OBITUARY – Prof. Faiz Ur Rehman

Abstract

We learnt with a heavy heart that Prof. Faiz ur Rehman breathed his last on 22nd July, 2013 at Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital Rawalpindi. He suffered from a stroke two months before.

Prof. Faiz was an excellent teacher and an accomplished anesthesiologist. He was among the pioneer anesthesiologists of Pakistan who worked hard to establish cardiac anesthesiology here. In fact cardiac anesthesia here owes a lot to the devotion and hard work of teachers like him.

Prof. Faiz was born on 18th August, 1935. He did his MBBS from Khyber Medical College Peshawar in 1960, and then joined Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) as medical officer and did his MCPS in 1966 from College of Physician and Surgeon Pakistan (CPSP).

Due to his dedication and his keenness to learn, he was sent on a scholarship to Copenhagen, Holland, by Government of Pakistan, where he got his diploma in anesthesia (DA) in 1968.

Prof. Faiz was the first fellow ever in anesthesiology from CPSP. He got his fellowship in 1972 and was promoted as an assistant professor in May 1976.

In 1979, he joined National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, (NICVD) on deputation from JPMC. In those days cardiac surgery was in early phase in Pakistan. He was a strong believer that without establishing a proper system, things could not progress in a positive direction. He put in all of his vigor and vitalities to establish and organize an operating room complex and first ever cardiac ICU. He also went to New York for further training in cardiac Anesthesia.

In 1980, he was promoted as associate professor in NICVD and in 1988 he was made Professor in anesthesiology. Prof. Faiz was very kind-hearted and humble person and he always used to consider his trainees as his friends. He was finally retired in August 1996 after serving for one more year on extension in the hospital.

He joined Hamdard Medical College Karachi and later on joined Ziauddin University Karachi till 2005. He spent his last few years at Islamabad and worked part time in cardiac anesthesia.

He left behind two widows, four daughters and a son. Three of his daughters are doctors and are practicing physicians in USA and one is a chartered accountant in one of the leading banks in United Kingdom. His son is working in PIA.

May God rest his departed soul in eternal peace and grant his family courage to bear this great loss. Ameen!