Contents:
- Message of the President
- Message of the Newsletter Editor
- Minutes of the Boston meeting
- Issam Awad: Founder and Past President of WALN
- Baalbeck: The city of the sun
- Elections 2000
- Upcoming Events
- Quote of the Issue: Saint Thomas Aquinas
- Member News
- Letter to The Editor
- What WALN means to me
- WALN on the web


WALN President’s Message

Dear Members and Colleagues:

I hope our spring issue of the WALN Newsletter brings you good news and finds you all in excellent condition. Unfortunately, I missed the Boston meeting due to family engagements but I was informed about the meeting and since that time I have had several contacts with our members in the United States and Lebanon. I did also have an unscheduled trip to Lebanon where I had several meetings with our members in Lebanon.

Our aim is to keep this organization alive and to see it grow and prosper and get it to a very high level nationally and internationally. We need everyone’s help in achieving this endeavor.

It is time to have the elections of our officers and we hope to do that in April during the AANS meeting in San Francisco. I do urge people to submit their nominations for the officers positions as soon as possible so we may have our elections according to the Bylaws of the organization. Please remember that we all strive to work for this institution and we want to be all one team working towards the same goal. I urge each and everyone of you to think about this in that manner. There is no glory in serving as officers and there is no compensation, it is just for the well being and the benefit of this organization. We want people who are dedicated and willing to work hard and take this society to another and higher level to meet the new challenges of this millennium. We do not want to sit and cry and remember the past, we want to laugh and have plans for the future. We want to have fun and we want to work hard. We want to support each other and help each other and work closely with our colleagues in the Arab world. It is with this spirit that I urge everyone to look at those positions and have a slate of officers that will carry this organization into the future.

I do urge everyone to contribute to the Newsletter. Whoever would like to write and provide any news, please send it to Dr. Bejjani. It is very important to keep everyone posted and appraised of what is happening around us. I would also like to urge people to publish articles in the Pan Arab Journal of Neurosurgery in support of their journal and to work very closely with the Pan Arab Neurosurgical Society. Teamwork is the best answer for our problems and a great solution for a prosperous future.

I urge our members to pay their dues. These should be sent to Dr. Muakkassa or Dr. Bejjani. Please call me for any problems that may arise. I have had extensive discussions with our colleagues in Lebanon and I am conducting several discussions with our friends in the United States to formulate the best scenario for the progress and survival of the society. My biggest aim is to keep the society one whole body, no divisions, all one heart, one hand and one soul.

My friends, I urge you from the bottom of my heart to take a few minutes and think about my message and make some resolutions and the right decision for what you feel is in the best interest of the society as a whole. I do urge you to support this organization with all what your power and at all levels because we do need everyone’s help. I may sound like a beggar, but this society is for everyone and no one person can do it by himself. We have several meetings coming up in the next couple of years that our society may be involved with and I do encourage all of you to participate. I hope to see you in San Francisco and we hope to finalize the political and election process as planned so that we will have a new slate of officers for next year ready to go and geared to continue the job.

As always, I have for all of you my deepest respect and my highest regards for the great achievements you have done because that keeps the pride high and the future bright.

Sincerely yours,

Mike Chedid, M.D.
President, WALN


Message of the Newsletter Editor

Dear Brothers

This is the seventh and last issue of the WALN Newsletter which I have had the privilege of editing. These past four years have brought me a lot of joy, pride and fulfillment. Every issue had a special meaning to me. It was a great feeling to watch WALN grow. I will miss editing the Newsletter, but I have served my full term to the best of my ability and it is time to have new blood transfused into the association leadership.

It is a pleasure and an honor to present to you two major announcements via this Newsletter: Dr. Awad’s election as president of the CNS, and the upcoming elections of the third Board of officers of WALN.

Dr Awad’s election is a source of Pride for all of us. This is the second time such an honor was bestowed upon a WALN member, the first time being Dr Maroon’s election in 1985.

The upcoming elections and nominations are another event that I am proud to announce. These elections represent the spirit of WALN and the will of WALN members to be a part of this organization and to make it succeed. I am glad we have received quite a few nominations. The elections mark another way to express the democratic aspirations of our membership and their desire to stay actively involved.

