About Myself
Background
I was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait. My four sisters and I were raised in Beirut, Lebanon. My father was a Lebanese-American civil engineer who received his undergraduate degree in math from the American University of Beirut and civil engineering degrees at the University of Texas in Austin. My father and mother, Marjorie Joseph, met at UT Austin. My parents moved to Lebanon in 1950 and my father worked for almost four decades in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia with brief stents in Iraq and Iran.
I met my wife, Rana Domiati Saad, when I was a first year medical student in Beirut. Rana received BS and MS degrees in agriculture in Beirut and later earned an MS in microbiology and a PhD in immunology in Texas. She is currently the scientific director of Prism Pathology, an independent Molecular Pathology Laboratory. We married in 1986 and have two sons. Michael is a PhD student in biomedical engineering at Tufts University and Daniel is working in San Francisco.
I attended the American Community School in Beirut until the Lebanese Civil War erupted in 1975. My family moved to Austin where I finished high school and attended Rice University for one year before returning to Beirut.
Medical Education & Practice
I completed my undergraduate degree in 1981 and received my MD degree in 1985 from the American University of Beirut. I then returned to the U.S. for a cardiovascular research fellowship in Boston, a general surgery internship in Baltimore, and residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where I received the resident’s award for excellence in research.
Following a cytopathology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, I accepted a job in Dallas in 1992. I am currently chairman of pathology for the Methodist Health System in Dallas, President of the medical staff, managing partner of Laboratory Physicians Association, President of Surgical Pathologists of Dallas, and President of Prism Pathology. Our group provides professional pathology services to nine hospitals, surgery centers and physician offices in the Dallas area. I serve as the medical director for three laboratories. Additionally, I am an adjunct associate professor of pathology at UT Southwestern where I lecture to pathology residents about practice management and advocacy.
I am active in several professional organizations. I co-founded the North Texas Society of Pathology in 2005 and served as President in 2006. I am past President of the Texas Society of pathologists (2013) and serve on several TSP committees. I am a member of the Texas Medical Association (TMA delegate), Dallas County Medical Society (past member of Board of Directors), American Society of Clinical Pathology, US and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Florida Society of Pathologists, California Society of Pathologists and American Medical Association (past alternate delegate). I am active on several medical staffs and serve in leadership positions at several hospitals. I am a Certified Physician Executive (AAPL). On the political front, I am a tireless advocate for medicine and pathology in Washington, DC and Austin, Texas where I have testified on behalf of pathology at the Capitol.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
We travel often in the US and internationally and frequently return to Lebanon to visit family and friends. Experiencing new cultures and diverse cuisine is highly anticipated while traveling and at home where my family enjoys cooking and entertaining. I play racquetball, ride bikes, listen to music and play guitar. The COVID-19 pandemic derailed travel plans and trips to the gym for over two years but now we are back on track with lots of travel and some exercise. We look forward to the many family gatherings and gastronomic experiences.