Dr. Safa Rifka:
National Chairman of ADC

Dr. Safa M. Rifka is a distinguished physician, statesman, and civic leader whose decades-long career has been defined by principled leadership and commitment to build bridges between the Arab world and the United States. A respected voice across political lines, Dr. Rifka has earned a reputation for his balanced, pragmatic approach to diplomacy and public service.

Born and educated in Lebanon, Dr. Rifka earned his B.S. and M.D. from the American University of Beirut before completing his residency at its medical center. He later completed a prestigious fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. A trailblazer in reproductive medicine, Dr. Rifka went on to serve as Associate Professor at Georgetown University Hospital and as a senior attending at Columbia Hospital for Women, where he founded and directed the hospital’s In Vitro Fertilization Lab. He ultimately served as President of the Medical Staff and Chair of the Board of Directors.

In addition to his medical contributions, Dr. Rifka has held prominent leadership roles in civic and public affairs. He served on the Executive Board of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was appointed to the U.S. President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. Since 2016, he has chaired the National Board of Directors of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), where he continues to guide one of the nation’s leading Arab American civil rights organizations through pivotal moments in U.S. policy and Arab American advocacy.

Dr. Rifka’s counsel has been sought by institutions such as the RAND Corporation Advisory Board, and his leadership has consistently reflected a deep commitment to principled civic engagement. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including Georgetown University’s Clinical Attending of the Year, the Vital Patients’ Choice Award, and multiple “Top Doctor” recognitions.

A prolific scholar and speaker, Dr. Rifka has authored influential publications and presented research at leading national and international conferences. Yet it is his calm, steady leadership and ability to transcend divisions that has earned him widespread respect across communities and political spheres. Through decades of public service and diplomacy, Dr. Rifka has remained a proven advocate for Arab Americans and a vital connector between the United States and the Arab world.