Being an officer of WALN does not bring any material reward. However it brings the satisfaction of working to achieve the goal of the WALN and promote our neurosurgical heritage. It requires dedication and hard work. It is not an easy task to bring together more than 250 neurosurgeons worldwide with the limited resources that we have. We have all spent considerable time working on various tasks: the Newsletter, the Directory, the Website, the Homecoming meetings, the Annual Reunions etc. I am looking forward to a new body of officers who can bring new blood and energy to WALN and promote it further. We accomplished some but there is still a lot that can be done: the not for profit status, the traveling fellowship, further development of the website… And there are so many colleagues out there vibrant with enthusiasm and energy who want to contribute. It is truly a great feeling.

I would like to emphasize our openness. It is one of our founding principles. There is nothing more rewarding than being frank with one another. Discussing the issues openly is more constructive than any other means of communication and interaction. I hope that we can all live up to our principle.

We have moved officially to a permanent website address: www.waln.org. I hope that everybody will have a chance to visit the site and make comments. There a special section in this issue discussing the web site in more detail.

Also I would like to mention the creation of the Editorial Board during the Boston reunion. This Board should hopefully expand the Newsletter in content and context.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank all of you, without any exception, who were supportive of the Newsletter. It is really your feedback that kept us going. In April, I will pass the torch to a new Editor of your choice. I have no doubt that my successor will even bring more life and color to our Newsletter, the Website and the Directory.

And again my friends, the pleasure was all mine.

See you in San Fransisco.

Sincerely yours,

Ghassan K. Bejjani, MD
WALN Newsletter Editor


Minutes of the Boston Meeting

The semiannual meeting of the WALN was held in parallel with the CNS meeting in Boston on Tuesday November 2nd, 1999. The traditional dinner was held at Phoenicia Restaurant. The following members of WALN were present: Dr. Charles Fager (Burlington, VT), Dr. Afif Iliya (Stony Brook, NY), Dr. Souheil Haddad (Bloomington, IN), Dr. Adnan Abla (Pittsburgh, PA), Dr. Nilton Latuf (Sao Paolo, USA), Dr. Omed Seba and his spouse, Dr. Issa Canavati, Dr. Nicholas Kandalaft, Dr. Antoine Salloum(Canada), Dr. Ghassan Bejjani (Pittsburgh, PA) and guests Mauricio and Ana Iacoangeli from Italy.

After the dinner, the business meeting was held in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel. The following members were present: Ghassan Bejjani (Pittsburgh, PA), Issam Awad (new Haven, CT), Jacques Morcos (Miami, FL), Ali Krisht (Little Rock, AR), Fady Charbel (Chicago, IL), Nilton Latuf (Sao Paolo, Brazil), Omed Seba (Brazil), Antoine Salloum (Canada), Issa Canawati, Nicholas Kandalaft and Adnan Abla (Pittsburgh, PA).

The meeting was called into order by Dr. Bejjani. Dr. Chedid had to travel to Beirut two days before the Congress to attend to his sick father and could not attend the meeting. Dr Muakkassa was not able to attend either secondary to professional obligations in Akron, OH.

A report on the WALN meeting II was given. The meeting was a success from the scientific point of view. The financial issues are still not concluded. The preparations for WALN III were discussed next. This meeting is to be held in conjunction with the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise. As most of you know already the latter meeting will be held in Lebanon towards the end of Spring 2001. Dr. Okais is organizing it. The upcoming Board of Officers will be organizing it.

Dr. Charbel discussed the potentially important role that WALN can play within the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise. He encouraged members to apply to the Society (more details in the Letter to the Editor section). He also suggested to work on obtaining more recognition to the contributions of Dr. Mohasseb to the “Francophonie.”

Dr. Nilton Latuf discussed the situation in North America. He emphasized the importance of the support provided by WALN and requested more WALN support. This support has manifested by frequent visits and lectures by WALN members to Brazil. Dr. Jacques Morcos offered to enroll two participants for free in his skull base course in Miami.

