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Professor Syed Aslam an eminent cardiologist and founder member of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) died of aspirative pneumonia on Monday July 9th, 2018 at the age of ninety years. May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal Peace. Ameen.
Syed Aslam was born in Tonk, Rajasthan, in undivided India. He passed his intermediate from Aligarh Muslim University and graduated from King Edward Medical College Lahore in 1954. He started his career as a medical officer and later had his specialist training in medicine and cardiology in the UK. He secured Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) from Edinburgh in 1968, and was awarded Fellowship of the same college (FRCP) in 1983. He was also awarded Fellowship of the American College of Cardiology (FACC). He was a life member of the Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Cardiac Society and Pakistan Hypertension League.
On return from the UK in 1969, he joined the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, the premier teaching hospital of Pakistan. When the cardiology department shifted to NICVD in its new premises he remained there till his retirement.
Professor Syed Aslam was one of the founding members of the NICVD. He contributed a great deal to the promotion and development of cardiology in Pakistan, the NICVD made tremendous progress and, for many years, it was the only tertiary cardiac centre in the country that attracted cardiac patients from all over Pakistan. Under the guidance and leadership of Maj. Gen. (R) Shaukat Ali Syed, Professor Aslam helped recruit and train a well trained team of cardiac physicians to run and manage the NICVD, providing state of the art and free of cost cardiac care.
Professor Syed Aslam retired from NICVD after a distinguished service in 1991. He then joined the Liaquat National Hospital Karachi and completed his term as Head of the cardiology department. He continued to practice for some time at his clinic, but was spending more time in medical writings in Urdu, he was leading a quiet life, keeping himself busy. God Almighty had blessed him with numerous qualities of head and heart. He was a very quiet, humble, gentleman who was respected by his patients as well as his professional colleagues. He loved Urdu literature, and had respect for his own heritage and traditions.
He was a very kind hearted physician who earned his patients' lifelong love and respect.
His medical career spanned over six decades. He practiced medicine till he reached the age of 86. He had a passion for his profession. He was a lifelong learner and regularly collected and studied his many books on medicine, history, religion, philosophy, politics and literature. He deeply respected and admired those who valued knowledge; his library was in fact the place where he enjoyed most. It was very rare to see him without a book or a newspaper in his hand. He used to carry a pile of books with him to his clinic.
For the last 45 years he contributed more than 1,000 articles related to medicine and cardiology and allied topics in Urdu in different magazines and newspapers of the country for public health education and awareness. He had a passion to educate the masses and to create awareness in the prevention of diseases. He wrote his first book Qalb in 1982, which was followed by Jism O jan, Ehtiyat ,Ghiza Tandrusti, Sheeraza e Dil, Sehat Sab ke liye, and Diabetes all in Urdu. His medical dictionary, his last work, is currently under publication.
He abhorred any publicity and praise. For many years he used to write articles in a leading Urdu daily, using the name Dr Syed, he was a self-effacing and unassuming person given to very simple living; he paid little attention to his attire. Besides his family, two things were very important to him, his patients and his writings. He would make sure to see the patient the same day, there was no tomorrow with regards to the patient.
Professor Syed Aslam was a thorough gentleman. He leaves behind a large number of relatives, friends and well-wishers to mourn his death. May his soul rest in eternal peace!
Republished with permission from Pulse International http://www.pulsepakistan.com/index.php/main-news-august-1-18/2670-prof-syed-aslam-mbbs-frcp-facc-fcps