In recognition of her leadership in furthering excellence in the affirmative care of LGBT individuals, the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) awarded Adult Clinical Psychologist and President of the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) Dr. Aimee Karam, its 2019 annual “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equity Award”.
This award falls within LebMASH’s purpose to raise awareness about the health needs and the challenges faced by LGBT individuals due to their sexual orientation/gender identity and echoes the organization’s efforts to recognize medical practitioners, individual health care providers, clinics, or organizations that demonstrate excellence in providing fair and inclusive professional health care to LGBT individuals.
Commenting on her nomination, Dr. Karam expressed her pride in receiving the award and her determination to “continue to work for the provision of health care to the members of the LGBT community and to all people, as disease does not know discrimination. Doctors, nurses, and health care providers should stick to their professional and ethical conduct in carrying out their human duty. Starting from the sense of commitment, responsibility, along with respecting the human rights of every individual without exception.”
She called for “changing the policies and refuting the misconceptions against the LGBT individuals.” She also added: “it’s necessary to stop discrimination and limit the suffering of these individuals in the health care system. Lebanon is known for its sense of acceptance where it plays a vital role in protecting human rights and committing to the declaration and international agreements. LebMASH plays an essential role by organizing seminars to educate and train, and constant workshops in hopes of providing proper health care without discrimination for all LGBT individuals, and their acceptance in society.”
Launched in 2015, the first annual LebMASH Award was given to clinical psychologist Dr. Brigitte Khoury, before being awarded to Marsa Center for Sexual Health in 2016. In 2017, President of the Francophone Association of Psychiatric Patients, and the head of the Department of Psychiatry at Hotel Dieu, Dr. Sami Risha was the recipient of the LebMASH award, followed by the former Head of the Nursing Union, Dr. Nuhad Dumit in 2018.
“The organization decided to honor Dr. Aimee Karam this year, due to her crucial involvement in providing excellent health care for the LGBT individuals and supporting them emotionally and mentally. Whether through her everyday work in clinical psychology, or her perseverance and persistence on educating and sharing awareness of the danger and challenges that they face.” said President of LebMASH, Dr. Chady Ibrahim. “It’s those efforts that Dr. Aimee does that fall into the message LebMASH works endlessly to deliver, in order to shed light on and support marginalized groups and respond to their health needs.” He added. Dr. Ibrahim also acknowledged the role that the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA) has played since 2013 in furthering the health and well-being of LGBT individuals in Lebanon.