LAU Nursing Students Stand Out for Impactful Public Health Project
LAU nursing students earned fourth place at the national CEIDR Mindstorm Challenge with an evidence-based public health project designed to protect Lebanon’s public transportation drivers from respiratory infectious diseases.
At this year’s CEIDR Mindstorm Challenge, a team of LAU nursing students gained national recognition for addressing a critical but often-overlooked public health issue: The health risks faced by Lebanon’s public transportation drivers.
Students from the LAU Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing secured fourth place at the Cultural and Educational Institute for Development and Research (CEIDR) competition, held in November at the UNESCO Palace. Their project, designed to reduce the risks of respiratory infectious disease among drivers, stood out among 25 undergraduate teams’ projects for its social relevance and strong research foundation.
Senior nursing students Leen Ghannam, Maya Serhan, Sleiman El Dhaybi, and alumna Mira Hassan (BS ’25) developed the awareness video under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Nursing Mahmoud Salam, using the slogan “Your Ride, Their Safety.” The initiative aims to protect drivers from illnesses such as influenza and COVID–19 while also safeguarding the passengers they serve.
Public transportation drivers in Lebanon face daily exposure to respiratory infectious diseases, yet few interventions have directly addressed their working conditions. The students’ project filled this gap by translating scientific evidence into practical guidance tailored to drivers’ routines and challenges.
The student-led initiative, titled “Production and Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Health Awareness Video on Precautionary Measures Against Respiratory Infectious Diseases: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Public Transportation Drivers in Lebanon,” reflects the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing’s focus on evidence-based practice and community-centered nursing education.
“The recognition these students received reflects not only their academic excellence but also their commitment to improving public health in underserved communities,” said Dr. Salam, emphasizing the critical role of student-led research in addressing pressing health challenges in Lebanon.
To develop the video, the team reviewed more than 20 local and international studies, creating a scientifically sound script that remains accessible and culturally relevant. After securing the required ethical approvals, the project will enter an expert-review phase, in which specialists in public health, psychology, infection control, filmmaking and transportation provide feedback to help refine the script. The students cited the challenge of simplifying complex medical information while maintaining accuracy and relevance.
For them, the competition marked a pivotal step in translating academic research into real-world impact. “This experience taught us the importance of turning scientific evidence into practical, accessible health education,” said Ghannam.
Serhan added that the experience strengthened their ability to conduct community-based research with professionalism, sensitivity, and cultural awareness, skills essential for future nursing practice.
“These skills, from communication to teamwork and public health advocacy, are critical to our development as nurses,” said Hassan, who contributed to the project before graduating last year.
El Dhaybi highlighted the role of mentorship in shaping the team’s work. “LAU provided a research-driven environment that encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and community impact. With continuous guidance from Dr. Salam, we transformed an initial idea into a well-structured, award-winning project,” he said.
The CEIDR jury recognized the team’s methodology, the clarity of their messaging, and the social relevance of their initiative. Alongside their fourth-place ranking, the students received certificates of participation and secured a potential idea-incubation opportunity with an interested sponsor.
The team hopes their awareness video will encourage drivers to adopt simple protective measures in their daily routines, reducing disease transmission and promoting safer public transportation across Lebanon.
By focusing on an often-overlooked community, the students showed how evidence-based research can have tangible public health impact. Their achievement reflects the LAU Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing’s success in preparing nurses who think critically, work rigorously, and respond to community needs, demonstrating in one project the essential role of nursing in protecting our communities and advancing public health.