Dr. Joseph “Youssef” Bakhach

ABOUT ME

Biography & education 

Joseph “Youssef” Bakhach was born in Zahle on 23 April 1964, into a Melkite Greek Catholic family. Currently, he is Professor of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. He attended “Ecole des Saints Cœurs – Zahle”, following which he graduated in 1992 from the University of Medicine in Bordeaux, France, in Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, and he earned in 1994 a Ph.D. in Human Biology Science from the same University. Since 1996, he has been an active member of multiple national, regional, and international scientific societies in the field of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, and Aesthetic & Cosmetic Surgery, who is serving as an active member and on the editorial board of some of them. Currently, he has been serving as the President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians in Beirut since June 2022.

Father of five children: Dimitri “1994” is completing his training as a resident in Orthopedic and Hand Surgery following the footsteps of his father, Elsa “1996” is completing her training as a resident in Pediatrics, Rachel “2004” is studying international law at Middlesex University in London, United Kingdom, Joya Christie “2023” has started her first foot steps in the school life and Karlie 2025, is only five months old.

 Academic career

 Dr. Joseph “Youssef” Bakhach is Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery department, and he is the Head of the Hand Unit at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Beirut – Lebanon. Before his appointment at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, he served as a consultant at the Aquitaine Institute in Bordeaux, France, and worked for different hospitals of Bekaa, specifically those in the Zahle district.

Dr. Bakhach is a leading Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgeon. He is the author of more than 80 publications and book chapters and has given more than 280 lectures and presentations worldwide. He described and reported 9 innovations in the field of the Reconstructive & Hand Surgery, which were recognized by the medical community and are performed worldwide for the benefit of patients.

His expertise in the field of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Hand & Microsurgery was confirmed in 1993 while he was a fellow at Bordeaux University Hospital, he performed the first worldwide surgery of its kind by temporarily implanting amputated fingers on the foot in order to save them. This medical achievement opened the way for a new alternative in the case of organ amputation. In 1998, he conducted experimental studies on the cryogenic preservation of human organs, which led to the definition of a special protocol for cryopreservation of joints and tendons that can be kept in an organ donor bank in order to be used and transplanted as the need of the patient requires. More recently, in 2014, Dr. Bakhach performed a first surgical achievement in Lebanon by transplanting a part of the second toe to restore an injured index finger in a 16-year-old boy, saving the patient’s hand instead of amputating the finger as proposed by others. More recently, Dr. Bakhach was involved in the management of the war-injured patients during the last war Lebanon faced in 2024 and has opened a Trauma Center at the Baabda University Hospital for that purpose. Therefore, Dr. Bakhach became a regional reference for patients seeking to undergo critical and complex Plastic, Hand & Microsurgical Reconstructive Surgery.

He is the current President of the Lebanese Society for Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery “LSPRAS”. He is also serving as an active member of the following societies, and an executive board member for national scientific societies, as well as for many regional and international scientific organizations and federations:

  • Lebanese Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery “LSRM”
  • French Society for Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery “SOFCPRE”
  • French Society for Hand & Upper Arm Surgery “GEM-SFCM”
  • French Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery “GAM”
  • European Federation of Societies for Hand Surgery “FESSH”
  • European Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery “EFSRM”
  • Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery “APFSRM”
  • World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery “WSRM”
  • And the International Federation of Societies for Hand Surgery, “IFSSH”

In 2015, he co-founded with Hand Surgeons from Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, Sudan, and Libya the Pan Arab Federation of Societies for Hand Surgery “PAFSSH” which organized the first congress in Dubai – UAE in 2015, followed by the second congress in Cairo – Egypt in 2016. The last congress was held in Benghazi, Libya, in October 2024. This federation aims at the standardization and recognition of Hand Surgery as an independent entity in the Arab Countries where Hand Surgeons already exist and at the development and establishment of this specialty in the Arab Countries lacking this surgical and medical field.

In 2017, Dr. Bakhach founded, with Microsurgeons from Syria, Iraq, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, the Pan Arab Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery “PAFSRM”. Its main goal is to support the different Arab Countries to have their own infrastructure for Reconstructive Microsurgery, which is a surgical field crucially needed, actually, in the Arab world, subject to the different struggles & war consequences. These Arab conflicts are producing, unfortunately, multiple war and blast injuries which need expert Reconstructive Microsurgeons. This federation is certainly well timed and will help to reduce the pain of these unfortunate injured people.

