Dr. Salem's pioneering work in the early 1970s, where he was among the first researchers to demonstrate the potential link between chronic intestinal infections and cancer development, has earned him numerous awards from around the globe. His research on Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease, a form of intestinal cancer, and its association with infection, has become a cornerstone in modern medicine, inspiring future generations of cancer researchers.
Dr. Salem's active membership in the top three global cancer organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), is a testament to his unwavering dedication and expertise in the field. His annual selection in the editions of America's Top Doctors by Castle Connolly for the past 15 years and his service on the editorial boards of prestigious cancer research journals further solidify his impact on cancer research.
Besides his contributions to medicine, Dr. Salem has made significant contributions to America. In the early 1990s, he served on a healthcare advisory committee for the White House. In 1994, he received the Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom. In 1998, he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his "exceptional humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to American science." In 2006, he was honored as 'The Scientist of the Year' by the National Italian Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Culture, and he was decorated in a special ceremony held in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Salem is a Renaissance intellectual and writer. He is the author of many editorials on Lebanon and has published extensively on Arab affairs. In 2000, he was awarded the Khalil Gibran International Award by the Arabic Heritage League in Sydney, Australia. In May 2000, he was selected as the 'Arab American of the Year' by the Arab Community Centre for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, Michigan. On July 1, 2010, The Lebanese American University in Lebanon gave him an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters for his "contributions to medicine, Arabic literature, and philosophy." For the same reasons, another Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters was bestowed on him by the Notre Dame University of Lebanon on July 12, 2013.
Eleven books have been written about Dr. Salem, and he has authored another three books. In July 2004, a book in Arabic entitled "Philip Salem – The Man, The Homeland, The Science," authored by Peter Indari, an Australian journalist, was launched. In December 2012, a book in English entitled "Cancer, Love, and Politics of Hope – The Life and Vision of Philip A. Salem M.D.," authored by Frances Mourani and Boutros Indari, was published by Quartet Books in London. In January 2013, a book in Arabic entitled "Philip Salem: the Rebel, the Scientist, and the Humanist." Authored by Maha Samara, a Lebanese journalist, it was published in Beirut by Dar Al Saqi and Dar Annahar. In 2014, a book entitled "Philip Salem: By Their Pens," edited by Assaad Khoury, was published in Beirut, Lebanon. In July 2014, a book authored by Mr. Antoine Noujaim entitled "The Call for Hope in the Philosophy of Dr. Philip Salem." Published in Arabic by the Art, Sciences & Technology University in Lebanon. In September 2016, a book entitled "From the Golgotha of Cancer to the Resurrection of Lebanon" was authored by Dr. Philip A. Salem and published by Notre Dame University Press in Lebanon. In June 2017, a book entitled "The Message of Lebanon and Its Meaning" (Arabic), authored by Dr. Salem and published by Hachette-Antoine, was launched in Beirut. In June 2018, Dr. Salem published a book by Quartet Books Ltd., in London, entitled "Defeating Cancer – Knowledge Alone is Not Enough". It crystallizes the experience of Dr. Salem's 50 years in cancer treatment and research. In December 2018, a new book entitled "The Scientific and Human Dimensions of Separation of Religion from State," authored by Mr. Jean Dayeh, was published in Arabic.
The book is the vision of Dr. Salem as to the necessity of separating religion from state in the Middle East and the use of such separation as a tool against terrorism. In December 2019, a book entitled "Knowledge leads you to God" was published in Arabic by Meouchi Publishing House in Beirut, Lebanon. The Cardinal Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, the Maronite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, wrote the introduction to the book. In September 2020, an Arabic book was published in Beirut, Lebanon, on the occasion of the Centennial of the state of greater Lebanon, entitled "Lebanese Nationalism in the Vision of Philip Salem." They were authored by the journalist Mr. Assaad Khoury.
