Founded in 1939
- 1940 - 1966
- 1966 - 1975
- 1975 - 1990
- 1990 - 2019
- 2019 - Today
The Early Years
The Trad Maternity (as it was originally called) was founded in 1939 by the late Dr. Fouad Trad, one of the first and most renowned Obstetricians in Beirut at the time. With the help and encouragement of Marguerite Schoucair, his wife, they established an 8 bed delivery unit located on the second floor of a beautiful redbrick building designed by the famous architect Aftimos. The Trad Maternity quickly gained notoriety, locally and regionally, due to the excellent obstetrical skills of Dr. Fouad Trad and the elegant "boutique" atmosphere enjoyed by patients. It eventually expanded to include the entire building, located at 53 Mexique Street in the Clemenceau district, where it is still located to this day. During the summer months and to escape the scorching Beirut heat, the Maternity would transfer its entire operation (staff and equipment) to the cool town of Aley in the mountains surrounding Beirut.
Growth and Development
In 1966, Dr. Sami Trad took over the reins of the institution from his father, launching a new phase of growth and development. The first annex building was constructed to expand the number of rooms and services, transforming the institution into a busy and reputable mid-sized general hospital. The scope of care was broadened to include surgical and medical specialties; operating rooms were built and supporting departments were created.
In the 1970s, Trad Hospital acquired one of the first CT scanners in the country, and established one of Beirut's first and busiest hemodialysis units. During these years, Dr. Sami Trad developed his method of painless childbirth (TAC), which was validated in clinical settings at the University of Kiel in Germany (1972) and used in over 10,000 deliveries.
The Civil War Years
With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1975, the hospital faced severe challenges to its survival, including power and medication shortages and lack of security. Located near Beirut’s demarcation lines, the hospital was caught on multiple occasions in the crossfire of militias fighting street battles; the grounds were invaded by various armed factions, and the structure fell victim to fire and destruction. Against all odds, and thanks to the resilience of Dr. Sami Trad and the loyalty of his employees, the hospital never closed its doors and continued to serve the community. The current Medical Office Building (Bloc A), a 3,200 square meter addition, was built in phases during occasional periods of calm.
Expansion, Renovation and Growth
At the end of the war, the hospital underwent a multi-million dollar rehabilitation and modernization of its structure, and made major investments in new medical equipment. The new Medical Office Building with its 24 specialty clinics and state-of-the-art Diagnostic Center, was completed in 1995. Upon their return from the US that same year, Drs. Fouad and Karim Trad led the recruitment of internationally trained physicians across all specialties. A radical restructuring of operations and procedures, as well as the introduction of new services, helped reposition the hospital as one of the leading facilities in the country.
Briefly interrupted by the summer war of 2006, the hospital continued its growth, doubling the number of its operating rooms to meet increased demands in the fields of Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology. During that period, the hospital recorded 8,600 inpatient admissions, 28,600 outpatient visits (laboratory or x-ray examinations), 7,200 surgical procedures and flexible endoscopies, and 1,700 deliveries per year.
Rising to the Challenge
Since October 2019, Lebanon is witnessing its worst economic collapse, with the local currency (Lebanese Pound) depreciating by more than 90% of its value and throwing a majority of the Lebanese population under the poverty level. The Health sector is not spared, and faces severe operational challenges due to the extreme shortages in fuel, power outages and disrupted procurement lines for medications and medical equipment. These challenges are further amplified by the Covid pandemic. Sadly, Dr. Sami Trad passed away in January of 2021 at the age of 91. The current Board is constituted by his two sons Dr. Fouad Trad, Dr. Karim Trad and Mr. Rachad Assaf.
Today, and despite the many challenges, Trad Hospital continues to deliver the same high quality care and to support its employees and their families during these difficult times.
The Founders
Dr. Fouad Mitri Trad
1894-1967Born to a prominent Beirut family, Dr. Fouad Trad attended medical school during World War I and graduated from the Faculté Française de Médecine (FFM) in Beirut in 1920. He pursued specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Paris at l'Hôpital de la Salpêtrière. He established a very successful practice and served as Chief of Staff at Saint George Hospital in Beirut. In 1939, he founded what was then known as the Trad Maternity on Rue du Mexique in Beirut. He is credited for contributing to the creation of the Lebanese Order of Physicians and his groundbreaking work in establishing the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Dr. Sami Fouad Trad
1929-2021Born in 1929, Dr. Sami Trad graduated in 1954 from the School of Medicine at the American University of Beirut. He completed his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in London, England and subsequently under the mentorship of Dr. Hermann Knaus in Vienna, Austria. He returned to Trad Hospital in 1959 where he established his own successful practice and developed a safe and effective method of painless childbirth, the Trad Analgesic Cocktail (TAC). He is the author of a book on this subject, entitled “Programmed Painless Childbirth” (Georg Thieme Verlag). Since 1966 and for more than half a century, Dr. Sami Trad presided over multiple expansion and rehabilitation projects, transforming Trad Hospital into a highly respected and thriving institution.