Dr. George Labban, MD

In My Own Words

Resourcefulness, diligence, and compassion are the qualities that have helped me to overcome challenges and reach my personal and professional goals. I was born and raised in Tartous, Syria, a small town on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.  Having lost my father when I was six years old, I witnessed my mother struggle to provide for me and my two sisters.  She taught us that hard work and persistence would help us to prevail over any obstacle we encountered.  My sisters became successful engineers and I established a career as a physician proving the validity of my mother's philosophy. My working career began as a teenager when I held various part-time jobs.  While attending high school in Syria, I maintained consistent employment at an automobile dealership, a camera shop, and a watch store, building my work ethic and contributing to my family's income. Due to exceptional academic performance in high school, I was able to enroll at the University Of Damascus School Of Human Medicine.  My decision to pursue a career in medicine was based largely on the loss of my father as a small child.  I was committed to using my talents to help people lead healthier, more satisfying lives. I was awarded the degree of Doctor in Medicine and immigrated to the United States and began an internship in internal medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York.  I then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to enter into the internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  My first few years in the United States were challenging, as I endeavored to overcome language and cultural barriers.  With an open mind and a commitment to success, I was able to assimilate and build a productive and exciting life. Upon completion of my residency and my fellowship thereafter I started the healing process and it is continuing.