Partner and Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer: Dr. Elyse LeeVan

Elyse LeeVan, MD, MPH (Associate Fellow) is a Colorectal surgeon at the NIH. She is a Program Officer in the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute, specifically at the Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN). Dr. LeeVan has been leading the research workgroup for the ACS-Hawassa Collaborative.  She has been instrumental in initiating the fundamentals of research training and developing a research mentoring program. She organized and fully supported the first Hawassa University Department of Surgery Resident Research Day. Her efforts in introducing the culture of research has been recognized by the local residents and faculty as evidenced by the significant increase in publications and abstract submissions to the local and regional meetings.  Because of her leadership and efforts, research output has become an expectation for any resident graduating from the Hawassa University Department of Surgery. 

Partner Spotlight: Dr. George Abi-Saad, Dr. Hakim Elkholy, and Dr. Samir Ballouz

George S. Abi-Saad, MD FACS

Beirut, Lebanon
Interim Head, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut

Abdelhakim Elkholy, MBBCh, FACS

Cairo, Egypt
Committee on Trauma Chief of Region 17

Samir Ballouz, RN, BSN, MSc, IHM

Beirut, Lebanon
Trauma Program Officer, Healthcare Professional Development Center (HPDC), American University of Beirut

According to the World Health Organization, 90% of injury-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (source: Injuries and violence). Promulgating ATLS in these countries can be one of the first steps in addressing this staggering statistic. The ACS Committee on Trauma has been an outstanding partner in coordinating and executing two promulgations with ACS H.O.P.E. over the past two years. COT Region 17 leaders George S. Abi-Saad, MD FACS, Abdelhakim Elkholy, MBBCh, FACS, and Samir Ballouz, RN, BSN, MSc, IHM have played an instrumental role in promulgating ATLS in Hawassa, Ethiopia in February 2023 and in Kigali, Rwanda in February 2025. Advancing trauma care in these settings requires dedication, patience, innovation, and collaboration. The attention and support given by Dr. Abi-Saad, Dr. Elkholy, and Samir have helped build a foundation of ATLS in sub-Saharan Africa, which will continue to benefit not just the individual countries but also the region at large for years to come.