Dr. Anis Obeid was born and raised in Aley, Lebanon. A physician, researcher, author, and poet, he left such a significant humanitarian mark that he was described as the "Physician of Hearts," and a literary mark represented by his publications and works. In 1999, he published a book in Arabic containing poems, and in July 2006, he published a book titled "The Druze and Their Faith in Tawhid" published by Syracuse University.
Dr. Obeid introduced the specialty of Echocardiography to Syracuse University in 1972. He became the director of echocardiography and stress testing at Crouse Hospital in 1980. He earned his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut in 1957 and completed his postgraduate training in the United States.
He quickly became the chief of the cardiology department in 1975 and founded the New York Cardiology Center in 1983 with two colleagues. He is a life honorary member of the American Medical Association, in addition to several other professional organizations.
As a board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Obeid published a book on echocardiography in 1993 that was widely recognized in the medical field. He has written and co-authored more than 50 scientific articles in peer-reviewed cardiology journals and has lectured extensively on various topics in the field of cardiology, both locally and nationally. Dr. Obeid founded the New York Cardiology Center in 1983 with Dr. Daniel Fuleihan and Dr. Dennis Arak. He is a life honorary member of the American Medical Association.
The 2015 celebration was held at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center, Oncenter, attended by 1,100 people and featured a prolonged reception, a luxury dinner, a tribute video, and entertainment segments provided by the "Time Machine" band. The highlight of the evening was the honoring of Dr. Obeid.
Dr. Obeid’s life would require many books to properly describe his achievements, to accurately characterize him, and to praise him eloquently.
In addition to his medical career, Dr. Obeid is also involved in many social and cultural organizations, including the Syracuse Area Middle East Dialogue (SAMED). He has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Crouse Hospital Volunteer Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the Onondaga County Medical Society, and the Leadership Award from Interfaith Works.
He is a founding member and former president of the American Druze Foundation and a life member of the American Druze Society. During this period, he also received numerous recognitions and awards for distinguished service to his profession and community. Last but not least, he added to his long list of well-deserved awards the Honor of the Year from the American Druze Society.
Honoring in Aley
In 2017, the "Social Cultural Committee of Aley City" honored him in a ceremony held at the hall of the Social Message Association of Aley. The event was attended by Democratic Gathering member MP Akram Chehayeb, former ministers Adel Hamieh and Issam Naaman, President of the American University of Beirut Fadlo Khuri, Mayor of Aley Wajdi Mrad, Media Commissioner of the Progressive Socialist Party Rami Al-Rayyes, Head of the Arab Team for Islamic-Christian Dialogue Judge Abbas Al-Halabi, and various union, military, partisan, municipal, and civic figures.
Following the national anthem and an introduction by retired Brigadier General Amin Abu Assi, the head of the Cultural Committee, Afif Baz, delivered a speech noting that the committee, since its inception, has been dedicated to holding honoring ceremonies for figures of science, culture, and scholars. He said: "Today, as we honor a noble son of Aley, Dr. Anis Obeid, we are honoring the people of Aley and all of Lebanon."
Then, Dr. Pierre Rizk delivered a speech on behalf of the honoree's friends, highlighting Dr. Obeid's scientific achievements in medicine and research that have contributed to the advancement of medicine.
For his part, the Mayor of Aley saluted Dr. Obeid, saying: "We are proud of our intellectuals, our inventors, the distinguished, and all those who have given so much to Lebanon and to science," calling for "acting with wisdom, love, and compassion for our sake and the sake of Lebanon."
Afterward, a video was shown about the ceremony honoring Dr. Obeid in the city of Syracuse, New York.
Then, Dr. Fadi Al-Bitar spoke about the medical and scientific achievements the honoree reached during his thirty years of work at Syracuse Hospital, "He was a role model and a scientific reference, and he was the first to introduce echocardiography technology in the northern Syracuse, New York area. He has more than fifty articles and research papers in the most prestigious scientific journals, as well as many books."
The honoree’s brother, engineer Said Obeid, delivered the family’s speech, pointing out that "our father, the builder, was able to help Anis, who was always excelling in his studies, reach the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut."
Following this, MP Chehayeb spoke, saying: "We are gathered by Dr. Anis Obeid, the sheikh of youth, the son of Aley, the self-made brother, the believer, the researcher, and the humanitarian doctor attached to his homeland and the causes of his people."
He added: "I turned to him in the operating room at the American University Hospital when I was a child and he was a neighbor, and he was an intern, and he saved me. I turned to him and his likes in the early days of hardships when I met him at the National Hospital while I was in a position of responsibility. He answered the call, coming from the lands of the diaspora, checking on his people, standing in solidarity with his community, and using his knowledge, expertise, and humanity to soothe the wounds of the people of his town and the surrounding areas. His news, successes, and scientific achievements in the diaspora never ceased, making him the best ambassador for his town and country, where he lived, worked, achieved, and was honored in a country that values science and respects dedication."
He continued: "Being honored today in Aley is an honor for all of us. Dr. Anis Obeid, may God prolong his life, is among the first doctors whose name has shone through science, ethics, giving, and service to every person in need, similar to the path and journey of the late Dr. Jamil Talhouk and Dr. Aref Al-Rayes, who preceded him in time and left their own medical mark in serving the town and its surroundings."
Chehayeb emphasized: "Dr. Anis Obeid, the neighbor of happiness and contentment, the patriot who was never attributed to anything but his national and intellectual convictions, is the older brother to his two dear brothers, the engineers Sami and Said, and his three sisters, Asma, Nadia, and the late Jamal, who had a distinguished social role, a good mark, and provided a proper upbringing for their children and grandchildren. I believe that Dr. Anis is the first doctor from the noble Obeid family of doctors, whom we love and are proud of in terms of ethics, belonging, and behavior."
He said: "Dr. Anis returns to us while the greater homeland is burning and bleeding, and the smaller homeland is faltering as a result of wrong policies that weaken institutions, eliminate their freedom, and pave the way for total dissolution—which is what we warned about and worked to avoid. Therefore, we reaffirm the importance of internal settlement that preserved stability, produced a presidency and a government, and activated a parliament. Beware of continuing the sectarianisms and extraordinary boastfulness in our political life, which lead to shaking stability and destabilizing the settlement; then, regrets will be of no use."
He concluded by thanking the attendees, the honoree, and the Cultural Committee of Aley, "which has never stinted in honoring its distinguished sons." He said: "Dr. Anis, you returned to Aley on the back of your achievements, so move forward with pride in them. The field is yours, for what you have accomplished in your life's journey exceeds any honoring."
Finally, the honoree, Dr. Obeid, spoke and thanked the Cultural Committee for this "gracious gesture and everyone who contributed and participated in this honoring." He said: "If you honor me with this kind initiative, in reality, it belongs to those who raised me, looked after me, and sacrificed the precious and the priceless to lead me to higher education. Yes, the late Ibrahim and Salma Obeid are the ones who planted this tree that nourished me and nourished my brothers and sisters," thanking all the schools he studied at in Aley, up to the American University of Beirut.
He added: "I see it as my duty to share with you some of what is on my mind, as you have honored me with this kind initiative. I will direct most of my speech to the younger generation, and that is not to diminish the value of fathers and grandfathers. First: let us be seekers of knowledge in addition to science. Second: let your respect for customs and traditions be maintained. Third: cast off the system of sectarianism in governance and in managing state affairs, for secularism is the pillar of democracy."
Honoring Dr. Obeid for his significant contributions to the greater Syracuse community.
