IN REMEMBRANCE
In Remembrance WAQAR AZIZ , MD May 1955-February 2018
Dr . Waqar Aziz was a renowned orthopedic surgeon at the St . Vincent Salem Hospital in Salem , Ind ., who recently died unexpectedly and suddenly at his home in Floyd Knobs , Ind .
He was born and raised in the city of Bahawalpur in Southern Punjab in Pakistan and graduated from Bahawalpur Medical College in 1982 . He came to the United States in 1987 and completed his , what seemed to be an interminable , orthopedic residency in Louisville . He worked with the world-renowned and inimitable duo of Drs . Kutz & Kleinert ’ s Hand Surgery Program at Jewish Hospital . I met him over 25 years ago at Jewish Hospital and soon discovered that we shared common avocations and interests .
He relished and thoroughly enjoyed orthopedic surgery and became quite adept at many orthopedic procedures . He was a kind , compassionate , caring and soft-spoken individual .
Waqar was a doting father to his three sons and one daughter , and was a devoted husband to Mona , his wife . He had recently retired after multiple medical issues made it difficult for him to continue the demanding profession of orthopedic surgery .
Waqar was a bibliophile , a dedicated book lover , and read voraciously . He enjoyed discussing what he had recently read and used to become quite animated in his perspectives about styles , strengths and weaknesses of different authors . He was a writer and served as a member of the Editorial Board of the Greater Louisville Medical
Society . He contributed essays and book reviews to Louisville Medicine and wrote about his own experiences and perspectives of being a patient himself : “ the other side of the stethoscope ,” so to speak . He had to deal with some medical issues including shoulder surgery and postoperative complications , and wrote a critical piece about his personal observations and experiences in doctors ’ offices and hospitals , regarding the lack of professional courtesy and compassionate communication with patients ( Louisville Medicine , July 2014 ).
He was uniformly loved by his colleagues and patients . St . Vincent Salem Hospital named an operating room wing after his memory .
We have lost a wonderful friend , a remarkably erudite gentleman and a highly qualified and compassionate surgeon who will be deeply missed . I will always remember his hearty laughter and his kind demeanor . He had retired reluctantly , and sadly he did not have a chance to enjoy his retirement for very long . But such is life , and death is inevitable for all of us , “ Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Raajeoon ” - We belong to God and to Him we shall return . May his soul rest in peace .
- M . Saleem Seyal , MD , FACP , FACC
Dr . Aziz was a GLMS member for 26 years and a member of the Louisville Medicine Editorial Board .
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