The elections were discussed next. It was decided to hold these during the WALN reunion in San Fransisco. A resolution was made to divide the Secretary-Treasurer position in two separate positions: Secretary and Treasurer. Nominations were sought from the floor and the following names were suggested: for President Dr. Fady Charbel, for Secretary and North American Representative Dr. Ghassan Bejjani, for Treasurer Dr. Ali Krisht, for Newsletter Editor Dr. Jacques Morcos, for Lebanese Representative Dr. Okais, for European Representative Dr. Abbas Srour and for Brazilian Representative Dr. Nilton Latuf.

Then a motion was accepted to create an Editorial Board that will assist the Regional Representatives and the Newsletter Editor. The following members were chosen: For Canada Dr. Antoine Salloum and for Lebanon Dr. Ronald Moussa. Other volunteers are sought for Europe and Brazil.

Another motion was approved to have Dr. Bernard Bendok the Young Neurosurgeons co-ordinator for WALN.

The next item on the agenda was the creation of a much needed website task force. With the growing importance of the Internet, there is clearly a need to integrate this important tool within WALN. Dr. Charbel discussed the potential that a WALN neurosurgical chat room may have on consolidating the links with the motherland: live combined conferences can be held over the web to allow WALN members to share expertise. One of the most important tasks of the new Board of Officers will be the enhancement of the website.

The reunion was concluded by opening bottles of Champagne and smoking cigars to celebrate the triumph of Lebanese Neurosurgery. Dr. Awad, who was elected President of The Congress of Neurological Surgeons just a couple hours earlier, elected to celebrate his victory with fellow WALN members.


Issam Awad: Founder and Past President of WALN

Issam Awad was born on September 23, 1956 in Beirut, Lebanon. His father Abdullah, Director General of Mail and Telecomunication was from Hasroun, and his mother was from Jbeil. Issam was raised in Achrafieh, Beirut. He received his basic education at the College Sagesse, run by the Maronite monks, and one of the most illustrious national colleges of Beirut. After completing his secondary studies he decided to move to the USA where he would receive the quality medical training he aspired to. One of his aunts lived in California, so that was where that he headed to attend the Loma Linda University in 1974.

There he received a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in 1976 (Summa Cum Laude). He was enrolled in a combined Masters-MD program so he received a Master of Science degree in 1979 and his MD degree in 1980, graduating Valedictorian of his class and receiving the “Student Investigator of the Year Award” and The Griggs Medical Scholarship Award. He was also elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. While in medical school he was involved in a laboratory project on brain ischemia. During this project, he was fascinated by the brain and its vascular anatomy and physiology, that he decided to go into Neurosurgery.

He joined the Neurosurgery training program at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (OH) and graduated in June 1985. During his residency he spent some time as a Honorary Registrar at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Scotland (1983) in their Head and Spinal Injury Unit. He spent the year following his graduation in Phoenix, AZ doing a fellowship with Dr. Spetzler in cerebrovascular surgery. He was the second fellow to be selected by Spetzler after Neil Martin.

After finishing his fellowship, Dr. Awad began his professional career in CA. He held an appointment with the faculty at the University of Stanford, CA from 1986-87. In 1987 he was hired by Dr. Little and returned to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. There he served as Head of the Section on Epilepsy Surgery (1988-92), Head of the Section on Cerebrovascular Surgery and Surgical Director of the Cerebrovascular Center (1990-93), and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery (1991-93).

In 1993 Dr. Awad moved to Yale University where he was appointed Director of the Neurovascular Surgery Program. In 1994 he was promoted to Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery) with continuing appointment. He has received an Honorary Masters of arts degree from Yale University where he also serves on the Board of Permanent Officers of the School of Medicine. In July 1996 he was appointed the Nixdorf-German Professor of Neurosurgery.

He has authored over 200 scientific papers and book chapters, and he has edited 11 books dealing with cerebrovascular surgery and other aspects of Neurosurgery. He has presented over 300 papers and lectures at major and international meetings and symposia, and has been a Visiting Professor at numerous institutions.

