SAMZ International Medical Conference 2025 Sheds Light on the Future of Medicine in Syria

The second day of the twenty-third International Medical Conference, organized by the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMZ) in collaboration with the Ministries of Health, Higher Education, and Scientific Research, under the slogan "Together to Build the Medical and Educational Renaissance in Syria," witnessed extensive discussions on vital issues in the Syrian healthcare sector, including public health, mental health, cardiovascular diseases, blood disorders, cancers, and dentistry.

The conference saw the participation of local and international doctors and experts who discussed ways to build comprehensive healthcare capacities, improve the quality of the healthcare system, develop the family medicine program in new Syria, as well as study the impact of secondary trauma on healthcare workers, mechanisms to enhance psychological resilience, and recovery from trauma.

The scientific sessions also addressed the management of heart failure, malignant blood disorders, cancer patient care, childhood obesity, and modern trends in dentistry.

In a special statement, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Marwan Al-Halabi, emphasized that the ministry prioritizes supporting scientific research and aims to secure the educational infrastructure and enhance the level of physicians in Syria. He noted that this aligns with the conference's goals of building competencies and keeping pace with modern medical developments.

Dr. Al-Halabi highlighted that his lecture focused on genetic diagnosis before implantation, stressing that consanguineous marriage increases the spread of genetic diseases, which can be reduced through early diagnosis techniques and assisted reproduction to ensure the birth of healthy children free from these diseases.

The President of the Syrian American Medical Society, Dr. Aref Al-Rifai, emphasized the importance of the conference as the first international conference held in Syria post-liberation, with the participation of 70 speakers and 600 doctors from various specialties, presenting 30 scientific research papers. Preceding the conference, medical missions were sent to the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Idlib, with plans for new medical campaigns after the conference in Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Daraa, and Deir ez-Zor, involving 170 specialized doctors.

Dr. Al-Rifai explained that the society also focuses on qualifying medical staff and medical students, providing support in the field of child and former detainee psychiatric medicine, as part of its efforts to build a strong national healthcare sector that reflects the love and dedication of Syrian doctors to their country.

Dr. Jihad Al-Harash, head of one of the scientific sessions, explained that the sessions covered intermittent fasting and its impact on public health, maintaining reproductive health, and preventing genetic diseases through early screening. He affirmed that the conference serves as an important platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing cooperation among doctors to develop the healthcare system.

Dr. Hazar Jabr, a board member of the Syrian American Medical Society, confirmed that the dental medicine axis included updates on pediatric dentistry, cleft lip and palate surgery, dental implants, endodontic work, in addition to promoting oral health concepts and the importance of comprehensive patient diagnosis before treatment to ensure effective results.

Suzana Sultan, a sixth-year medical student, presented her scientific research at the conference, focusing on improving communication between doctors and patients based on real experiences to identify challenges during diagnosis and treatment, and the best methods of patient interaction.

The conference, which started yesterday at Damascus University, is held for the first time in Syria and aims to provide a comprehensive platform bringing together doctors, academics, and experts in the humanitarian and medical field to exchange knowledge and seek innovative solutions to advance the Syrian healthcare sector.