While attending in London a conference entitled “Aesthetic Surgery of the 90’s: An Update” on May 11-13, 1993, Bishara Atiyeh came to know Ricardo Baroudi. Not knowing many colleagues then, he was sitting alone in the back of the conference hall. A man came and sat next to him then looked at him and said in a funny Arabic accent “enta Lebanani?” (are you Lebanese?); Atiyeh looked at him surprised then Baroudi added “ana Ricardo Baroudi” (I am Ricardo Baroudi). After a short conversation, Atiyeh naively asked him if he would come to Lebanon despite the still unstable situation in case a conference is organized in Beirut. Baroudie replied in an eloquent attitude “invite me and you shall see”. 3 years later, plans were made to organize the Third Pan Arab Congress of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns on March 21-24, 1996, in Beirut. Ricardo Baroudi was invited and he accepted the invitation immediately without hesitation.
In 1999, Bishara Atiyeh organized with Ricardo Baroudi the First Brazilian – Lebanese Meeting in Beirut. There were no more than 100 surgeons from Brazil attending the Meeting, but to our
surprise there were around 120 accompanying family members. Never such a thing has happened in Meetings of our specialty and we believe that also it never did in other specialties. The second Brazilian – Lebanese Meeting planned for September 2006, unfortunately had to be
cancelled due to the armed conflict in Lebanon earlier that year. It was not till 2010 that we were able to plan hosting another event again in Beirut. It was decided then to extend the invitation to all colleagues in the large diaspora not only to Brazilian Plastic Surgeons of Lebanese Descent. The Association of Plastic Surgeons of Lebanese Descent – APSLD was born and Ricardo Baroudi was unanimously acclaimed as its President.
While attending in London a conference entitled “Aesthetic Surgery of the 90’s: An Update” on May 11-13, 1993, Bishara Atiyeh came to know Ricardo Baroudi. Not knowing many colleagues then, he was sitting alone in the back of the conference hall. A man came and sat next to him then looked at him and said in a funny Arabic accent “enta Lebanani?” (are you Lebanese?); Atiyeh looked at him surprised then Baroudi added “ana Ricardo Baroudi” (I am Ricardo Baroudi). After a short conversation, Atiyeh naively asked him if he would come to Lebanon despite the still unstable situation in case a conference is organized in Beirut. Baroudie replied in an eloquent attitude “invite me and you shall see”. 3 years later, plans were made to organize the Third Pan Arab Congress of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns on March 21-24, 1996, in Beirut. Ricardo Baroudi was invited and he accepted the invitation immediately without hesitation.