Dr. Bakhach acted to make these two federations be recognized by the Arab Medical Association and be registered and operate under the rules of the League of Arab States.

Research activities

Dr. Bakhach participated in many research programs and received grants from many local and international institutions, among them:

  • Grant from the French Ministry of Scientific Research and Technology, for a Research Program on the use of Memory Shape Alloy on dental rings. (Co-investigator Professor Michelet F.X).
  • Grant from the European Program « GALILEO » a bilateral program between France and Italy, for scientific research on: How to Maintain Human Tissues and Organs in Life? (Co-investigator Doctor Francesco Casabona).
  • Grant for a Finger Joint Implant and Adapted Ancillary from the French Scientific Research Institution “French CNRS” which has led to the testimony of a patent for this new device under I A 61 F 002/42, A 61 F 002/36, A 61 F 002/46, A 61 B 017/17, A 00 794 746, B 95941148.9, C 27.11.1995 Q Fr, H 17.09.1997 R Fr, E 14.07.2004, F 28.11.1994 FR 9414475 K IMPLANT D’ARTICULATION ET ANCILLAIRE (Co-investigators Jacques Baudet, Jean Chibrac, Cedric Castaing and Bernard Gutfrind). Q PCT/FR 1995/001563 (Fr) R WO 1996/016613 6.6.1996.
  • Grant from the President’s Research Fund of the American University of Beirut for the simulation of the behavioral adaptation of the human tendon. Research accomplished by Mireille Hantouch (Co-investigator, Pr Elie Chamas).
  • Grant from the Lebanese Scientific Research Institution “Lebanese CNRS” for “Finite Element Analysis and Optimization of a Barbed Suture for Flexor Tendon Repair Under Static and Fatigue Loading”. Research accomplished by Miss Hiba M. Kobeissi & Hadeel K. Hijazi (Co-investigator, Pr Elie Chamas).

Tribute and awards

Dr. Bakhach has been honored for his achievements on many occasions by the following institutions:

  • Best presentation award to the Youngest Plastic Surgeon in 1995, offered by the French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, for the original talk on “The Parametacarpal Ulnar Flap”.
  • In 2011, Dr. Bakhach was awarded by the Libano-Francaise Bank as one of the innovative Lebanese businessmen of the year in the “Live your Ambition Program”.
  • Bakhach was awarded in Hammamet – Tunisia, in 2014 during the French Maghrebin Congress for Hand Surgery for the best research program launched in the field of Hand Surgery in the Arab Countries.
  • Bakhach was awarded in Cairo, Egypt, in March 2017 during the 10th congress of the Egyptian Society of Microsurgery & Hand Surgery for his efforts and leadership in initiating both the Pan Arab Federations for Hand Surgery and for Reconstructive Microsurgery.
  • Bakhach was awarded in Paris, France, in December 2023 during the 32nd congress of the Association Medicale Franco-Libanaise for his efforts and leadership in preserving the medical Lebanese community during the different crises and challenges Lebanon has faced since 2019.

Medical Community Investments & Achievements

Dr. Bakhach was elected in May 2022 as President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians (LOP) in Beirut. Since then, particularly during the harsh circumstances the country was facing—such as the financial collapse, economic crisis, health challenges, and multiple waves of COVID19—taking on this position was met with significant challenges. One of the most pressing issues was the financial deficit in the retirement fund. Like other sectors, the LOP lost all its savings in banks due to the financial meltdown.

This was the first challenge, especially since the retirement fund provides for many retired physicians who had served the community, lost their savings in the banks, and relied on this income. The fund was in a deficit and was financed by fees on imported medications. With the crises, the quantity of imported medications decreased. Moreover, these fees were still being collected based on the official exchange rate of 1,500 LBP to the dollar, while medications were being sold at the parallel market exchange rate.

Here, Dr. Bakhach intervened decisively, taking swift action. Within nine weeks, he managed to secure a decree from the Ministers of Health and Finance to link these fees to a medication price index that adjusts based on the dollar’s value in the parallel market, rather than being fixed at 1,500 LBP. This enabled the LOP to improve its income, save the retirement fund from imminent collapse, increase retirement pensions, and set the organization on a path toward financial recovery, while revitalizing its activities on scientific, legal, and other levels.

Dr. Bakhach’s tenure began with a focus on preserving the dignity of physicians, especially as, upon taking his position, at least 20% of doctors had emigrated, with this exodus still ongoing. A primary reason for this migration was the loss of physicians’ savings in banks and the failure of state institutions to pay their dues. The Ministry of Health and other official guarantor funds were in deficit, while private guarantor institutions continued to pay at the 1,500 LBP rate or through frozen dollars in banks.

