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FM, ESF, IPHY, ISSP, IET, ISO, and IPM 2026 Graduation Ceremony
Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) celebrated the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Medicine (FM), the School of Midwifery (ESF), the Institute of Physiotherapy (IPHY), the Higher Institute of Speech and Language Therapy (ISO), the Institute of Psychomotor Therapy (IPM), the Higher Institute of Public Health (ISSP), and the Institute of Occupational Therapy (IET), on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at the Science and Technology Campus (CST) in Mar Roukoz, in the presence of several academic and medical figures, as well as the graduates’ families.
The guest of honor at this ceremony, Dr. Elias Chelala, President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, ophthalmologist and graduate of the USJ Faculty of Medicine (Class of 1984), shared this moment with the new graduates alongside the Rector of USJ, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ.
The ceremony was opened by Mrs. Christine Omeira Wazen, Director of the Publications and Communication Office (SPCOM), who highlighted the exceptional nature of this evening, one that would remain engraved in their memories, crowning “years of courage, perseverance, friendship, and dreams come true.” Recalling that USJ had celebrated its 150th anniversary the previous year, she invited the graduates to take part in writing the next 150 years of the University’s history. She also highlighted the originality of the ceremony, whose opening music was composed with the help of artificial intelligence, illustrating “a beautiful encounter between human creativity and new technologies.”
Taking the floor, the Rector of USJ shared that he was also experiencing a special moment. Appointed to head the University last January, he was presenting diplomas for the first time to students who had completed their academic journey under his mandate. Addressing the graduates directly, he invited them never to forget their journey or those who had accompanied them on the way to this achievement.
The Rector also paid tribute to the families, professors, and all the staff who contributed to their education, recalling that their success is above all “a collective victory.” Referring to the multiple crises Lebanon has faced in recent years, he highlighted the resilience that the students had demonstrated throughout their studies.
Furthermore, Prof. Boëdec emphasized the profoundly human vocation of healthcare professions. While technological advances, robotics, and artificial intelligence open up unprecedented possibilities, they cannot, according to him, replace “respect for human dignity, listening, empathy, a sense of responsibility, vocation, and ethics.” He urged the graduates to always place the human person at the heart of their practice, recalling that “behind every situation, every decision, and every innovation, there is first and foremost a person, a lived experience, a life.”
The Rector invited them to remain attached to Lebanon, whether they pursue their careers in the country or abroad, calling on them to constantly reflect on how they can contribute to its development and reconstruction. Finally, he encouraged them to maintain a strong connection with their Alma Mater, recalling that for more than 150 years, USJ has educated not only competent professionals, but also women and men guided by discernment, commitment, and service. “Be proud of your University, defend it, support it,” he urged them, before concluding: “Today, history is being written for you. Tomorrow, you will write a new chapter in medicine, and we are counting on you!”
Dr. Elias Chelala then delivered an emotional speech, paying tribute to a generation that has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of the successive crises Lebanon has endured. Congratulating the graduates on their perseverance, he reminded them that the diploma they received represents less the conclusion of a journey than the beginning of a demanding career.
Emphasizing that “medicine is not an ordinary profession; it is a vocation, a way of life,” he stressed the human qualities that must accompany scientific skills. According to him, patients will remember above all “your generosity of heart and your compassion.” Quoting Gibran Khalil Gibran — “Work is love made visible” — he recalled that caring means listening, supporting, and reassuring just as much as treating an illness.
Referring to the rapid advances in medicine and the growing integration of artificial intelligence, the President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians affirmed that these innovations will never replace “support, listening, empathy, a word of encouragement, and a reassuring look.” He also invited future professionals to favor collaboration over competition, to continue their education throughout their careers, and to remain faithful to their roots, their university, and their country. In a Lebanon facing numerous challenges, he called on them to become agents of trust and hope in the service of society.
At the end of his speech, the Rector presented him, on behalf of the University, with a commemorative artwork created for USJ’s 150th anniversary.
Representing the Federation of USJ Alumni Associations, Dr. Mario Sader congratulated the graduates on their commitment and perseverance. He reminded them that healthcare professions place the human person at the center of their mission and that the diploma they received comes with a responsibility toward society and the country. Stressing that “the University is not only about years of study, but a relationship that continues throughout life,” he encouraged them to join the alumni network in order to preserve the human values, knowledge, and spirit of solidarity that characterize USJ.
Speaking on behalf of his class, Dr. Georgy Kattan, top-ranking graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, expressed the pride and emotion of all the graduates. Looking back on the years of study completed in a particularly difficult context, he praised the decisive role of USJ which, faithful to its Ignatian mission, had given them “much more than knowledge,” teaching them to put “competence at the service of conscience and personal success at the service of the common good.”
He recalled that the true mission of healthcare professionals begins when a patient finds in them a listening ear, presence, and trust. Inviting his colleagues to preserve “humility, curiosity, and above all humanity,” he thanked the University officials, professors, families, and his classmates for their support throughout this journey.
The ceremony continued with the taking of the Hippocratic Oath, led by Christine Abdelmassih, top-ranking seventh-year student at FM, followed by the Doctoral Oath of Scientific Integrity, taken by Dr. Maha Dankar, holder of a PhD in Biological and Medical Sciences.
The evening concluded with the official presentation of diplomas to the students, to the applause of their families, professors, and the entire University community.
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