It was August 1983 when I joined as house surgeon later to be the junior most medical officer of the Anaesthesia Department of Services Hospital Lahore then affiliated with Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. The department was headed by Prof. Khursheed Begum. I had joined the specialty of Anaesthesia, and today after working for almost thirty five years in the specialty, when I look back the strength, devotion, learning, mutual bondage and respect we earned under her leadership has no match even to this day. Though it was not a long tenure served under her, it was very effective and impressionable one.
She was not only a professional head of department but more of a mother to us all. A very congenial atmosphere existed in the department in her days. We worked selflessly and were willing to undertake critical cases always despite limited resources compared to armamentarium of today. She was very protective to all staff members and stood by us through thick and thin. Punctuality was foremost, not just for her own staff but for surgeons as well. We seldom waited for the surgeons as is the practice nowadays; they had to be in the theatres on time. She ruled the theatres out of sheer respect.
She had a command and passion for regional anesthesia, performed blocks boldly and smoothly which even today cannot be performed by many. It was due to her guidance that we had had thorough training, and confidence that enabled us to work under all odds in various institutions later in life.
There used to be closed door administrative scolding sessions whenever needed, but never to be revealed outside her office to non-anesthetic fraternity. It gave us remarkable pride and fondness. What an outspoken, bold, straight forward soul! Very fair and just lady, not influenced by any position or pressure, who upheld dignity of even the junior most staff. Above all, she was approachable to seniors and juniors alike.
Once a respected ENT professor asked his staff which department was the strongest in Services Hospital Lahore; that no professor of any specialty dared touch even a house officer of that Department? The unanimous roar was “Anesthesia Department”- a victorious bliss for us even today.
May Allah (ST) reward Professor Khursheed Begum the highest ranks in Jannat-ul-Firdaus. Ameen! You will always be missed Ma’am.
Dr Leena Aziz
Consultant Anesthesiologist,
Surgimed Hospital, 1-Zafar Ali Road,
Gulberg V, Lahore (Pakistan)
I joined anesthesia department at Nishter Hospital on 1st February 1970 as SHO. At that time Miss Khursheed Begum was senior anesthetist and head of the department. She taught me the basics of anesthesia and patient care according to the provisions at that time. She was very considerate, kind and helpful but a strict supervisor. Just after one month, on 1st January1970, she sent me to Mayo Hospital Lahore for my training for DA. When I came back from UK to Nishter Hospital, Dr Khursheed Begum had been promoted as professor and head of the department at that time. She welcomed me as assistant professor and guided me to adjust myself in the department. She was transferred to King Edward Medical College Lahore in December 1979. She was equally liked by the surgeons as well as the junior staff. Her services to her patients and the department in Nishter Hospital Multan will always be well appreciated. I will not hesitate to say that she was an ‘Iron Lady’ as far as discipline was concerned, a willing worker, kind to juniors and an uncontroversial personality.
May Allah bless her soul in heavens; Ameen!
Professor Mehdi Hasan Mumtaz
Professor of Anesthesiology & Intensive Care
Multan (Pakistan)
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