Dr David ATALLAH

Faculté de médecine

Professeur

(+961) 1 421 000 ext david.atallah@usj.edu.lb

Throughout the past twenty years, my unwavering dedication has been committed to serving diverse communities, institutions, regions, the global sphere, resulting in tangible impactful outcomes. Below, I present the key highlights of my service contributions. Clinical Services I developed during these 20 years many techniques and introduced in the country new technologies helping women with many gynecologic and obstetrical condition to get treated promptly with the highest standards of care. In Obstetrics, I developed surgical techniques for abnormal placentation, which is a morbid condition affecting a lot of women in Lebanon due to the high rate of cesarian sections. I published on that, and I was the first worldwide to report the retroperitoneal and the posterior first approach, reducing morbidity and blood loss. In Breast surgery, I introduced the minimally invasive technique 21 years ago being the first Lebanese to publish on that. I introduced the oncoplastic surgery being also the first to report the series in breast congresses and publishing a paper on our series and results. In Gynecologic oncology, I introduced the extensive surgical management in ovarian neoplasms and managed to accredit my center by the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology as a center of reference for advanced ovarian cancer surgery. I was the first to introduce ultra-staging in endometrial cancer and to use the Indo Cyanin Green for sentinel lymph nodes in endometrial cancer. I was the first and the only one to develop in Lebanon the pelvic side wall surgery for cervical cancer recurrences and locally advanced disease. I introduced the total mesometrial resection for cervical cancer, leading to zero known recurrences to date in our patients having operable cervical cancer since 2013. In Urogynecology I was the first to introduce in Lebanon the tension free vaginal tape while I was still a fellow in France I developed minimally invasive surgery in genital prolapse (laparoscopic sacral colpopexy) (first in Lebanon) I perform more than 700 procedures excluding deliveries. I am appointed as the Director of Women’s Cancer Institute University and Departmental Services Throughout my career, I have held a diverse range of professional roles across multiple domains, each contributing significantly to their respective fields. These positions include serving as the Dean’s representative overseeing research at Saint Joseph University, School of Medicine, and concurrently presiding as the President of the steering committee for a minimally invasive training center, the esteemed Center of Excellence in Ankara, Turkey. Additionally, I have assumed the pivotal role of Chairman of the Gynecology Department and Abnormal Placentation since 2022, and I have undertaken the esteemed position of Editor-in-Chief for the Lebanese Medical Journal since November 2018. Moreover, I have demonstrated effective leadership as the Chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital from 2018 to 2022, where I also spearheaded the Gynecologic Oncology and Breast Cancer Unit. My leadership extends to professional societies, where I have held roles such as President-elect of the Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vice President of the Lebanese Gynecologic Oncologic Group, and Member of the IGCS board of directors, chairing the Middle East Africa committee. Within academia, I have served as a respected Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Joseph University since 2015. Additionally, I have made significant contributions to various scholarly journals as a reviewer and have held esteemed editorial board positions. Furthermore, I have shared my expertise through teaching roles at Salpetrière University, School of Nursing, and The Lebanese University, School of Physiotherapy, from 1998 to 1999 and 1993 to 1997, respectively. My multifaceted professional background reflects my dedication to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and shaping future generations of medical professionals.