Thursday, September 17, 2026
Some milestones begin in a single moment. This one was built over a century.
In August 2026, surgeons at LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAUMCRH) completed the first procedure under the LAU Robotic Surgery Program. The milestone grew from a century of caring for patients, a deep institutional commitment to medical excellence, and extensive preparation by a team that understood what this development could mean for Lebanon and the wider region.
Delivering robotic surgery at this scale requires rigorous protocols, meticulous technical readiness, experienced physicians, and well-defined clinical processes. Each element was firmly established before the first patient entered the operating room.
Central to the program are internationally recognized, American Board-certified surgeons and a specialized multidisciplinary support team whose expertise and coordination are integral to every procedure.
The surgical team at launch includes Dr. Eddie K. Abdalla, an internationally recognized surgical oncologist and expert in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery; Dr. Bassel Abouzeid, an American-trained and American Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery, including complex procedures for endometriosis and uterine fibroids, as well as fertility-sparing surgery; Dr. Elias Abi Khalil, an American-trained and American Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with fellowship training and extensive experience in minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery, with a focus on complex endometriosis and fibroid surgery; and Dr. Malek Meskawi, a North American-trained, dual board-certified urologist specializing in minimally invasive surgical oncology and endourology.
Their combined scope covers hepatobiliary and general surgery, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and urology. Beyond treating patients, members of the surgical team contribute as educators, trainers, and proctors, helping physicians develop their skills and strengthen robotic surgery capabilities regionally and internationally.
For patients, this means greater access to specialized robotic-assisted surgery closer to home. Within hepatobiliary and general surgery, Dr. Abdalla performs complex procedures involving the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, abdomen, and digestive system. These operations often require surgeons to navigate intricate anatomy and vital structures. For appropriately selected patients, enhanced visualization and instrument control can provide the accuracy such surgery demands and broaden the possibilities for a minimally invasive approach.
Women with complex gynecologic conditions benefit from the clinical excellence Dr. Abouzeid and Dr. Abi Khalil bring to minimally invasive surgery. Their combined experience allows for careful navigation of delicate pelvic anatomy while ensuring that each surgical plan reflects the patient’s diagnosis, anatomy, needs, and priorities. When clinically appropriate, robotic assistance can expand treatment options and contribute to a smoother recovery.
Precision takes on particular significance in urologic surgery, where outcomes can directly affect both health and quality of life. Dr. Meskawi has extensive experience in robotic procedures involving the prostate, kidney, and urinary system. During treatment for prostate and bladder cancer, careful surgical technique can play a critical role in preserving erectile and urinary function. For patients with kidney cancer, it can help minimize damage and preserve renal function. An experienced international robotic surgery proctor, Dr. Meskawi also provides specialized training and mentorship to urologists worldwide.
Complementing the surgeons’ skill is the ‘da Vinci Xi’, one of the world’s most advanced and versatile multiport robotic surgical platforms. Designed for intricate surgery, it provides magnified three-dimensional vision, exceptional dexterity, and refined instrument control, particularly when anatomy is difficult to navigate or access is limited. Firefly fluorescence imaging allows surgeons to view blood vessels, bile ducts, and tissue perfusion in real time, while integrated table motion facilitates surgery across multiple anatomical regions. Despite these capabilities, the robot does not operate independently. At every stage, surgeons direct the system, interpret what they see, and apply their clinical knowledge, judgment, and responsibility. The technology extends their vision, precision, and reach, but their understanding of the patient determines how it is used.
This surgeon-led approach reflects LAUMCRH’s identity as an academic medical center, where patient care, education, research, and innovation form one mission. Here, physicians translate knowledge into practice, critically evaluate emerging techniques, and educate future healthcare professionals while treating every patient with skill, dignity, and compassion.
By uniting world-class physicians, a supporting multidisciplinary team, robotic technology, and academic medicine, LAUMCRH is broadening access to specialized surgery and helping strengthen surgical capabilities across Lebanon and the region.
Technology will continue to evolve, and surgical techniques will become increasingly refined. What endures, carrying LAUMCRH’s century-long legacy forward, is the human judgment guiding every decision, the clinical expertise behind each procedure, and the compassion surrounding every patient.
The technology is robotic. The care is human.
By Meera Shamma