Dr. Awad is active in the leadership of numerous professional and educational societies. He was on the Publications Committee with the AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons) from 1988-1993, when the Neurosurgical Topics Series was started. He edited 7 books in that series. He became involved with the CNS (Congress of Neurological Surgeons) in 1987 through the Sargeant at Arms activities, and since 1989 has became involved with the Scientific Program Committee, which he chaired in 1998. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the CNS in 1992, and served as a member of the Education Committee from 1995 to 1998, when the neurosurgical curriculum for medical schools was developed. His involvement with the CNS culminated in his election as President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 1999. He is now on the Board of the American College of Surgeons, on the Executive Committee of the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. He is also the recipient of two NIH grants for the study of the biology of vascular malformations of the brain.

His fundamental contributions to medicine include the characterization of subcortical ischemic lesions in the aged, advances in understanding the natural history and biological behavior of cerebral vascular malformations, numerous technical advances in neurovascular and epilepsy surgery, and the compilation of the first scholarly treatise on philosophy of neurosurgery. His main interests lie in the study of the biology of cerebrovascular malformations, the scientific assessment of technology, and the development of International Neurosurgery.

Dr. Awad has made also enormous contributions to WALN. The WALN owes Dr. Awad more than to anybody else. Issam was the founding President in 1992 when Drs. Haddad and Mohasseb entrusted him with the task of establishing WALN. It was during that period that he took upon himself the arduous task of collecting the names of prospective WALN members and gathering everybody in this unique organization. It was during his Presidency that WALN had its growth spurt. He was and is still extremely committed to WALN; always present at all the meetings, trying to bring together all members, and working hard to have WALN prosper.

Issam Awad is an eloquent, firm speaker with a charismatic personality. He is respected by his peers. Some of his close colleagues say that he can convince you of anything if he wants to. Always relying on reason, he has his own way of presenting the most complex issues in a simple rational manner and reaching sound convincing conclusions. He is a good educator and an excellent clinician. I had the opportunity to watch him discuss the management of difficult neurosurgical cases from A to Z, in a clear and concise fashion which you do not see frequently with other speakers. He has a good sense of humor: you can always count on him for a few jokes to spice the atmosphere. He also has a hidden poet in him as we recently found out in Beirut (WALN Newsletter Issue 11). His love of Lebanon and the Lebanese is unequivocal. He has helped throughout the years many compatriots to achieve their goals and still continues today. He is proud of his Lebanese heritage: it is with WALN members that he celebrated his election to the Presidency of CNS.

Dr. Awad is married to Kathreen Ampart. They met when he was a resident and she was a critical care nurse at the Cleveland Clinic. They have a 10 year old son, Armand and live in the suburbs of New Haven, CT. His hobbies include bicycling and family travel.

Dr. Awad is a source of pride for all of us at WALN. He has truly accomplished a lot for Neurosurgery and Lebanon.


Baalbek, the City of the Sun: From the Cult of Gods to the Arts Festivals

Baalbeck, located in the Northern Bekaa valley, is probably the most impressive ancient site in Lebanon. It is the most important Roman site in the Middle East and was considered as one of the wonders of the World. It enjoyed a glorious past marked by the cult of various Gods and nowadays is gaining a contemporary artistic flavor.

The ancient history of Baalbeck is obscure. It dates back to the Phoenician era, as attests its name Baal Beka: The God Baal of the Bekaa. The site was strategically placed along the trade routes between the coastal cities and the inner country.

After Alexander the Great conquered the area, the city changed name and became Heliopolis or City of the Sun, as the Greek considered Baal as the equivalent of their God of the Sun.

During the Roman occupation, Baalbeck kept its Greek name of Heliopolis until Julius Cesar made form it a Roman colony and named it after its daughter Julia. The strategic position of the city between Palmyra and the coast made it prosper. It did not take long before it became the leading city in Roman Syria. The cult of its God grew also. Baal/Hadad or “Jupiter Heliopolitan” was the God of all Gods and God of the Sun. He was a triad of Gods along with Venus (Astarte in the Phenician mythology) and Mercury (The semitic God Simios). Their cult was widespread and they were worshiped even in the West. Altars dedicated to them were found throughout the Roman Empire, in the Balkans, France, Spain and even Scotland! However the most magnificent temple was that built in Baalbeck by the Roman Emperors. The building of the Temples was a grandiose task in which many of the Roman Emperors were involved.

