"My entire family and myself are so grateful to God and to SANAD for having given my Mom such a smooth take off."
SANAD’s interdisciplinary team members – the doctors, registered nurses and psychologists – work closely to achieve a holistic approach to care.
Our team focuses on addressing the medical, social and psychological challenges that patients and their families are facing due to the underlying terminal illness.
MEDICAL TEAM
Dr. Joyce Haber
MD - Medical Director
Dr. Haber earned her medical doctorate from the University Descartes Paris 5 Faculty of Medicine in 2011, specializing in Geriatric Medicine and palliative care. Directly after obtaining European Board Certification in Family Medicine, she completed a specialization in Geriatrics at Strasbourg University Hospital Robertsau. There, she focused on Acute Care, Long-Term Care, and dedicated palliative care beds, gaining extensive experience managing complex cases.
After relocating to Lebanon in 2017, Dr. Haber played a pivotal role in founding the Oasis de Vie Rehabilitation and Geriatric center, contributing to aligning the organization with JCI accreditation standards. In 2022, she established a geriatric unit at Sacre Coeur Hospital and joined the hospital's ethics committee. Additionally, she serves as a lecturer at St. Joseph University's Medical School.
Since July 2023, Dr. Haber has been an active part of
SANAD, supporting the team in relieving symptoms in
patients with chronic and terminal illnesses, thereby
enhancing their quality of life. She holds certification in Palliative Care in Geriatrics from Sorbonne University
(2020).
Dr. Zeina El Hachem
MD - Medical Coordinator
Dr Zeina El Hachem received her MD from the American University of Beirut in 2004 and her Family Medicine specialization diploma from the Universite Saint Joseph in 2011. She has been working at the day-care oncology center at Hayek hospital since October 2011 and has an extensive experience in the supportive care of cancer patients.
Dr. Maha Kassem
Hospice Care Doctor
Dr. Maha Kassem, MD, specializes in Palliative Care and Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease and currently leads the Palliative Department at Clemenceau Medical Center, affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
She has played a role in shaping the department's structure and development. Having completed Fellowships in Palliative Care at institutions such as St Christopher's Hospice and the King Hussein Cancer Center, Dr. Kassem is an active member of the Lebanese Physician Palliative Society and the educational group at Pallchase.
In addition to her position at Clemenceau Medical Center, Dr. Kassem also serves as an Occupational Health Physician, a Clinical Instructor at the University of Balamand, and a member of the hospital's Quality Committee and Antibiotic Stewardship Program.
In 2020, Dr. Kassem expanded her professional endeavors by joining SANAD as a hospice care doctor, furthering her commitment to providing end-of-life care to patients in need.
Dr. Rosa Rhimi
MD - Beqaa Office
Dr. Rhimi’s professional experience began as a Family Medicine Specialist at the Miguel Enriquez University Hospital and Wilfredo Perez Polyclinic in Havana, Cuba. She has been practicing in Lebanon since 1992. She is a member of the medical staff in the Department of Family Medicine at AUBMC and of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine, the Cuban Order of Physicians, and the Cuban Society of Family Medicine.
Saria Gerges
Head of Nursing Unit
After graduating in 2007 from the Lebanese University with a BS degree in nursing, Saria worked at St. Charles Hospital in the surgical and intensive care units until 2009. She then worked at AUBMC for seven years in the Obstetric Gynecology (Oncology, Gynecology) department. She has a certificate from the National Collaboration Prenatal, Neonatal Network and another certificate on acute pain. During her years at AUBMC, Saria was a member of the Pain Committee at the hospital. She was also awarded the Best Ob-Gyn Registered Nurse. She has been a member of SANAD since April 2016.
Hamsa Bou Hadir
RN
Mrs. Bou Hadir attained her BS degree in nursing from the Lebanese University in 2012. She worked at Sacré Coeur Hospital for a year and then moved to Levant Hospital where she worked for two years. Mrs. Bou Hadir completed her nursing studies at the Lebanese University, after which she became a surgical Registered Nurse for two years at la Clinique du Levant. She has also served as a pediatric RN at Sacre Coeur Hospital. In March 2017, she joined SANAD as a hospice nurse. She is passionate about working with and supporting terminally ill patients, which motivated her to become part of SANAD’s team.
Ali Attwi
RN
While studying for his BS in nursing from the Lebanese University, which he later acquired in 2006, Mr. Attwi started working in the Rafik Hariri University Hospital's Oncology Department in 2005. In 2009, he obtained a university diploma in nursing care specialized in Oncology from the Saint Joseph University. in 2010, Mr. Attwi joined the medical surgical department at the Clemenceau Medical Center. There, he worked till 2020 while simultaneously operating as a part time nurse at the IOM between 2015 and 2017, and a nurse in SIDC between 2017 and 2020.
