My UK friend and colleague Isam Osman posted this note on Facebook today:
Yesterday the Sudan lost one of its great medical pioneers Prof Ahmed Abdel Aziz Yacoub FRCS , FRCP FACS. One of the first Cardiac Surgeons in Africa, he was the medical educator who established modern surgery in Sudan. He was a charismatic leader, a gifted surgeon, a loving father and staunch advocate for the poor and suffering Sudanese patient. He taught generations of doctors both the ethics and art of surgery. After retirement he went back to study, acquiring a Law degree and subsequent Phd from London University in Islamic Medical Jurisprudence. No mean feat in ones 70's! I pray that he is min ahl Jana rahimihu Allah.
This certainly seems like a wonderful person. As I commented, this is a good reminder that not all the "best" doctors reside in American and European academic medical centers.
I was prompted to say that because, several years ago, a local medical school here in Boston said that its purpose was "To create and nurture a community of the best people committed to leadership in alleviating human suffering caused by disease." A worthy purpose, I thought at the time, but how pretentious to imply that it would comprise "the best people." As Isam's note reminds us, there are devoted and committed people throughout the world.
Yesterday the Sudan lost one of its great medical pioneers Prof Ahmed Abdel Aziz Yacoub FRCS , FRCP FACS. One of the first Cardiac Surgeons in Africa, he was the medical educator who established modern surgery in Sudan. He was a charismatic leader, a gifted surgeon, a loving father and staunch advocate for the poor and suffering Sudanese patient. He taught generations of doctors both the ethics and art of surgery. After retirement he went back to study, acquiring a Law degree and subsequent Phd from London University in Islamic Medical Jurisprudence. No mean feat in ones 70's! I pray that he is min ahl Jana rahimihu Allah.
This certainly seems like a wonderful person. As I commented, this is a good reminder that not all the "best" doctors reside in American and European academic medical centers.
I was prompted to say that because, several years ago, a local medical school here in Boston said that its purpose was "To create and nurture a community of the best people committed to leadership in alleviating human suffering caused by disease." A worthy purpose, I thought at the time, but how pretentious to imply that it would comprise "the best people." As Isam's note reminds us, there are devoted and committed people throughout the world.
Thanks Paul for your kind words.I shared your blog with my 19 year old son Mo .He replied 'its important to remember Dad that no one has a monopoly on genius '.
ReplyDeleteHe is of course right.We all try to make a difference in our own ways. Occasionally there are those who are exceptional and they often come from where you least expect.