Throughout October, LAU Medical Centers–Rizk and Saint John’s Hospitals supported women’s health through breast cancer education, community outreach, and initiatives to make screening more accessible.

A shared commitment to women’s health brought LAU physicians and students together with communities throughout October. Through educational gatherings and outreach, LAU Medical Centers–Rizk and Saint John’s Hospitals encouraged women to ask questions, seek support, and make screening a priority.

In the garden of LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital on October 22, conversations about breast health unfolded alongside music and movement. Organized in coordination with the Hematology-Oncology Division, headed by Dr. Hady Ghanem, and the Department of Medical Imaging, chaired by Dr. Daniel Mahfoud, the event brought together physicians, nurses, and colleagues around a shared message: “Listen to Your Body. Get Screened.”

Educational stations offered the chance to speak with oncologists, radiologists, pharmacists, and dietitians. A Q&A competition encouraged participation, while G.SPA led a stretching and mobility session. Food from Fro.U and Mailo’s Pasta, music by DJ Creme, and a tombola added to the lively atmosphere.

LAU and Health System leadership joined the activities, including Maître Nour Hajjar, LAU Chief of Staff and General Counsel; Dr. Zeina Khouri-Stevens, Executive Vice President for Health Services; Mr. Sami Rizk, Chief Executive Officer of LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital; Dr. Karl Jallad, Group Chief Medical Officer; Mr. Christian Bejjani, Group Chief Operating Officer; and Mr. Saad El Zein, Head of Marketing and Communications for LAU Health Services.

“Regular mammograms and medical visits help us detect breast cancer at an earlier stage. Early detection is key,” said Dr. Hady Ghanem, Clinical Professor and Chief of the Hematology-Oncology Division at LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital.

Listening to the body also means making time for care when nothing feels wrong. “Mammography is a screening tool. We use it before there are signs, symptoms, or complaints,” explained Dr. Tamina Elias-Rizk, Clinical Assistant Professor and Chief of the Breast Imaging Section.

Dr. Khouri-Stevens brought a personal perspective to the hesitation some women feel about screening. “If you hesitate, ask the question. Don’t be afraid to ask,” she said. “If you are afraid to go alone, bring a friend. Don’t let it pass.”

Support remains essential after a diagnosis, as Dr. Rita Khoury, a hematologist-oncologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, explained. “Early detection saves lives,” she said. “Alongside diagnostic imaging and medical expertise, patients have the support of nurses, palliative care professionals, and psychologists throughout their care.”

The invitation to support one another extended beyond the gathering. Breast cancer survivor and social media influencer Hiba Dandachli encouraged women to get screened with a friend in a video filmed at LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital. Throughout the month, the medical center’s façade glowed pink in its annual expression of solidarity with patients and survivors, keeping that support visible in the community.

For 25 seniors from Saints-Coeurs Sioufi, a visit to the medical center offered a closer look at what patients experience. Dr. Elias-Rizk guided them through the Radiology Department’s Breast Imaging Section, and Dr. Ghanem welcomed them to the Oncology Department’s outpatient chemotherapy unit. A short film of the visit was later shown to both the school and the medical center communities.

When the Sioufi students welcomed Dr. Elias-Rizk and Dr. Christina Khater, a hematologist-oncologist, to their school, they had a chance to ask about the examination itself. During a three-hour program, the physicians addressed questions about discomfort during mammography and the amount of radiation involved. A breast cancer survivor shared her experience, and the students gave a performance before participants walked to Sassine Square.

The exchange between physicians and students took different forms. Dr. Ghanem joined the breast cancer awareness campaign at Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour, while medical students at LAU’s Byblos campus welcomed Dr. Elias-Rizk and Dr. Khoury to “Beyond the Ribbon,” a multidisciplinary symposium organized by the Medical Students’ Association on October 28. For Dr. Elias-Rizk, the symposium followed an October 24 discussion on breast cancer risk assessment that she co-moderated at AUB’s Middle East Medical Assembly, “Precision Oncology: From Risk to Actionable Targets.”

For women weighing whether to schedule a mammogram, knowing what to expect can help ease some of the uncertainty. Dr. Elias-Rizk addressed that hesitation in “From Fear to Care,” an October 21 session she led with Siira on behalf of LAU Medical Centers–Rizk and Saint John’s Hospitals. In a podcast discussion, Dr. Sabine Khoury-Chalouhi, a diagnostic radiologist, explored the experience from the patient’s perspective, explaining how mammography and complementary breast imaging help detect cancer early, and how radiologists can help patients understand their results by explaining the findings with care.

In Roumieh, families could bring their own breast health questions to physicians from both medical centers and the LAU Mobile Clinic team during free consultations at Family Health Day, organized by LAU’s Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing and local partners.

The Barbara Nassar Association helped bring breast cancer education to a wider public, inviting Dr. Ghanem to give an online lecture and partnering with LAU at Pinky Promise. There, visitors could sit down with physicians, faculty, and students to discuss concerns ranging from breast cancer risk to everyday choices about medication and nutrition.

With support from the LAU Mobile Clinic, Pharmacy faculty members and students shared advice on appropriate medication use under the guidance of Dr. Naser Alsharif, Dean of the LAU School of Pharmacy. Nutrition students engaged visitors in activities on balanced eating, supervised by Marwa Fadlallah, Instructor of Nutrition at LAU and a preceptor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program.

At Pinky Promise on October 17, Dr. Annoir Shayya, a hematologist-oncologist at LAU’s medical centers, discussed breast cancer risk factors, prevention, and early detection with participants. He continued that conversation on October 28 at the “Pink October” gathering at the Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Achkout, Keserwan, where LAU Medical Center–Saint John’s Hospital took part in collaboration with Prevention, founded by clinical pharmacist Dr. Asma Saliba. Under the theme “Awareness Begins with a Conversation,” Dr. Shayya led a session on breast health, and participants had the opportunity to sign up for free mammograms.

Making screening more accessible gave women further ways to act. Through a continued partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the medical centers offered mammograms at MoPH rates throughout October. In Tripoli, Engineers Medical Clinics (EMC), the Order of Engineers and Architects’ clinics operated by the LAU Health System, arranged two days of free clinical breast examinations with Dr. Wael Abdallah, Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at LAU. Patients could then access discounted mammograms at LAU Medical Center–Saint John’s Hospital.

Outreach continued on November 1 at the Port of Byblos, where LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital sponsored the second edition of “Byblos Moves for Cancer: Your Fight Is My Fight,” offering complimentary mammography screening vouchers. Hosted by the Municipality of Byblos, the event brought the community together through sports and family activities.

The month’s activities gave women opportunities to ask questions, seek reassurance, and get screened with support around them. At LAU Medical Centers–Rizk and Saint John’s Hospitals, the commitment continues beyond October: listen to your body, support one another, and make screening a priority throughout the year.

Early detection saves lives.