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SUMMER
2013
31
We regret to inform you that
Toufic Farah ’65
passed away
in May 2013. IC staff and
faculty send their deepest con-
dolences to the Farah family.
We regret to inform you that
Remy Rebeiz ’10
passed
away. IC staff and faculty
send their deepest condo-
lences to the Rebeiz family.
We regret to inform you that on June 3rd 2013,
Dr.
Munir Shammaa ‘43
, Professor Emeritus of
Medicine and founder of the Division of Gastro-
enterology at AUBMC passed away.
Dr. Shammaa obtained his MD from AUB in
1951, followed by his residency in internal medi-
cine at AUBMC and specialty training in gastro-
enterology at the Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School. He returned to AUB
and joined the Faculty of Medicine as clinical
instructor in 1957. He then served for 50 years on
the Faculty of Medicine, and is recognized as the
founder of the Division of Gastroenterology, which
he headed during most of his career at AUB.
Dr. Shammaa was widely recognized as a leading
clinical gastroenterologist and master clinician. His
reputation for diagnostic acumen and clinical ex-
cellence led him to consultations throughout Leb-
anon and the Arab world. He was also recognized
as a great teacher of students, residents and fellows.
His lecturing skills, bedside instruction, and scien-
tific rigor were deeply appreciated by generations
of trainees who passed under his mentorship. He
helped numerous young physicians build successful
careers in gastroenterology.Throughout the 1960s
and early 1970s, Dr. Shammaa was also involved in
basic and clinical research in collaboration with his
life-long friend, the late Dr. Ussama Khalidi.
In addition to his illustrious medical career, Dr.
Shammaa was an active public advocate for na-
tional and human rights and a talented writer who
published a number of books, reflecting on his life
as a physician and on AUB and Ras Beirut, the
community he loved and lived in, all his life.
Dr. Shammaa served on the board of directors
of IC for more than 10 years and he was Trustee
Emeritus the last few years.
He is survived by his wife,Therese Malek, and his
daughter Ramla (married to Malek Wehbe, IC
class of 1982) and their daughter Jana (IC elemen-
tary school).
Awards
:
National Cedar Medal of Commodore rank
Gold Medal from Lebanese Order of Physicians
To my friend Munir with the smile
That lights up for many a mile
Let me offer you praise
For your most gracious ways
You’re the essence of Lebanese Style
‘Bliss Street Boy’ you have been all
your life,
Man of peace, when others seek
strife.
Is it Buddha or Zen
Whence you draw acumen,
Or fromThérèse, your most lovely
wife?
I’ll never forget poker games
When you fooled us with your wily
claims
Of not seeming to know:
Should you go high or low?
Then you’d win, and we’d call you
names.
Let me thank you for your grace
In helping me feel in my place
From your wisdom I learned
Whenever I turned
For advice, with that smile on your
face.
So honorary consul of Yemen
Whom I’m proud to call also a
friend
Next year on the Côte
Will we cycle or float
Or will it be Beirut again?
Art Charles,
Beirut June 2006
Bliss Street Boy