Beirut-24 January, 2019: GlobeMed and the Higher Institute of Public Health (ISSP) of Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) signed a memorandum of understanding at a ceremony where it was announced also the establishment of “GlobeMed Scholarship Fund”. The signing ceremony was held at the University Council Hall at the Campus of innovation and sport in Beirut, Lebanon on the 15th of January, 2020. The ceremony was attended by the Rector of USJ, Professor Salim Daccache sj, GlobeMed Chairman and CEO, Mr. Mounir Kharma, Director of the ISSP, Dr. Michèle Kosremelli Asmar, Director General of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Walid Ammar, the Chairman and CEO of AXA Middle East Mr. Roger Nasnas who is also a GlobeMed board member, the Managing Director of Libano Suisse and board member in GlobeMed, Mr. Pierre Pharaon, the General Secretary of the USJ Foundation, Mrs. Carmel Ghafari Wakim, along with ISSP team members, and executive attendance from GlobeMed and USJ.
In his opening speech, Professor Daccache expressed his great pleasure with this initiative and emphasized the importance and strong relationship and partnership between the university and the private sector for the benefit of students “Especially in these difficult times for the institutions seeking to serve Lebanon as a whole, whether at the level of daily obstacles or through facing an unforeseen future.” He added, “We hope to overcome this period with the least possible losses, and continue supporting our students with scholarships, so that we continue to enhance effective and productive Lebanese human capital, thanks to the continuous efforts between partners and friends.”
For his part, Mr. Mounir Kharma highlighted the strong relationship between GlobeMed and USJ which goes back to the beginning of 1990s, explaining the evolution of GlobeMed vision with emphasis on the Clinical Coding and Health Information Analysis programs “Over the years, GlobeMed has gained in-depth experience in working with hospitals and in managing claims. It became clear to us that there is a need for a common language between the various stakeholders. Consequently, the idea of using the International Clinical Coding was emanated to enable hospitals to benefit from several aspects, mainly to facilitate dealing with the advanced medical equipment and medical files, as well as billing issuing between the concerned parties. “
He continued, “Consequently, we have partnered with USJ to teach students and train them on all clinical coding aspects. That was 18 years ago, during which the program have trained hundreds of professionals from insurance companies and other private and public health programs. The Lebanese Ministry of Health was one of the first organizations which supported the use of clinical coding and indeed they applied it to their work.” He added” Today we launch, in collaboration with the Saint Joseph University, the Health Information Analysis program which aims to develop the competencies of analysts in turning information from databases into valuable data for better informed business decisions”.
Mr. Kharma concluded “As for the scholarship program, it is a token of appreciation and loyalty to the Saint Joseph University and its distinguished academic status as a beacon for higher education, which has graduated many prominent Lebanese personalities. I had the honor of partnering with two of them, Mr. Roger Nasnas and Mr. Michel Pharaon. Both are graduates of St. Joseph University. Accordingly, the scholarship was approved from the board of directors.
Dr Michèle Kosremelli Asmar welcomed attendees and emphasized the close ties between USJ and GlobeMed, through the renewal of the agreement signed in 2002 and adding the new program, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Mounir Kharma who she described as “Avant-garde and key player in the health sector, at national and regional levels, and who very early detected the importance of bringing the academic world closer to the health sector. “
Dr. Kosremelli Asmar continued “For almost 20 years, our two institutions have offered a university degree in the coding of health information, a program which has trained around 567 doctors and health professionals working in hospitals in the private, public and military sectors all over Lebanon. The success of this diploma, associated with the changing needs, has led to the development of a second university diploma “Health Information Analysis”, which will be launched in February 2020.”
Dr. Kosremelli Asmar continued “The second event today is the establishment of the GlobeMed Scholarship Fund for students specializing in public health. In the current turmoil and difficult economic situation, such a fund takes on a particular significance; it underlines the fruitful collaboration with GlobeMed and their unconditional support for the educational mission of our university and for the youth of our beloved country”. “This fund will ease the financial burden on our young students and will give them hope of a brighter future in Lebanon,” she concluded.
On behalf of ISSP public health students, Marc Jreij thanked GlobeMed for their commitment to developing high quality health standards and policies and said that by offering scholarships to students ” GlobeMed provides substantial financial and moral support which will allow them to innovate. A very rewarding initiative at both the academic and health sectors levels in Lebanon. “
After signing the memorandum, Professor Daccache presented Mr. Kharma with the university book title “Portrait of USJ” retracing the history of the University. The ceremony was concluded with a cocktail reception.