Elie Akl, MD

Elie Akl, MD, MPH, PhD, an internationally recognized internist and clinical epidemiologist, is the 2021 Distinguished Resident Alumnus for the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Akl is professor of medicine at the American University of Beirut, where he leads the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, directs the Clinical Research Institute and the AUB GRADE Center, and co-directs the Center for Systematic Reviews of Health Policy and Systems Research.

He also has a parttime appointment in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Akl’s research expertise is in systematic reviews, practice guidelines and conflicts of interest. He serves as a guideline methodologist for the World Health Organization and a number of North American professional organizations. He has published more than 430 peer-reviewed papers, and in 2015 was listed by Thomson Reuters as one of the “world’s most influential scientific minds” and as one of the most “Highly Cited Researchers” every year since 2015.

During his time in Buffalo, Akl had a deep impact on programs that continue to make a difference today. He was involved programs in the Clinical Translational Science Institute, where he worked closely with residents, faculty and fellows, especially those interested in evidence-based medicine.

Akl holds an MD (1999) from Université Saint Joseph, Lebanon and an MPH (2004) and PhD (2008) from University at Buffalo.