Obituary by Professor Dr Farhan Bakir

Professor Dr Mahmoud AL-Jalili

A PILLAR OF MEDICINE FALLS

FARHAN BAKIR, MD

It is with great sadness we received the grave news of the passing away of Professor Mahmoud Al Jalili in Mousil.

Professor Mahmoud was one of the second generation of graduates of Baghdad Medical College in 1943. He was one of the people who left clear and deep print on the history of contemporary medicine of Iraq. It is worth mentioning that he was the first Iraqi to be granted the MRCP London. He was the author of many books about the history and heritage of the Arabs as well as many original research papers in medicine. He was strict, first class teacher and clinician; he worked actively in improving the medical college. One of his achievements among the many is the establishment of medical research institute either as Chairman of the Department or as a Member.

Professor Al Jalili was a corresponding member in the Arabic Language Union in Cairo and Damascus as well as contributing to the Arabic Medical Dictionary.  

In 1967 he was appointed as President of Al Mousil University. His work and achievements there were outstanding. He retired early in 1970 due to family affairs yet Professor Mahmoud shall be remembered always as a prominent figure in Iraqi medicine during all the phases of the turbulent Iraq history. He was a neutral nationalist.

We pray to Almighty God to shower him with forgiveness, to bless his soul and to give Al Jalilis, his colleagues, friends and students tolerance and patience.

ALFATTIHA