Sami Haddad

Pioneering Palestinian physician who modernized healthcare and medical education in the Arab world.

Dr. Sami Haddad (1890–1957) transformed Middle Eastern medicine through his dedication to public health and education. Born in Nablus, Palestine, he studied medicine in Beirut and later practiced in Jerusalem. In 1927, he founded the Arab Medical Society, advocating for evidence-based healthcare in a region dominated by traditional practices.

Haddad introduced sterilization techniques and vaccination campaigns, drastically reducing mortality rates. He authored 'Medical Advances in Arabia' (1934), a foundational text for Arab medical schools. His clinic in Jaffa became a model for modern hospitals, blending Western and local practices.

Despite political turmoil, Haddad trained over 500 physicians, emphasizing women's roles in healthcare. His efforts earned him the Order of the British Empire in 1948, though he refused it to protest colonial policies. Today, the Sami Haddad Medical Center in Ramallah continues his mission.