Double-Take: Giving Back, with Sir Magdi Yacoub and META’s Fares Akkad

Welcome to the first episode of a new segment of the show that we’re calling Double-Take, where I take a deep-dive into a single topic and connect the dots between some of our best conversations.

I’ve often shared that shedding a positive light on our region has become an important by-product of the show. So today I wanted to highlight two guests who instantly come to mind when talking about giving back—the incredible heart surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub and META’s Regional Director, Fares Akkad. 

When I spoke to Fares in late 2023, he had just come back from visiting the Za’atari Refugee Camp, and the establishment of the META digital literacy program.

And while Professor Yacoub already had a distinguished career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, he’s leaving behind an even bigger legacy through his charity, Chain of Hope, building long-term impact on the lives of the children in developing communities.

I’ll be back next week with a new exciting guest from the world of AI, I hope you can join me then!

0:00 The theme of ‘Giving Back’ to the Community
0:50 Fares Akkad’s work with Za’atari Refugee Camp
5:03 Sir Magdi Yacoub’s legacy with Chain of Hope
8:24 Establishing Sustainable Hospitals
12:54 Community-Centric Healthcare
13:46 Rwanda: A New Hope