Hôtel-Dieu de France has once again pushed the boundaries of modern medicine by successfully performing a percutaneous closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in a premature infant weighing only 800 grams, born at 24 weeks of gestation and just 19 days old.

This highly delicate neonatal pediatric cardiology procedure was performed under the supervision of Prof. Zakhia Saliba, thanks to outstanding multidisciplinary collaboration involving the teams of neonatology, anesthesia, and pediatric cardiology.

This innovative minimally invasive approach successfully avoided major high-risk cardiac surgery, offering this extremely fragile infant a safer therapeutic alternative with the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes.

Beyond its clinical significance, this procedure represents a truly exceptional achievement. It constitutes a national first and, to the best of our knowledge, a regional first. Given the rarity of this type of intervention in a premature infant weighing only 800 grams, it deserves to be reported in the international scientific literature.

This achievement is a source of great pride for the teams at Hôtel-Dieu de France and further reinforces the institution's position as a regional referral center of excellence in pediatric cardiology, capable of delivering the most advanced and complex lifesaving procedures through multidisciplinary expertise. 

Six years after the Beirut Port explosion, Hôtel-Dieu de France held a moment of reflection and prayer on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in front of its Emergency Department, continuing a tradition observed each year in remembrance of the tragedy.

Physicians, nurses, and staff members, dressed in white, took part in the annual gathering, which featured the Lebanese National Anthem, prayers and hymns, as well as a moment of silence in tribute to the victims and in solidarity with their families.

On this occasion, Mr. Nassib Nasr, Director General of the HDF–USJ Hospital Network, delivered an address emphasizing the importance of preserving the collective memory. He recalled that August 4 is not merely a date, but a profound wound etched into the memory of Beirut and of Lebanon. He also reflected on the role played by Hôtel-Dieu de France on that day, when, beyond serving as an emergency department, it became a beacon of hope by providing care to more than 800 injured individuals. He further reaffirmed that commemorating this day places upon everyone the responsibility to continue the unwavering pursuit of truth and justice, stressing that there can be no justice without truth, and no future for any society without justice. He underscored that Hôtel-Dieu de France will remain at the forefront of those advocating for justice, in tribute to the victims and out of unwavering commitment to Lebanon.

Furthermore, Hôtel-Dieu de France has illuminated its façade in red throughout these commemorative days as a symbolic expression of its humanitarian commitment and its solidarity with the families of the victims of the explosion.

A cooperation agreement on the child protection strategy in the fields of justice and healthcare was signed between the Ministry of Justice, the HDF-USJ Hospital Network, and Saint Joseph University of Beirut during a ceremony held at the General Directorate Hall of Hôtel-Dieu de France.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Adel Nassar, the Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Chairman of the Board of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Rev. Prof. François Boëdec, S.J., the Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Mr. Nassib Nasr, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Justice, department heads, and deans.

Opening the ceremony, the Director General of Hôtel-Dieu de France, Mr. Nassib Nasr, emphasized that the Minister of Justice's visit reflects the hospital's vision of fostering partnerships between institutions in the service of society. He expressed his hope that the cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Child Protection Unit at Hôtel-Dieu de France would become a national model for child protection in Lebanon.

He stressed that Hôtel-Dieu de France's mission extends far beyond providing medical care to include protecting the most vulnerable members of society, promoting fundamental rights, and serving major national causes.

Mr. Nasr also noted that the agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening Lebanon's child protection system, highlighting that effective child protection can only be achieved through close collaboration between the healthcare and justice sectors.

Referring to the upcoming commemoration of the Beirut Port explosion, he recalled that the victims and their families are still awaiting the truth and the delivery of justice. He underlined that protecting children and pursuing justice stem from the same principle: building a Lebanon that upholds human rights, safeguards the dignity of every individual, and protects the future of its people.

For his part, Rev. Prof. François Boëdec, S.J., affirmed that child protection is one of the core pillars of the mission of Saint Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France. He stressed the importance of providing children with a safe environment supported by education, guidance, and appropriate healthcare.

He recalled that the Child Protection Unit has been fulfilling this mission since its establishment, driven by a shared sense of social responsibility that is more important today than ever in light of current challenges. He welcomed the signing of this agreement with the Ministry of Justice as a new step toward strengthening joint efforts to protect children. He also paid tribute to the dedication of the Child Protection Unit team, led by Prof. Bernard Gerbaka, emphasizing that children are society's most precious human resource and deserve the highest priority.

Hôtel-Dieu de France (HDF) took part, in June 2026, in a series of visits and meetings organized within AP-HM (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille) to explore and exchange insights on the GHT Hôpitaux de Provence (Provence Territorial Hospital Group) model.

This initiative is part of a collaboration launched at the request of the EHESP – French School of Public Health. Hôtel-Dieu de France aims to further develop its hospital network by adopting an organizational model inspired by the French Territorial Hospital Groups (GHTs), and more specifically by the model implemented by the GHT Hôpitaux de Provence.

During this mission, the Hôtel-Dieu de France delegations gained valuable insight into the GHT's operations through several key areas, including territorial governance, institutional communication, information systems, procurement, biomedical equipment, and environmental transition policies.

The delegations also visited La Timone Hospital, including the Biogénopôle, as well as Edmond Garcin Aubagne Hospital and Martigues Hospital, where they observed the development of care pathways, resource pooling, medical cooperation, and other collaborative practices.

They also attended several governance bodies, including CSIRMT, CMG, and COSTRAT, to gain a deeper understanding of GHT’s governance framework.

This cooperation reflects the growing international interest in the French Territorial Hospital Group model. It also highlights Hôtel-Dieu de France's commitment to drawing inspiration from best practices in governance, resource sharing, and the territorial organization of healthcare.

These meetings also underscored the long-standing historical ties between Marseille and Beirut, sister cities since 1994, as well as the strong relationship between Hôtel-Dieu de France and the French-speaking medical community.