This led to the second battle Dr. Bakhach fought—addressing the private insurance sector by separating physicians’ fees from hospital fees, which had been tied together for decades. Physicians were effectively held hostage by hospitals. After a ten-month struggle, these two files were successfully separated, allowing for the gradual enhancement of physicians’ incomes. The new arrangement began with 50% of their fees being paid in fresh dollars, rising to 100% by 2024, with an additional 5% increase in 2025 and 4% every three years thereafter. This improvement led to reverse migration, with half of the physicians who had emigrated during the crisis returning by 2023.

Regarding medical expertise in the Lebanese diaspora, it is well known that Lebanese professionals—including intellectuals, lawyers, engineers, and especially physicians—excel abroad. Dr. Bakhach envisioned connecting Lebanon with its diaspora’s medical community. He facilitated communication between local and international physicians across continents, organizing medical meetings and conferences such as the first and second medical conferences under the theme “Together, We Strengthen Lebanese Medicine.” Both conferences were successful academically, scientifically, and socially. They also provided opportunities for younger generations and medical students in all universities to connect with experts in major cities and universities worldwide, exchanging expertise and conducting scientific research to gain further knowledge.

Currently, preparations are underway for the third conference, building on the success of the first two.

Social and community investment

Since his pre-medical school and beside his commitment to studying medicine, Dr. Bakhach was very early involved in the protection and defense of the rights of medical students and the respect and compliance with the free practice of medical doctors.

During his residency, Dr. Bakhach was a member of the executive board of the medical and surgical residency program. He participated actively in the measures of improvement of the conditions of work of the residents and particularly proposed the respect of a mandatory day of rest after a 24-hour period of on-call. This action was suggested mainly for the patient’s safety and for resident’s efficiency.

During his fellowship, Dr. Bakhach participated in many humanitarian missions in Peshawar – Afghanistan organized by “Plastiaid”, a German non-governmental organization, and in Niger and Mali organized by “Les Enfants du Noma” to treat children affected by the noma disease and he was involved in the program supervised by “Medecins sans Frontiere” to treat Syrian refugees affected by war and blast injuries to their extremities, nerves and face. More recently, he launched in collaboration with Baabda Governmental University Hospital, “Médecins sans Frontières – Switzerland”, Humanitera, Lebanese Order of Physical Therapy, Lebanese Order of Psychology, Skoun Association, and ADRA association.

Part of his work in the American University of Beirut Medical Centre is dedicated to treating patients with very low income and suffering from congenital malformations, accident deformities, or war injuries. Dr. Bakhach is involved in the treatment of these patients and works closely with many non-governmental organizations, such as “Inara”, “Dar el Fatwa”, and others, in order to provide their financial clearance and medical management.

Dr. Bakhach also felt a responsibility to his Melkite Greek Catholic community scattered across the world and in search of their roots. With a group of Melkite defenders, Dr. Bakhach founded in France in 2015 “The World Melkite Greek Catholic Council,” an association dedicated to reconnecting all the Melkite Greek Catholics around the world. He also created a website www.melkitecouncil.com which facilitates the inter-connections between the different members and acts as a platform where they can share knowledge and ideas, talk about their success and achievements, learn about their activities and events, meet the elite who contributed their achievements to the development of many countries, trace back their origins, and above all, reach out to one another.

In 2017, he joined the General Assembly of the Supreme Melkite Greek Catholic Council and became a member of the emigration commission. Dr. Bakhach searched the Melkite emigration, trying to record the most accurate and updated numbers of the different communities across the world, which will be published in the 2017 yearly review of the Supreme Melkite Greek Catholic Council. This research aims to encourage members of our community living abroad to invest their efforts in maintaining and growing our presence in Lebanon.

Future plan – talk about the health community

In collaboration with the American University of Beirut Medical Centre External Affairs Division, we conducted a study on the different medical services provided in different Lebanese districts, particularly in the Bekaa valley. This study concluded that this region lacks the availability of high-quality medical services, which forced the residents to seek higher-standard medical treatment in the capital.

A feasibility study for a hospital project in Zahle, in collaboration with the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, was performed and is awaiting the Ministry of Health and administration licenses for execution. We are convinced that such a project is of great value for the Zahliote and Bekaa communities.