Ahmad Zaghal, MD
AHMAD ZAGHAL, MD, MSc (Clin Ed), MRCS, FACS, FEBPS, FHEA
email: ahmad.zaghal@ttuhsc.edu
Associate Professor of Surgery, Pediatric Surgery
Patient Appointments:
Surgery Clinic : 806.810.8213
Clinic Location:
Surgery Clinic:
Biography:
Dr. Ahmad Zaghal is a pediatric surgeon with a rich educational background and extensive postgraduate training. He earned his MD degree with distinction from Beirut Arab University and further honed his expertise with a general surgery residency at AUBMC, and two pediatric surgery fellowships at prestigious institutions in the UK (Chelsea and Westminster Children’s Hospital) and USA (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics). Dr. Zaghal is a European board-certified compassionate surgeon with special interest in minimally invasive and neonatal surgery. He is a certified Advanced Trauma Life Support instructor, director, and educator.
Dr. Zaghal is a committed medical educator, obtained his Master’s degree in clinical education from the University of Edinburgh thus underpinning his teaching practices with solid theory. Dr. Zaghal is a recipient of several prestigious awards including Alpha-Omega-Alpha and Gold Humanism honor medical society awards in attestation of his excellent qualifications. Dr. Zaghal has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, and authored several chapters in general and pediatric surgery.
Areas of Clinical Specialty
- Minimally invasive surgery in infants and children: laparoscopy and thoracoscopy
- Congenital anomalies: esophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, anorectal malformation, Hirschsrung’s disease, intestinal atresia, etc.
- Abdominal solid malignancies: Wilms’ tumor and neuroblastoma, etc.
- Short and long-term venous access placement (percutaneous and open)
- Abdominal wall defects: gastroschisis and omphalocele repair
- Pectus excavatum repair
- Pediatric trauma
- Broad spectrum of general pediatric surgery practice: intussusception, pyloric stenosis, fundoplication, inguinal hernias, undescended testicles, circumcision, etc.
Education/Certification:
Fellowship:
Pediatric Surgery fellowship. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, NHS trust, London,
UK. 2017
Pediatric Surgery fellowship. University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa city, Iowa,
USA. 2015
Residency:
General Surgery residency. American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. 2012.
Medical School:
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with distinction. Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon. 2006.
Certification:
Texas Medical Board (Aug 2024)
European Board of Pediatric Surgery (Oct 2017)
Research:
Clinical/Surgical education
Distance learning of practical skills in novice learners
Vascular access in the pediatric population
Traditional face-to-face versus distance learning of bowel anastomosis in novice learners. Grant source: AUBMC-Medical practice plan and URB. Jul 2023. USD 7,100
Surgical tissue simulators in surgical suture training: quality, authenticity, and applicability. Grant source: AUBMC-Medical practice plan. Jan 2022. USD 20,500
Vape toxicity during pregnancy: effects of reactive oxygen species on tissue histology. Grant source: AUBMC-Medical practice plan. Aug 2021. USD 24,500
Facial microbial flora in bearded versus non-bearded men in the operating room setting: A single-center cross-sectional observational study. Grant source: AUBMC-Seed grant. Jan 2019. USD 17,200
In The News:
Recent Publications:
Charara R, Ibrahim R, Fahda A, Zaghal A, Haidar Ahmad H. Laparoscopic left paraduodenal hernia repair: A case report. Radiology case reports. 2024;19:3329-3333.
Hassanieh J, Zalaquett N, Khazzeka A, Ghazal R, Riachi M, Habib S. Zaghal A. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute appendicitis in a tertiary care center in Lebanon. BMC Surgery. 2024;24(18).
Al-Qaisi S, Abousaleh I, Banat R, Lakissian Z, Zeineddine R, Zaghal A, Raslan A, Sharara-Chami R. Sitting vs standing work postures during simulated laparoscopic surgery – in terms of user preferences, comfort, performance, and biomechanics. Ergonomics. 2024.
Sabeh-Ayoun K, Al Tahan H, Akel S, Zaghal A. Successful separation of pygopagus conjoined twins: A case report. Journal of pediatric surgery case reports. 2023. 99. 102745.
Nassereldine H, Hajj-Ali A, Hassanieh J, Hamideh D, Jaafar R, Akel S, Zaghal A (corresponding author). Catheter-related atrial thrombosis: prevalence and risk factors in the pediatric age group—a retrospective study. Annals of pediatric surgery. 2022;18(85).
El Edelbi M, Hassanieh J, Malaeb N, Abou Fayad A, Jaafar R, Sleiman A, Abedelrahim A, Kanafani Z, Matar G, Zaghal A (corresponding author). Facial microbial flora in bearded versus non-bearded men in the operating room setting: a single-center cross-sectional observational study. Medicine. 2022;101(40):e29565.
Bou Dargham T, Moumneh M, Atallah C, Zaghal A (corresponding author). A scoping review on acute gastrointestinal surgical complications in immunocompromised pediatric patients. Annals of pediatric surgery. 2022;18:52.
