Former Makassed student, Dr. Abla Mehio Al- Sibai Receives Sheikh Al-Sabah Award

Dr. Abla Mehio Al- Sibai, a Makassed Khaled bin Al Walid College alumnus, won the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Award for her outstanding contribution to research in the areas of health care for the elderly and in health promotion.

Dr. Sibai is the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She made a significant contribution to the health of the elderly in Lebanon and in the region, developing a holistic approach to promote healthy aging.

She led the innovative initiative to enroll approximately 600 seniors each year in the Senior Citizens College at AUB, as well as train public health professionals. She co-led the landmark WHO study on the global burden of disease in Lebanon (2000) and conducted the first national survey of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, which led to advocacy, policy-making and program planning for health promotion.

Based on her many achievements, Dr. Sibai developed the “National Strategy for the Elderly” in Lebanon (2020-2030). In addition, she established the Arab Network on Aging and the Center for the Study of Aging, in order to provide appropriate platforms, networks and linkages between research and policy at the national, regional and international levels.