In Memoriam Associate Professor Dr SALEM OMAR On December 10th 2012, the Salem Omar with Professor Nib Soehendra Gastroenterology Unit of Univer- support. Some of Salem’s best years Dr Stefan Seewald who became a sity Malaya Medical Centre, and were in Hamburg from 2002-2006 very close friend of Salem and his the Faculty of Medicine of Univer- where he worked in the world family. He had always commented sity Malaya, lost a prominent and famous University Hospital, Eppen- on Salem’s absolute diligence and formidable member of staff in the dorf, University of Hamburg, Ger- dedication to learning and work. passing of Associate Professor Dr many, under the legendary Professor With time, Salem became very good Salem Omar. Salem, as he was fondly Nib Soehendra. He enjoyed working in the field and was soon teaching known, was a unique colleague and and living with his family very much younger fellows who had joined friend to many. An IT “geek” from in Hamburg. According to Professor the unit. Nib liked Salem very much his early days in medical school and KL Goh who was then Head of Medi- and before long, Salem was his close subsequently as a doctor, he was cine as well as Head of Gastroenter- confidant and “aide-de camp” who early to embrace mass electronic ology “When Salem first joined me took care of the continuous stream communication even before the in the unit after passing his Masters of overseas fellows that visited and advent of electronic social media. of Medicine examination in 1999, he worked in the “Mecca” of endoscopy Most of us will also remember his was already dedicated to achieving in Hamburg. Through this, Salem early announcements of “increases excellence in what he would do. I built up a huge network of friends – in petrol prices” or “changes to the was impressed and enthused by his Drs Begawan Bestari and Johannes government salary structure” even positive attitude. I remember the Sadikin from Indonesia, Hiroo before these things were in mass many evenings when he came to the Imazu, Ichiro Yasuda from Japan, media print. He was ever helpful to Head’s office at the Department of Thawatchai from Thailand, Frederick those who were IT-illiterate. Through Medicine discussing what he should Dy from Philippines and Ang Tiing personal interest, he developed a do if he could get a University schol- Leong from Singapore to name but deep understanding in the area of arship.” a few. The list is almost endless” electronic mass media communica- tion, which eventually led to him be- “ Happily in 2002 he successfully ob- In addition to pursuing his specialist coming a key member of the APAN tained the university scholarship. We interest in Endoscopic ultrasound, network in Asia. had decided that he should focus Salem also wrote up a doctoral thesis A dedicated doctor and lecturer, on the relatively new field of “endo- entitled “Negative Predictive Value Salem was not short of admirers scopic ultrasonography” and I had of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Exclu- among students and patients who written to Professor Nib Soehendra sion of Pancreatic Cancer” which he came to the UMMC. His career in in Hamburg whose centre excelled submitted for a Doctor of Medicine Gastroenterology was carved out in every aspect of therapeutic en- degree to the University of Malaya when he pursued training in Endo- doscopy to request that he takes despite his illness in 2011. Sadly he scopic Ultrasound, which led to an Salem under his wings. Nib was very was due to receive his doctoral scroll impressive networking of interna- welcoming and Salem, Joana and in August 2012 during the Universi- tional experts in this niche area. It Edina who was only 4 years old then, ty’s convocation ceremony, when he was Salem’s appeal and character made the long awaited trip overseas was taken ill by his final illness. which endeared him to so many to Hamburg. Nib and Gudi Soehen- around the globe, whilst his knowl- dra met Salem and his family at the edge and skill clearly led to his airport in Hamburg. Before long recognition in the field of EUS. Al- Salem had settled down to life in though the last few years of Salem’s Hamburg and started learning en- life became a balancing act between doscopic ultrasonography. His im- attending to his illness and function- mediate supervisor and teacher was ing as a doctor, he was fortunate to have a solid rock in the form of his wife Joanna and his daughter, Edina, who were an incredible source of ENDOSCOPY | 2016 51
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