Mr. Attwi joined SANAD as a palliative care nurse in October 2020.
Zeinab Barakat
RN
Mrs. Barakat attained her BS degree in nursing from the Lebanese University in 2006. After her graduation, she joined the Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) as a surgical registered nurse. After two years, Mrs. Barakat was promoted to the position of nursing supervisor overseeing the one-day surgery, cardiac surgery, and medical-surgical units at the same hospital. She served in this role for 13 years. In 2017, Mrs. Barakat completed her master’s degree as a clinical nurse in chronic disease and palliative care from the Lebanese University.
Motivated by her passion to work with and support terminally ill patients, Mrs. Barakat joined SANAD in April 2024 to serve as a hospice nurse in its nursing unit.
Rasha Zouki
RN - Beqaa Office
After graduating from the Lebanese University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing Sciences, Mrs. Zouki joined the Libano Francais Hospital where she served for 12 years as a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse. She recently joined SANAD to serve as a hospice nurse in the Mid-Beqaa office.
MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
Chantale Khadra
Head of Mental Health Unit
After graduating from the Lebanese University in 2009, with a BA in Psychology, Chantale Khadra obtained her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2012 from the University of Balamand.
Under the supervision of Professor Leila Chikhani, Ms Khadra completed four years of training in Analytical Psychotherapy. Throughout her career she has attended drama therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy trainings at the University of Colombia. Her practice relies primarily on her clinical experience with patients of all ages and from different backgrounds.
Mrs. Khadra had previously worked as a psychotherapist and a mental health consultant in different local and international NGOs in Lebanon.
Chantale Khadra joined SANAD in September 2018 as a member in the mental health unit and as a hospice psychologist.
Hala El Amine
Psychologist
Ms. El Amine graduated from the University of Reading, UK, in 2019 with a MSc in clinical aspects of psychology. She finished her clinical training at the AUBMC clinical psychology training program. She joined SANAD in June 2022 as a clinical psychologist.
QUALITY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT
Farah Demachkieh
Head of Unit (Quality Research and Development–QRD)
Ms. Demachkieh holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing Sciences from the American University of Beirut and has 10 years experience in nursing clinical practice in emergency and sports medicine fields both in Lebanon and Qatar. She newly pursued her master’s degree in public health with focus on health promotion and community health from AUB.
Her recent public health experience focused on operational research targeting disadvantaged populations in addition to process evaluation and needs assessment at primary health care settings.
Hala Mokdad
Quality & Training Senior Officer, Assistant Head of Unit
Ahmed Kassab
Quality and Research Officer
Lea Chaiban
Research Officer
FUNDRAISING AND ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Ayman Abdou
Head of Management and Fundraising Team
Mr. Abdou joined SANAD in 2015 as an Administrative and Fundraising Officer. Additionally, he is responsible of the overall direction and execution of manegerial processes including finances, human resources, and organizational management at SANAD. Mr. Abdou holds a master’s degree in economics from Université Saint-Joseph in Lebanon and is currently undergoing his PhD studies in macroeconomics.
Hussein Taleb
Accountant
Mr. Taleb has substantial experience in management accounting in the private sector, and more than six years of commitment to SANAD as its accountant.
Lamia Karanouh
Management Focal Point
Mrs. Karanouh graduated from Saint Joseph University in Beirut with a degree in Public Relations in 2001. Mrs. Karanouh’s expertise includes human resources management, external communication and coordination, marketing planning, and business development. Mrs. Karanouh moved back to Lebanon and joined SANAD in February 2018 as an administration and human resources officer.
Maha Chmaitelly
Administration Assistant
Mrs. Chmaitelly holds an LLB from the Beirut Arab University. After her graduation in 1999, Mrs. Chmaitelly joined Al Zahraa Hospital as a treasurer of the nursing department. Mrs. Chmaitelly joined SANAD as an admin assistant in July 2020.
Rola Tabbah Matly
Administration Assistant - Beqaa Office
Mrs. Matly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Lebanese International University (LIU), Beirut, which she obtained in 2008. She earned her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification in 2009 from Morgan International, Lebanon. Rola also completed a Master's in Business Administration from Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon (AUL), Chtaura. She joined SANAD in Januray, 2023 as an Admin Assistant based in the Beqaa office.
Najah Raya
Communications Officer
Georgio Sayegh
Communications Assistant
Reem Souheil
Fundraising Assistant
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TEAM
Ali El Sayed
Field Officer - Logistical Support
Bilal Bashir
Field Officer - Logistical Support