Prof. Arben Beqiri (Albania)
Current position: Minister of Health
Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine in Tirana,
2013 Vice Rector, Tirana Medical University
1993- Surgeon at the University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”
1993-now Docent at Tirana University of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine.
Education
1983-1988 Graduate General Practitioner. University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine.
1989-1990 General practitioner. Prekal, Dukagjin, Shkoder.
1990-1993 Specialized as General Surgeon. University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine.
1994-1995 Fellowship in gastrointestinal endoscopy under the leadership of Prof. William G. Hardison VA Hospital UCLA San Diego, a Fulbright Lecturer at the Medical Factor, Department of Digestive Surgery, University of Tirana.
Grants and Research Experience
FULLBRIGHT Grant, administered by the US Department of State. Field of Study: Laparoscopic Surgery of the Colon and Rectum. National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. October. October 2004-February 2005
Catholic University of Leuven Field of Study: Free research on colorectal surgery and an update on laparoscopic surgery and its applications. U. Z. Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Specialized in Butterworth Hospital and Holland Community November 1996-August 1997
Hospital, Grand Rapids and Holland MI, USA. Field of study: May 1994-October 1994
Flexible Endoscopy and Mini Invasive Surgery, Lapaaroscopic Cholecystectomy.
Trainings and short courses
SAGES, Flexible Endoscopy, Cleveland, OH, USA September 1994
IRCAD, Minimal Access Surgery, Strasbourg, France June2010
IRCAD, Interventional GI Techniques, Strasbourg, France, etc. Qershor2010
Publications
1. The combination of infiltrative bupivacaine with low pressure laparoscopy reduces postcholecystectomy pain. A prospective randomized controlled study. Arben I. Beqiri, Rudin Q. Domi, Hector H. Sula, Edmond Q. Zaimi, Elizabeth Y. Petrela. S Med J 2012; Vol. 33 (2): 134-138
2. Breaking bad news in a southeast European population: a survey of cancer patients in Albania Arben Beqiri, Agim Sallaku, Genc Burazeri. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2012 Oct, 15 (10): 1100-5
3. Combined Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Management of Chronic Gastric Volvulus. Arben Beqiri, VanderKolk WE, Scheeres D. GastrointestEndosc. 1997 Nov, 46 (5): 450-2
Experience
• Teacher of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine. September 1993-present
• Lecturer Dept. Of Abdominal Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, September 2006 – Medical University, Tirana.
• Lectorne National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA, Grand Rounds on Surgery in Albania January 2005 DevelopmentProfessional
• The first introduction of therapeutic endoscopy in the emergency services of digestive surgery with the help and support of the Albanian Health Fund
• Introducing new techniques of laparoscopic and mini invasive surgery in Albanian surgical practice. January 1995 June 1995
• First-time performance in Albania of new treatment methods:
Endoscopic gastrointestinal polyploctomy May 1996
Bipolar cauterization for the treatment of digestive hemorrhages Gastrostomy and Endoscopic Peristaltic Jejunostomy ERCP etc.
• For the first time in Albania, the Kisteveteovar laparoscopy treatment with a series of 100 cases
Treatment with inguinal hernias laparoscopy (TAPP) 1996-2001
Member
1999-2008 Member of Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons SAGES,
Member 2013- ongoing SAGE Membership Task Force for Safety during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Albanian Kirugi Society, General Secretary 1994-2008
American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ASGE, Member 2012-2014
Academic titles
Ph.D. “Endoscopic treatment of upper digestive hemorrhage in surgical emergency” .2006
Prof. Asc Based on 20 years of teaching experience at the Faculty of Medicine, on Scientific 2012
Professor 2016
Interests
Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery
ERCP