Zaghal A, Marley C, Rahhal S, Hassanieh J, Saadeh R, El-Rifai A, Qaraqe T, El Bejjani M, Jaafar R, Hoballah J. Face-to-face versus distance learning of basic suturing skills in novice learners: a quantitative prospective randomized trial. BMC Med Educ. 2022;22(1):290.
Sharara-Chami R, El-Hout Y, Lakissian Z, Hafez B, Abi-Gerges C, Fayad J, Charafeddine L, Tazian V, Tamim H, Zaghal A. Music as an adjunct to combination analgesia for neonatal circumcision: A randomized controlled trial. J Ped Urol. 2021;S1477-5131(21)00594-5.
Faraj W, Abi Faraj C, Kanso M, Nassar H, Hteit L, Farsakhoury R, Zaghal A, Yaghi M, Jaafar R, Khalife M. Hydatid disease of the liver in the Middle East: A single center experience. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2021;23(1):29-34.
Makoul K, Makhoul P, Zaghal A (Corresponding author). Persistent left superior vena cava detected following central venous catheter placement. J Ped Surg Case Reports 2021;74(102037).
Zaghal A, Osta A, Hassanieh J, Jaafar R, Hajj-Ali A, El-Tabech D, Al-Masri S, Akel S. Peritoneal fluid cytology in solid abdominal malignancies in children. J Med Liban 2021;69(1):23-26
Tabbara F, Ataya K, Annous Y, Alamiddine K, Zaghal, A (corresponding author). Complicated acute appendicitis in a child with left atrial isomerism: a case report. Annals of pediatric surgery. 2021;17:21.
Zaghal A, El-Majzoub N, Jaafar R, Aoun B, Jradi N. Brief overview and updates on infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: Focus on perioperative management. Pediatric annals. 2021;50(3):e136-e141.
Labban M, Menhem Z, Bandali T, Hneiny L, Zaghal A (corresponding author). Pain control in neonatal male circumcision: a best evidence review. Journal of pediatric urology. 2021;17(1):3-8.
Sharara-Chami R, Arabi M, Hassanieh J, Hamideh D, Zaghal A (corresponding author). Catheter related atrial thrombosis in an infant: A case report and review of the literature. Thrombosis update. 2020:1.
Monzer N, El-Edelbi M, Hassanieh J, Zaghal A (corresponding author). Acute perforated appendicitis: An unusual cause of a large pneumoperitoneum: A case report. Acta Scientific Paediatrics. 2020;3(4):19-21. https://www.actascientific.com/ASPE/pdf/ASPE-03-0233.pdf
Zaghal A, Rebecca Andraos. Physiologic considerations in pediatric population. Chapter 3. pp 45-55. The war injured child. E-ISBN: 978-3-031-28613-1. ISBN: 978-3-031-28612-4
El Rifai A, Zaghal A. Special considerations in pediatric abdominal surgeries. Abdominal surgery – A brief review. IntechOpen. 2021. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96189
El Rifai A, Akel S, Zaghal A. Parasitic infestations requiring surgical treatment in the pediatric population. The surgical management of parasitic diseases. Springer Nature. 2020. Chapter 21, pages 311-322.
Faraj W, Nassar H, Zaghal A, Khalife M. Management of extrahepatic abdominal echinococcal disease and its complications. The surgical management of parasitic diseases. Springer Nature. 2020. Chapter 11, pages 179-187.
The Lebanese Order of Physicians (LOP) casualty management seminar. Speaker. The war-injured child. LOP, Beirut, Lebanon. Oct 26, 2023
American College of Surgeons General Surgery review course. Co-director. American University of Beirut Medical Center. Beirut, Lebanon. October 2023.
Safadi A, Hazimeh D, Araji T, Zaghal A. Safety profile of penile ring blocks in routine neonatal male circumcision. Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Quick shot presentation. Abstract # 32. Baltimore, USA. Sep 13-15, 2023
Kids first, 4th edition. Awareness and updates on cancer and blood disorders in pediatrics and adolescence. Moderator. Splenectomy and cholecystectomy in hemolytic diseases. Beirut, Lebanon. Sep 2023
The Lebanese Order of Physicians in Beirut International Congress 2023. Together with the Lebanese medical diaspora. Speaker. Successful separation of conjoined twins for the first time in Lebanon. July 14-15, 2023
The Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) group third scientific meeting. Invited Speaker. Surgical approach for treating Wims. Muscat, Oman. Mar 2-5, 2023
The third All Level Trauma Care (ALTC) conference (3D platform). The Academy of Science. Panel discussion speaker. Pediatric trauma care in the Arab world. Dec 3-4, 2022
American College of Surgeons General Surgery review course. Co-director. American University of Beirut Medical Center. October 2022
The eleventh international conference on effective teaching and learning in higher education. Speaker. Face-to-face versus distance learning of basic suturing skills in novice learners: A quantitative experimental prospective randomized trial. WebEx. Apr 8, 2022
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