This year we lost a dedicated academician and a master trainer of trauma and orthopedic surgery. Professor Muhammad Saeed Minhas served in this capacity at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi, Pakistan, for more than three decades. He was born at Chakwal (Pakistan) on September 8, 1958, received his early education at his native town, as well as Public School Hyderabad. He got admission to Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, from where he graduated with distinction. He was a longtime Fellow of the College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan in orthopedic surgery, and was also an examiner in this discipline.
As an experienced trauma and disaster master trainer, Prof. Minhas worked in collaboration with WHO, ICRC, NSET, MSF, IMC and USAID, across a number of projects, including injury prevention, road safety, disaster and trauma training. He was also a member of multiple national and international societies, held positions in a number of organization; and was Chairman of the Asian World Council of Primary Trauma Care Foundation, Oxford, United Kingdom. Prof. Minhas also served the Pakistan Orthopedic Association as their Joint Secretary South and as the Secretary General and was granted life time achievement award.
He was an author of numerous original research papers and a great literary masterpiece entitled ‘Pre-hospital Primary Trauma Care Manual’ in both English as well as Urdu languages. He also compiled a manual of trauma, accident and emergency for medical students and young doctors, entitled ‘Top to Toe Trauma Manual’, and an Urdu book on patients’ sayings, named ‘Left hand ke tanng’ which is a masterpiece and included his experiences with his patients, and the guidelines for doctors and patients about effective communication.
After training more than ten thousand doctors and hundreds of Primary Trauma Care instructors, he himself became a victim of trauma. He was hit by a vehicle while crossing a road in Karachi on December 29, 2019, sustained severe head injury, developed hemiplegia and remained bed-ridden till his tragic death on January 13, 2022. We pray to Allah Almighty for His blessings for him and his family.
Shireen A. A. Ramzanali,
Assistant Professor Surgery,
In charge Medical Education and Skills lab,
Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls, Karachi,