A distinguished surgeon-scientist who chaired Surgery departments at multiple universities, including Vanderbilt, Naji’s groundbreaking research led to the discovery of HMB and 2-HOBA, while advancing knowledge of GLP-RAs in bariatric patients. With over 30 patents and 350 scientific publications, his contributions earned him the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2004) and induction into the prestigious AAAS (2014).