Henry Ford Doctor Named President-Elect for US’ Largest Transplant Surgeons Group

BOSTON – The director of the Henry Ford Transplant Institute has been elected by his peers to head the American Society of Transplant Surgeons in 2020.  

Dr. Marwan Abouljoud, an internationally renowned liver surgeon, assumed the President-elect position on June 2, during the 2019 American Transplant Congress in Boston. He will take the reins of the organization during the 2020 Congress in Philadelphia.   

The Arlington, Va.-based society represents approximately 1,800 surgeons and advances transplantation through excellence in patient care, research, education and advocacy.   

“I am honored to be chosen, particularly by my colleagues, to lead this esteemed group,” said Dr. Abouljoud, who is also a professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to this demanding sector of medicine. And I hope to continue the tradition of providing transplant surgeons the utmost support now and in the future.”  

During his tenure, Dr. Abouljoud hopes to focus on surgeon assessment and certification process, increasing diversity in the workforce, and creating an effective wellness and resilience program.  

Dr. Abouljoud has been on staff at Henry Ford Hospital since 1994 and is the recipient of the Henry Ford Medical Group Fred Whitehouse Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Henry Ford Medical Group, one of the nation’s largest and most experienced group practices with more than 1,200 physicians and researchers in more than 40 specialties.  He is a director on the American Board of Surgery, the independent, nonprofit organization that provides and maintains board certification for about 30,000 surgeons in the United States. He has served on the board of directors for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and is a past-president of Gift of Life Michigan.  His particular areas of interest include liver cancer; living donor liver transplantation; resilience and mindful practices, and leadership development.

Dr. Abouljoud earned his medical degree at the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in 1985, and completed his transplant training at Baylor University and the University of Alabama. He earned his Master’s degree in Medical Management at Carnegie Mellon University in 2013. He lives with his wife and children in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.  

MEDIA CONTACT: Tammy Battaglia / 248-881-0809 / Tammy.Battaglia@hfhs.org