The audience paid tribute to Mr. Fady Mendelek, the founding chair of the Physiotherapy and Medical Imaging departments, who suddenly passed away at the end of July 2025, leaving a lasting legacy through the generations of students he advised and trained.

Opening the event, Mr. Gergi Antoun, Head of the Department of Physiotherapy, presented the program’s milestones and insisted on the role of physiotherapy in enhancing life quality at every life stage.

In her address, Prof. Diala El Khoury, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, reminded students that “as future physiotherapists, you are entering a profession guided by research, science, and above all, compassion.” She emphasized evidence-based practice as a cornerstone of modern physiotherapy, and invited students to keep learning, keep questioning, and to remember that their work has the power to change lives.

Dr. Sayde Sassine, President of the Order of Physiotherapists, empowered the students and reaffirmed that the Order will always stand by their side.

Dr. Claude Maroun a pioneer in introducing evidence-based clinical decision-making to Lebanon, shared insights on this approach while Dr. Dina Barakat, expert and elected member of the World Physiotherapy Executive Committee of IPT-HOPE, explored the essential role of physiotherapists in cancer care – from pain management and fatigue reduction to rehabilitation and lymphedema management.

The conference concluded with a convivial gathering, reaffirming Université La Sagesse’s commitment to training competent, compassionate, and research-driven professionals who transform knowledge into care.