Vanessa Mroueh has acquired her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in June 2022, after completing her undergraduate studies with a Psychology degree with Distinction. Vanessa’s interest in Plastic Surgery grew after being profoundly impacted by the devastating explosion that occurred in Beirut in August 2020. As a medical student, she has contributed and witnessed the bravery and dedication of the healthcare workers who responded to the crisis, particularly plastic surgeons who stood as frontliners and dealt with all kinds of disfigurations and burn injuries this disaster has generated.
After receiving her medical degree, Vanessa joined the Plastic Surgery department at Harvard Medical School, where she completed her first-year post-doctoral fellowship. During her time there, Vanessa studied the translational and basic science aspects of gender affirming surgery, focusing on cutaneous repair, and fibrosis and regeneration, including hormone-mediated control of wound healing, with ultimate aims of development and translation of new therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes. She then joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Plastic Surgery in July 2023, where her research focuses on the intersection of microsurgical reconstructive surgery and tissue engineering to improve outcomes following reconstruction of complex soft tissue defects, under the mentorship of Dr. Mario Solari.
Vanessa has authored multiple papers in the field of Plastic surgery as well as other surgical fields, collaborating with multiple institutions, including Johns Hopkin’s University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, McGill University Health Center, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester, and Houston Methodist. She has over 20 oral and poster presentations at local, regional, national, and international meetings.
During her time in Medical School, Vanessa served as a core team member in Women in Surgery Interest Group – Lebanon Chapter, encouraging and empowering women and aspiring students in the field of surgery and its various specialties. She has also volunteered at Kayany Foundation in partnership with UNHCR, UNICEF, where she taught children, particularly women, the basics of martial arts and self-defense, given the circumstances and conditions they were living in.
Along her academic career, Vanessa grew up competing as a MuayThai and Kickboxing fighter for over 20 years at national, international, and world championships. She believes that the mental discipline and focus required to remain calm under pressure in competitions translate well to the high-pressure environment of the operating room and when all the surrounding is chaotic. As a national and international swimmer, she has developed a strong sense of teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills, which are always required to work together towards a common goal, translating well to physicians who work as part of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving the lives of their patients. Vanessa also enjoys being a pianist. She also performed as an aerial acrobat in front of huge audiences, where people’s expressions of smiles and joy kept her performing even when the stakes were high.