The global platform “OncoDaily” has selected the President of the American University of Beirut, Dr. Fadlo Khoury, a world-renowned Lebanese physician and researcher in the field of cancer treatment, on the list of the 100 most influential people in oncology for the year 2025. Thus, Khoury has joined a distinguished group of global leaders who have played an essential role in promoting health equity globally, including: “Bill Gates,” “Princess of Wales Catherine Middleton,” “Princess Ghida Talal” of Jordan, and “Princess Adela bint Abdullah Al Saud” from Saudi Arabia.
This selection is considered an affirmation of Khoury’s prestigious position, which was embodied through his long academic and professional career filled with scientific research in the field of cancer, and excellence in education and leadership. This achievement also represents an important step towards achieving global goals aimed at developing the future of cancer care.
In a statement, the “Oncodaily” platform praised the pioneering role played by Khoury and his strong commitment to academic excellence and community service. The platform referred to his wise leadership of the university during a series of difficult crises, such as the economic collapse in Lebanon, the Beirut port explosion, the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to the 2023-2024 war. It also highlighted his efforts to enhance the university’s global position as a leading academic and health institution, his supervision of the American University of Beirut’s acquisition of a medical center, his work to develop national cancer guidelines, and his efforts to develop anti-smoking policies in Lebanon.
The platform also highlighted Khoury’s role in creating a qualitative shift in the health system, through the adoption of the “Epic” system for electronic medical records, and the university’s joining of the “COSMOS” consortium, making it the first institution from outside the United States to join it. She also pointed out the academic positions he previously held at Emory University, and his work on the faculty at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, in addition to his editorship of “Cancer” magazine during the period from 2011 to 2021.
Dr. Fadlo Khoury commented, “For four decades, my personal mission has been to treat cancer patients and study the disease, its biology, and ways to prevent and treat it. Even when I moved to administrative roles, I continued to monitor the repercussions of this disease on people’s health and its prevention, by developing and supporting smoking cessation and cancer prevention programs.”
He added, “I have had the great honor of collaborating with and mentoring generations of distinguished scientists, many of whom are now in their prime and whose contributions to the field have helped improve the five-year survival rate with these diseases to more than 70 percent in the United States and in economically developed countries. I can humbly say that it has been an extremely rewarding career.”
He continued: “Being nominated as one of the influential global change makers in the field of cancer care at this stage of my career, or any stage in fact, reinforces my unwavering commitment to this field. My focus for most of the past decade has been on promoting health equity for people with cancer, as I have ensured that cancer care is based on scientific excellence, and on the principles of equality and accessibility for all, which are values that are among the pillars of our academic and medical mission at the American University of Beirut.”
Khuri emphasized: “This recognition goes far beyond a personal achievement. It also bears witness to the leadership role that an American academic institution with deep roots in Lebanon and the region can play on the global stage, despite the challenges it continues to face. The American University of Beirut remains steadfast in its mission and pioneering role in advancing health and scientific research, and in its mission to serve both local and global communities.”
It is worth noting that Khoury previously served as Chief of Studies in Oncology within the National Institute for Health Research (NIH), and served on evaluation committees of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Cancer Society, and the National Cancer Institute. He has also received numerous awards and honors, including the Rosenthal Award from the American Association for Cancer Research, the Tobacco Abstinence Award from the World Health Organization, and the Joseph W. Colin from the International Organization for the Study of Lung Cancer, in addition to being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025.
“OncoDaily” is a global media platform specialized in the field of oncology, and works to publish the latest scientific research related to cancer treatment and clinical practices, and to promote innovation and leadership in this field. The list of the 100 most influential people in oncology aims to honor the change makers who contributed to developing medical practices for treating cancer, promoting innovation, developing scientific research to raise the level of health care, and enhancing advocacy efforts, philanthropy, leadership, and education.
