Previous research on the migratory flows of Lebanese Physicians

Nabil Kronfol — 2007-06-25T00:00:00Z

Dear Dr Akl, Maroun, Major, Chahoud and Schunemann,

Greetings to you all from Lebanon.

I would like first to congratulate you on the recently posted manuscript entitled "Graduates of Lebanese Medical schools in the United States: an observational study of international migration of physicians". I am pleased that you have highlighted the issue of migration especially as concerns Lebanon.

However you note under "Discussion", first paragraph, that "..First it is the first study attempting to build the evidence base for the migration of LMG (Lebanese Medical graduates) to the US." This statement is not correct. In 1979, I had finished my doctoral dissertation at the Harvard School of Public Health that was entitled "The Migratory patterns of the AUB medical graduates 1935-1974". This study reviewed the entire issues related to the migration of physicians over a 40-year period, including the AUB medical graduates. Subsequently, the following three papers were published

1. Kronfol, N. "The migration of Lebanese physicians: a cohort study", Lebanese Scientific Bulletin, March 1985.

2. The impact of civil disturbances on the migration of physicians: the case of Lebanon.

Health Matrix. 1987 Spring;5(1):29-35.

3. Kronfol NM, Sibai AM, Rafeh N.The impact of civil disturbances on the migration of physicians: the case of Lebanon.

Med Care. 1992 Mar;30(3):208-15.

These studies done back in 1974-77 and again in 1985 highlighted the issues relative to the migration of LMG and correlated them with almost the same variables described in your paper.

It would be nice if you could acknowledge these earlier efforts in your paper.

Best wishes for you all in your career and with respectful regards

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Previous research on the migratory flows of Lebanese Physicians