Addiction and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dr. Samer El Hayek, MD, is a specialist psychiatrist at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and an adjunct assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), Beirut, Lebanon. An accomplished adult and addiction psychiatrist, Dr. El Hayek brings a robust clinical, academic, and research background to his work.

Dr. El Hayek completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the University of Miami-Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida, United States, in 2022, following a clinical psychiatry residency at AUBMC. With over three years of focused experience in addiction psychiatry, Dr. El Hayek has developed expertise in managing dual diagnoses and implementing patient-centered, multidisciplinary approaches. His clinical practice is informed by his extensive work with individuals from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, underscoring his global perspective and dedication to reducing mental health disparities.

A passionate researcher and thought leader, Dr. El Hayek has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications, with research interests spanning global mental health, addiction, and stigma. His scholarly contributions have been cited more than 2,000 times, earning him an h-index of 22 by 2024. His research achievements were recognized by his induction into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, in 2023. He is also the recipient of several awards, including the 2023 Yearly Research Contribution Award from the Erada Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Dubai, the 2019 Early-Career Psychiatrists Award from the 15th International Congress on Psychiatry at Ain Shams University in Cairo, and the 2019 Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations Fellowship Award for Young Psychiatrists at the 7th World Congress of Asian Psychiatry in Melbourne, Australia.

Dr. El Hayek is a board member and the Eastern Mediterranean Region representative for the Network of Early-Career Professionals Working in Addiction Medicine (NECPAM). He also holds editorial roles in several scientific journals, including Frontiers in Public Health and Current Psychopharmacology.