It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 49th Middle East Medical Assembly (MEMA) taking place from April 19th to 22nd, 2018 at the American University of Beirut.

MEMA is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific conferences in our region and for the first time in its long history, MEMA will focus this year on “Mental Health across the Lifespan”.

While mental disorders have become one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, treatment gap for these conditions in our region remain alarmingly wide. In addition, and since we are living in a conflict zone with an enormous array of mental health concerns, there is a tremendous need to enforce mental wellbeing strategies and to scale up interventions that aim at improving the mental health of the population. 

The next MEMA is an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health in the scientific and public communities and to bring healthcare professionals up-to-date with the latest evidence-based assessment and intervention discoveries in the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders across the lifespan and across different contexts. Themes that are we covered in the program this year are:

Mental Health in the workplace, Mental Health and Conflict, Women Mental Health and Sexual Health, Sleep and Mental Health, School and College Mental Health, Mood Disorders, Mental Health of LGBT, Mental Health in Chronic Medical Conditions, Mental Health in Primary Care, Mental health and Multiple Sclerosis, Child Mental Health, Updates in Psychotic Disorders, Updates in Substance Use Disorders, Behavioral Neurology, Neuropsychology/ Biomarkers, Eating Disorders, Trauma and Related Disorders, Mental Health Research in the Arab World, ICD Symposium, and other session still under development.

Local, regional and international renowned speakers will contribute to different symposia, workshops, round table discussion on hot topics and sessions that are open to the public.  There will be a track that is dedicated to primary care physicians, internists, pediatricians and neurologists and a second track dedicated to mental health professionals.

We have put together a unique, diverse and rich scientific program.

We are confident that you will benefit from what the conference has to offer and that you will enjoy your time in Beirut.

Samir Atweh, MD
Chairperson 49th MEMA

Fadi Maalouf, MD
Chairperson Scientific committee 49th MEMA