The Chrisitian era marked the decline of the city. The Emperor Constantin suppressed the cults of Venus and Theodose, and halted the building of the Temple. Theodosius, converted the temples into a Christian Basilica. However after his death the city declined further.

The city came under Arab control in 634. The temples became fortresses, and the city regained its Syriac name. During the upcoming centuries the city witnessed further devastations secondary to the conflicts between the crusaders and the Arabs. Even the Mongols contributed as Tamerlane sacked the city in 1400. In 1516, the city was occupied by the Ottomans. And if human destruction was not enough, Nature had to contribute. The city was further ravaged by multiples earthquakes: 1158,1203, 1664 and mainly the earthquake of 1759. The latter lead to the destruction of its ramparts, and three of the pillars of the Temple of Jupiter, leaving only the six that are still present today. Most of the population fled the city after this earthquake.

Interest in restoring Baalbeck surged in the XIXth Century. Kaiser Wilhem II obtained the permission of the Turkish Sultan to excavate the site. After WWI, French archaeologists took over the task of restoring the City. In 1957 the arts festival of Baalbeck started its yearly presentations. This famous Festival was the first of its kind in the Middle East. It was interrupted in 1975 by of the Civil war and resumed again in 1997.

Nowadays, Baalbeck is a small town located 85 km from Beirut, with a population of 12,000 people. Its ruins feature the Hexagonal Court, the Great Court, the Temple of Jupiter-Baal, the Temple of Bacchus (Venus/Astarte in fact) and the Temple of Venus (probably Temple of Fortuna). Visiting these ruins brings into imagination the magnificence and splendor that these monuments had in the Antiquity. Numerous efforts are presently underway to revive the city and give it back the glory it had in the sixties and seventies. The Festival has resumed and the number of tourists visiting the ruins is growing.


Elections 2000

The election of the new Board of officers of WALN will take place in San Fransisco on Sunday April 9, 2000. The annual dinner will be held in the Restaurant “Kan Zaman” on 1793 Haight, San Fransisco (415-751-9656) after the opening reception of the AANS. The business reunion will follow and will take place in the Lobby of the San Fransisco Marriot. There have been some nominations during the WALN meeting in Beirut and also during the 1999 CNS meeting in Boston. For the President position we have three nominees: Dr. Fady Charbel (Chicago, IL), Dr. Kamel Muakassa (Akron, OH), and Dr. Mokbel Chedid (Flint. MI). Dr. Charbel nominated himself during the WALN meeting in Beirut and his nomination was endorsed during the Boston reunion. Dr. Muakassa was nominated by WALN members, and Dr. Chedid nominated himself for a second term. The remaining nomination were made during the Boston reunion: Dr. Bejjani (Pittsburgh, PA) for Secretary and North American representative, Dr. Krisht (Little Rock, AR) for Treasurer, Dr. Morcos (Miami, FL) for Newsletter Editor, Dr. Latuf (Sao Paolo, Brazil) for South American Representative, Dr. Nabil Okais for Lebanese Representative and Dr. Abbas Srour for European Representative. Other nominations are still accepted. Members are encouraged to nominate and vote. For those unable to attend, we have enclosed ballot for proxy nominations and votes. These are to be filled and returned to Dr. Chedid’s Office (see Instructions on the enclosed Ballot).

Excerpts from the Bylaws of WALN

Elected officers serve a renewable 3-year term, and include the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and four Regional Representatives coordinating WALN activities in Lebanon, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

These Officers volunteer for service or are nominated, and are formally confirmed by election at Official WALN Reunions. WALN members are openly invited to volunteer or nominate Officers and elect Officers by personal votes for those present during the WALN reunion or by proxy vote previously mailed to The Secretary.

The President coordinates overall activities of WALN and insures the fulfillment of its mission.

