This interview is one in a series of interviews with recipients of the 2026 ACGME International Awards. The awardees join an outstanding group of current and previous honorees whose work and contributions to graduate medical education (GME) around the world represent the best in the field. They will be honored at the 2026 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place 19-21 February 2026, in San Diego, California, US.
2026 ACGME International Susan H. Day Physician Leader Awardee Salah Zeineldine, MD, FACP is associate vice president for clinical affairs, chief medical officer, assistant dean of GME, and designated institutional official (DIO) at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. ACGME-I spoke with Dr. Zeineldine about his career and what receiving this award means to him.
ACGME-I: How did you become involved in medicine, and in academic medicine specifically?
Dr. Zeineldine: I was raised in a household where my mother aspired to become a physician but was unable to pursue this path due to financial constraints. When the time came to apply to college, medicine was my primary focus and clear interest. I enrolled at the American University of Beirut (AUB), an institution where academic excellence is deeply embedded in medical training, which further strengthened my commitment to this career path. I subsequently completed my residency in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. After completing my fellowship, I returned to AUB to join the same academic community that had instilled in me the values of scholarship, mentorship, and the continuity of medical education.
ACGME-I: What does this award mean to you?
Dr. Zeineldine: This award holds profound significance for me on two levels. First, it represents recognition (hopefully well deserved) of my efforts to help shape, standardize, and elevate the importance of medical education in this part of the world. It also affirms that these efforts have been noticed, for which I am deeply grateful.
More importantly, however, this award bears the name of a friend and a true leader who steadfastly supported our mission and our careers in advancing excellence in academic medical training in Lebanon and beyond. To me, it is especially meaningful because it carries the name of Dr. Susan Day.
ACGME-I: As this award reflects the contributions you’ve made to GME in Lebanon, what would you consider to be the most important of your contributions?
Dr. Zeineldine: I believe that my most meaningful contribution to GME in my country has been planting a seed and nurturing it patiently over time. It was a seed rooted in standardization and a commitment to excellence in medical education. Once planted, the growth extends far beyond the individual: The tree takes shape, its branches expand, and its reach continues to widen. Today, I see many colleagues who share this vision and are eager to contribute to and believe in this mission. This collective momentum, more than any single achievement, represents the true impact of that contribution.
ACGME-I: In your view, how has the overall strengthening of GME, especially through international accreditation, benefited Lebanon’s medical education and health care systems?
Dr. Zeineldine: Nothing fosters sustainable growth and strength more effectively than a standardized system. The process of international accreditation enabled programs and educators to align around a shared commitment to medical education excellence, creating a unified and engaged academic community. This mission adopted a forward-looking, trainee-centered vision, shifting the primary focus toward the learner. Notably, residency programs recognized and embraced this transformation even before institutions or trainees themselves fully perceived it. As a result, our residency programs experienced a renewed and increased influx of applications from outstanding medical students, both from Lebanon and across the region.
ACGME-I: Having played a key role in the evolution of GME in Lebanon, what would you like to see happen in Lebanon’s GME environment in the future?
Dr. Zeineldine: What I had long hoped for is now becoming a reality. Two additional institutions in Lebanon are actively pursuing ACGME-I accreditation, signaling that this effort is no longer limited to a single institution, but rather reflects a broader national commitment. In this sense, we are closing the circle and embedding a culture of accreditation and educational excellence across the medical community. Our residents and fellows will be the primary beneficiaries, the overall standard of medical education will advance to the next level, and this progress is deeply gratifying to witness.