First Graduating Class in Medicine, 1871
The second graduating class of SPC included both literary and medical students. Because the Ottoman Government did not recognize the College’s American charter or its authority to grant medical degrees independently, graduates faced difficulties obtaining the right to practice medicine. Beginning in 1871, the College sought official recognition from Ottoman authorities, but the government insisted that medical graduates be examined by the Imperial Medical Faculty in Constantinople before receiving a doctorate. Although the government initially offered financial support for indigent students traveling to Constantinople, relations remained unsatisfactory. Continued negotiations eventually led to an agreement under which the Ottoman Government would cover the expenses of qualified candidates recommended by the College. The College hoped this arrangement would strengthen the future and reputation of its medical graduates. Later the Ottoman Government sent a delegation to Beirut to examine these graduates before giving them the permit to practice medicine.
The commencement of the Medical Department was held on a separate day than the Literary Department in the building, owned by Messrs. Darwish and located near the Grand Serail to which the college moved in 1870. Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck was assigned to read the oration.
The first medical graduates were:
Salim Diyab; b. Tripoli, Medical Officer Egyptian Government, Alexandria, Egypt.
Salim Frayj; b. Beirut Physician in Beirut
Yusuf Hajjar; b. Bmakkine, Member of the District Court, Lebanon.
Nasir Halim; b. Hammana, Lebanon.
Rashid Shukrallah; b. Baabda, Physician in B'abda.
Shibli Shumayyil, physician; b. KafrShima, Lebanon; Author and Public Speaker, Physician, Cairo, Egypt.