The Secretary maintains a roster of members, processes membership applications, and. He coordinates all WALN mailings, announcement and information, in close working relationship with other Officers.

The Treasurer assesses and collects regular (yearly) dues and special project (voluntary) dues.

The Newsletter Editor gathers and edits information from the Officers, from WALN members, and from the Regional Representatives for dissemination to WALN members.

The Regional Representatives maintains and updates a roster of members and eligible members in their region and act as a liaison for the dissemination of information to and from these members, in close coordination with the Secretary and other Officers; they are entrusted with the preparation of Newsletter material from and about their region.

In addition to the elected Officers, the Board of Officers shall include Past-Presidents of WALN, and Lifetime Honorary Presidents elected through an official resolution.

The Board of Officers shall coordinate by mail, telephone and fax all official business of WALN, and shall gather comments, suggestions, nominations, proxy votes and agenda items from WALN members. They shall organize official WALN reunions and gather and disseminate information from those reunions. They shall adjudicate all matters relating to the interpretation of the bylaws by a simple majority of the Officers.

....Official resolutions of WALN are adopted through a dual vote: (1) simple majority of the Board of Officers and (2) simple majority of present and proxy votes at an official WALN reunion. The elections of Officers and Honorary Presidents and any Bylaws changes shall require official resolutions through this dual vote, and shall be disseminated to WALN members by the Newsletter or a special mailing....

....Each member of WALN shall have the right to volunteer for Office, to submit nominations, to vote in person and by proxy, and to propose official resolutions or other agenda items for WALN reunions. They shall have the right to object to any action by the Board of Officers or to any resolution, nomination, or election. Such objection shall be submitted in writing to the WALN President, and it shall be discussed and adjudicated as an official resolution by the process of dual vote outlined above. Such adjudication shall be considered final....

Elections of the Board of Officers of WALN 2000-2003
Ballot for nominations and proxy votes

Instructions:

Write your name on top of the form after Member’s Name. For each open officer position please choose from the list of nominees. Write the name of the candidate in the “Vote” column. If there is another person you would like to nominate please write their name in “Other: ______” . If you would like to vote for that same person write their name also in the “Vote” column. The deadline for receipt of the ballots is April 5th, 2000. After the deadline votes will be accepted only during the semi-annual meeting in San Fransisco on Sunday April 9th, 2000 in the Main Lobby of the San Fransisco Marriot when the elections will be finalized.

Please mail the ballot to Dr Chedid’s office at:
4620 Genesys Parkway
Grand Blanc, MI 48439
Phone: (810) 606-7100

You can also email it to him at: mchedid@genesys.com or fax it to his office: (810) 606-7115



Member’s Name:    _______________________________________


                                            Nominees: (in alphabetical order)  Vote:

For President:                            Fady Charbel                   __________
                                            Mokbel Chedid
                                            Kamel Muakkassa
                                            Other: __________

For Secretary:                           Ghassan Bejjani                 __________
                                            Other: __________

For Treasurer:                           Ali Krisht                        __________
                                            Other: __________

For Newsletter Editor:                  Jacques Morcos                 __________
                                            Other: __________

For Lebanese Representative:           Nabil Okais                     __________
                                            Other: __________

For European representative:            Abbas Srour                    __________
                                            Other: __________

For Brazilian Representative:            Nilton Latuf                     __________
                                            Other: __________

For North American Representative:    Ghassan Bejjani                 __________
                                            Other: __________


Upcoming Events

The next meeting of WALN will be held in parallel with the meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in San Fransisco. The traditional dinner will be held after the AANS opening reception at Kan Zaman Restaurant on Sunday April 9, 2000 at 8:30 P.M. The restaurant is located on 1793 Haight (at the corner of Shrader and Carl Streets). Their phone number is 415-751-9656. The business reunion will follow in the Main Lobby of the San Fransisco Marriot. We hope to see as many members as possible there.

