrating these resources into campus life, we prioritize the mental health and resilience of our community, recognizing its critical role in academic and professional success.

Managing Anxiety Through a Holistic Balance of Mind and Body

LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital hosts a cross-departmental initiative to increase awareness of the relationship between the physical and mental impacts of anxiety.

The event was attended by students and staff, in addition to residents and physicians as part of their continuing medical education.

With 14 types of anxiety disorders affecting more than 300 million people globally, the condition can have a profound impact on the mental, physical, and overall wellbeing of individuals across age groups. However, due to the prevalent siloed approach toward patient care, the medical community faces challenges in early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of one of the most common psychological disorders.

To tackle this significant issue, the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Psychology Program at the School of Arts and Sciences, organized a symposium titled Mind-Body Harmony: Navigating Anxiety in Medicine at the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital on November 4, 2023.

Non-Smoking Policy

Since 2011, LAU went smoke-free, in addition, The Student Code of Conduct stipulates under its Article III: Proscribed Conduct, Section 2. Conduct Rules and Regulations (Clause 2.1.39 and 2.1.40) that smoking and alcohol Consumption are forbidden in all LAU premises.

 

LAU goes smoke-free

Lighting up is strictly prohibited on both Beirut and Byblos campuses.

Banners promote LAU’s non-smoking policy on the Beirut and Byblos campuses.