Page 11 - Martin Downs Bulletin - September '23

Martin Downs, Page 11

FiLm revieW

Peace By Chocolate in the film by Hatem Ali) and shipped Tareq’s fluency in English proves to

them all over the Middle East and be critically important, for when his
By Nils A. Shapiro Europe. However, in late 2012, as part parents arrive he must use it to translate
The sweetness of this of the Syrian civil war the factory was for parents who do not understand nor
film’s title seems far destroyed in a bombing that forced their speak a word of it. And when his sister
removed from its subject family to leave everything behind. and her child have been rejected for
matter: immigration and In this film the son, Tareq Haddad visas to travel to Nova Scotia to join
the experiences faced by (Ayham Abou Ammar in the role) the rest of the family, there is another
families who must flee emigrates to Antigonish, a small town problem for Tareq to resolve.
the horrors of their own in Nova Scotia in hopes of sending for Issam, the father’s, inability to
homelands to seek refuge his parents and sister, who has a young speak English causes a furor when,
among foreigners in new child, to join him and then following his upon entering a local “sweet shop,”
places. But this is the true own dream of entering medical school. he sees its assortment of candies. In
story of one family that A kind and empathetic local couple his innocent excitement to show the
turned such a journey into a world-famous success! welcomes Tareq and invites him to stay owner his skills as a chocolatier, he
For nearly 30 years, the Hadhad family in Damascus in their home. He begins the process tries to rush behind the counter, but
created delicacies from its chocolate factory under the of sending for his family and, at the she views it as an attack and screams,
creative leadership of its patriarch, Issam Haddad (played same time, applies to medical school. causing him to flee.
As a response to the incident, Issam decides to show
others his skills, at first by just making a few sample
chocolates as gifts for their friends. Word spreads about
these very special treats. Soon, Tareq and Issam are
getting requests that require them to set up a small facility
for preparing quantities of chocolates to fill orders – an
opportunity made possible only with the help, once again,
Federico Serrot, MD of their close friends and neighbors who first welcomed
them to their new home.

Bariatric Surgeon I will offer no more spoilers here, except to point out
that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly
praised the Peace by Chocolate company and President
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
tin Health
Cleveland Clinic Mar tin Health Joe Biden has enjoyed from Trudeau a gift of one of its
Cleveland Clinic Mar
welcomes Federico Serrot, MD, FACS,
welcomes Federico Serrot, MD, FACS,
welcomes F ederico Serrot, MD, F ACS, chocolate bars. Today, through Peace by Chocolate, the
ASMBS, as Medical Director
, Bariatric
F
FASMBS, as Medical Director, Bariatric
FASMBS, as Medical Director, Bariatric Hadhad family shares the message of love, hope, and
and Metabolic Surgery. above all else, peace. They donate 3 to 5 percent of the
company’s profits to the Peace on Earth Society, which
Upon earning his medical degree at
Upon earning his medical degree at
Upon earning his medical degree at is an organization registered in Nova Scotia that donates
Universidad del Salvador in Buenos
Universidad del Salvador in Buenos
Universidad del Salvador in Buenos to peace building projects around the world.
In closing, I will remind you again that this is a true
Aires, Argentina, Dr. Serrot completed
. Serrot completed
Aires, Argentina, Dr. Serrot completed story, one that points out the possibilities inherent in
Aires, Argentina, Dr
the general surgery residency at
the general surger y residency at places – towns, cities, nations – where immigration
the general surgery residency at
the University of Arizona College of
the University of Arizona College of
the University of Arizona College of and immigrants become a subject for compassion and
Medicine. He went on to complete three
Medicine. He went on to complete three
Medicine. He went on to complete three cooperation, rather than hate and divisiveness.
fellowships: the esophageal function test
fellowships: the esophageal function test
fellowships: the esophageal function test This is truly a heartwarming, beautifully acted and
and surgical research fellowships at the
and surgical research fellowships at the
and surgical research fellowships at the directed film, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Ayham Abou Ammar, who played Tareq Haddad, won a
University of Minnesota Medical School; Canadian award for Best On-Screen Performance. This
University of Minnesota Medical School;
University of Minnesota Medical School;
and a minimally invasive, endoscopic,
and a minimally invasive, endoscopic,
and a minimally invasive, endoscopic, was the final role for Hatem Ali, who brilliantly played
foregut and bariatric surgery fellowship
foregut and bariatric surgery fellowship
foregut and bariatric surger y fellowship the father, Issam; he passed away after the filming.
at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
t of Cleveland Clinic Florida’s
As par
As part of Cleveland Clinic Florida’s
As part of Cleveland Clinic Florida’s
Bariatric and Metabolic Institute,
Bariatric and Metabolic Institute,
Bariatric and Metabolic Institute,
Dr. Serrot joins a team of specialists
Dr. Serrot joins a team of specialists
Dr . Serrot joins a team of specialists
across southeast Florida, from
across southeast Florida, from
across southeast Florida, from
eston to Stuar
t to V
ero Beach.
Weston to Stuart to Vero Beach.
W
Weston to Stuart to Vero Beach.
“Our goal is to improve access
“Our goal is to improve access
“Our goal is to improve access
to weight management care
that will change the lives of
our patients forever,” said
Dr. Serrot.
With extensive experience
in robotic surgery, Dr. Serrot’s
in robotic surgery, Dr. Serrot’s
in robotic surger y , Dr . Serrot’s
clinical specialties include metabolic
clinical specialties include metabolic
clinical specialties include metabolic
and bariatric surger
and bariatric surgery; gastric bypass
; gastric bypass
y
and bariatric surgery; gastric bypass
surgery; sleeve gastrectomy; foregut
surgery; sleeve gastrectomy; foregut
surger y ; sleeve gastrectomy ; foregut
surgery; anti-refl ux surgery; hernia
surgery; gallbladder surgery; and
peritoneal dialysis access.
“By creating partnerships with our
primary care physicians, as well as
providers in other subspecialties, we
will provide the best care possible for
patients needing to lose weight and
improve their health,” said Dr. Serrot.
Dr. Serrot sees patients at the Cleveland Clinic Family
Health Center located at 3801 S. Kanner Highway in Stuart.
To schedule a consultation call 772.223.2890 or visit
ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Bariatric to learn more.