Plans are being made to hold the 2001 meeting of the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise in Beirut, in conjunction with the WALN. Dr. Nabil Okais, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Hotel Dieu De France in Beirut will be organizing this meeting. For more information please contact him at the following address:
Hotel Dieu De France
Beirut, Lebanon
Phone number: 961-1- 323-771
Fax number: 961-1-386-794
Email: OKAIS@dm.net.lb

The third PANS biannual meeting will be held in Beirut in the fall of the year 2000. The President Elect, Dr. Antoine Nachanakian will be organizing the meeting. For more information please contact him at the following address:
Hopital Orthodoxe Saint George
P.O. Box 166378
Beirut, Lebanon
Phone number: 961-1-560-052
Fax number: 961-1-582-560
Email: Becca@cyberia.net.lb


Quote of the Issue: St. Thomas Aquinas and openness

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-74), sometimes called “Doctor Angelicus”(the Angelic Doctor), and the “Prince of Scholastics”, was born in the castle of Roccasecca, near Aquino, (hence the name) in the ancient Kingdom of Sicily, Italy. At age 5 he was placed by his parents in the Benedectine monastery of Monte Cassino, and years later proceeded to the University of Naples. In 1244 at the age of 19, he became a Dominican friar, against the will of his parents. From 1245 to 1252, he studied under the Philosopher Albertus Magnus and became his most famous pupil. Because he was heavy set and taciturn, his colleague students called him Dumb Ox, however Magnus is said to have predicted that “this ox will one day fill the world with his bellowing.” He was ordained Priest in 1250 and started teaching at the University of Paris in 1252. In 1259 he joined Pope Alexander the IVth, in Rome and became his adviser. He returned to Paris in 1268 and was involved in numerous philosophical controversies. In 1274, at the age of 49, he died from illness at the Abbey of Fossanova..

Besides the Bible, Aquinas was influenced by the writings of Aristotle, Averroes, Avicenna, and Maimonides. Because of his great intellectual power, he came to exercise enormous moral and philosophical authority up till today. His best-known works are two encyclopedic syntheses: The Summa contra Gentiles and The Summa theologiae. His teachings have stood the test of time and are today widely referred to as “Thomisms”.

From these Thomism there is a rule also occasionally called the “ Golden Rule” of St. Thomas Aquinas: “Never discuss anything concerning another person if that person is not present at the table when such a discussion takes place.” (Unless of course only positive comments are to be made). Openness is truly an asset and has always been what WALN aspired to achieve. It is in our principles. It think these are true words to try to live by in everything we do.

Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge Dr. Charbel for contributing to this vignette.


Member News

Dr. Issam Awad was elected President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons during the meeting held in Boston in 1999. This marks the second instance a WALN member is elected to this prestigious and influential position. The first time was in 1985 when Dr Maroon became the President of the CNS. Congratulations to Dr. Awad.

Dr. Nabil Okais was also elected to the CDS (Comite Directeur et Scientifique) of the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise and will be the president of the summer 2001 meeting of the society which will be held in Lebanon , an achievement of which we are all very proud. Congratulations!!

Dr. Charbel was unanimously elected to the Board of Director (AKA CDS: Comite Directeur et Scientifique) of the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise as representing the USA. As such he will act as a liaison between the french society and the AANS /CNS. Congratulations!! Dr. Charbel is presently Program Director at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His interests lie mainly in the fields of Neurovascular surgery and Neurosurgical critical care.

Dr. Falah Maroun gave a generous donation to WALN: US$ 500. Thanks!!


Letter to The Editor

Dear Ghassan

....As we discussed in the last WALN business meeting in Boston, it would be important to encourage membership in the Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise (SNCLF) of WALN members. This will increase our ability to help our fellow colleagues in various stages of training in France. Also, it will allow us to bring recognition to the important contributions that Lebanese Neurosurgery has brought to the " francophonie" and achieve a dear goal of bestowing recognition and honor on our beloved teacher Prof. Gedeon Mohasseb.

I know that you, Issam and all those who know Prof. Mohasseb hold him in the highest of esteem, and I hope that a strong WALN presence in the SNCLF will contribute to reaching this goal. Perhaps one of the greatest legacies of the pioneers of Neurosurgery, Professors F.S. Haddad and G. Mohasseb, was and still is their willingness to work and help each other towards a common goal of science and advancement of medicine. Their example is inspiring and worthy of great recognition....

