Arab American History Month: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

By: France-Elvie Banda
Thursday, April 24, 2025
This year’s Arab American Heritage Month centers on the importance of honoring heritage and inspiring future generations. Arab American researchers and scientists have made significant contributions to biomedical and biological research, often in the face of cultural misunderstandings, systemic challenges, and underrepresentation. Their work has not only advanced science but also paved the way for a more inclusive research community.

While Arab American Heritage Month was first officially recognized on a national level in 2021, the contributions of Arab Americans to science and society stretch back generations. This year’s theme, Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, highlights the powerful foundation that trailblazers built and the continued journey toward equity and visibility in the research community.

• Michael DeBakey, MD (1908–2008): A Lebanese American cardiovascular surgeon who developed the roller pump, a key component of the heart-lung machine, and pioneered techniques in heart surgery that are still used today.
• Huda Zoghbi, MD (1954): A Lebanese American physician and neuroscientist whose discovery of the genetic cause of Rett syndrome has advanced our understanding of neurological disorders and opened doors to new therapeutic pathways.
• Elias Zerhouni, MD (1951): An Algerian American radiologist and biomedical researcher who served as the 15th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he advanced translational research and public health initiatives.
• Nadine Hachach-Haram, MD (1982):A Syrian-Lebanese British-American surgeon and entrepreneur who founded Proximie, a medical technology platform revolutionizing surgical education and remote collaboration.