Sincerely,

Fady Charbel, MD
Chicago, IL

Note
Anybody interested in joining can contact Dr. Charbel at:
Department of Neurosurgery, MC 799
912 S. Wood Street
Chicago, IL 60612-7329
Phone: 312-996-4712
Fax: 312-996-9018
Email: fcharbel@uic.edu
The requirements for membership are either a presentation at one of the meeting of the Society or a paper published in Neurochirurgie as well as the endorsement of two members.


What does WALN mean to me? Personal reflections and a shared Vision

by Fady Charbel, MD, Chicago, IL

On the morning of January 24, I received a phone call from Lebanon that I had dreaded, yet expected as the inevitable part of life. My father, 91 years old and ill for a while, had just passed away. Unfortunately, for so many of us, this is a familiar experience. I know that many of us have recently or are currently going through similar experience. During the time devoted to professional advancement, beloved parents age, and their actual, or impending loss is a heavy burden looming on the horizon. One consolation is in the knowledge that despite our pain over the distance and the loss, we are now and are still heading in the direction where they sacrificed so much to send us. I also found great comfort in the outpouring of sympathy and affection from family, friends and very importantly colleagues neurosurgeons, with whom I had the privilege of forging close personal relationships thanks to the WALN. And this brings me back to the title of this note. What is WALN all about for me? WALN first and last is about our common heritage. The heritage of a great Gift of certain values deeply rooted in the code of the Family: Honor your parents and elders, Take care of your brothers and sisters, and Provide for the future of your children to keep the dream alive. These Values are thriving throughout WALN members, no matter how long they (or their ancestors) have been away from the motherland. All one needs to do is to visit our Latin American contingent to feel the heart swell with pride at the dedication and support WALN enjoys because of what it represents. The same is true for North America where a somewhat more recently transplanted Diaspora is vibrant with energy and enthusiasm at the mention of anything Lebanese. (In case of doubt, just check the WALN dinners). We have a similar phenomena in Europe, and last but not least Lebanon, where WALN is emerging as a wonderful common denominator for unity and collaboration at the service of Science and Neurosurgery. WALN is perfectly suited to fulfill those three values: First, ours founders and respected elders F.S. Haddad, and G. Mohasseb, are towering fatherly figures from which we derive strength. WALN as a community allows us to fulfill our duty and honor them and by doing so we bring honor to ourselves. The same is true for the honorary presidents C. Fager, J.C.Maroon, and F.B.Maroon, and past presidents I. Awad to whom WALN owes so much, and M.K.Chedid. Secondly, WALN is to me a brotherhood, which allows us to help, and support each other in our chosen field. This brotherhood is an asset from which we can draw both in the academic and private worlds. We all have needed support in one form or another at some point in our professional lives, and as a neurosurgical society, WALN is a powerful source of references, contacts, and advice for all of us. Third, WALN is also our future. As the next generations embark on their own struggles, they will look upon WALN for example and guidance and by being there for them we will have carried and transmitted the torch in the manner that it has been intended. So what does WALN mean to me? It is the union of two dear and powerful elements: Lebanon at its best, and Neurosurgery at its best. The rest “is details”.


WWW.WALN.ORG

WALN website has finally been moved to the new address: www.waln.org. This much needed event finally occurred. The newly acquired domain name will avoid the frequent address changes each time the Newsletter Editor moves. The new website is different in presentation than the old one. There are still major sections to the website: The Board of Officers, Bylaws, Historical note, and the Newsletter. The directory is unchanged.

Based on the suggestion of Dr. Charbel we plan to introduce a live chat room with joint conferences with Lebanon over the web. An advisory panel for neurosurgical consults will be in place. The directory will be online, and the new member enrollment forms will be on-line also.

The upcoming era of WALN will have to focus more on the website. I feel that I failed to use the potential of the Internet to its fullest. This was partly due to the lack of funds. A dedicated webmaster will be vital to the growth of the webpage, on top of the website task force proposed in Boston. And hopefully we can dedicate more funds to the Internet. These are items for the new Board of Officers to develop.


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