Dr. Isam Osman

Dr. Isam Osman (Rahmat Allah aleyhu) was a consultant vascular surgeon who, at the time of his passing, headed the Vascular and Endovascular Department and Operating Rooms at King Saud Medical City in Riyadh (previously known as al-Shimesi), the largest Ministry of Health hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

A graduate of the University of Khartoum, Dr. Osman enjoyed a long career in the United Kingdom, principally at the Ipswich Hospital, and leaves behind a legacy of surgical excellence, leadership, and mentorship. 

Dr. Osman was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in Glasgow and London and was the first Royal College of Surgeons England Country Advisor for KSA.

Outside of his day-to-day work, among many other endeavors, Dr. Osman played a major role in establishing the Sudanese Association of Vascular Surgeons, which aims to promote vascular well-being in Sudan through academic activities, training, support, and promotion. He was elected as the first President of the Association shortly after its foundation.

When war broke out in Sudan in April 2023, Dr. Osman played a leading role in humanitarian relief through his relationship with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. He also launched SAMA’s Trauma ECHO, a virtual learning program that shares experiences between surgeons in Sudan and experts in Trauma Surgery.

Dr. Osman passed away peacefully in his sleep on 29 September 2023, six days after returning from a humanitarian mission to Port Sudan where he performed challenging surgeries and distributed medical aid to those suffering the effects of the war.

He is survived by his wife, Gihan, and their two children, Mohamed and Nadine.

To preserve Dr. Isam Osman’s legacy, SAMA is organizing humanitarian missions to Sudan, and an award in his name.

RIP Isam Osman

I first came to know of Dr. Osman from Wisal Eltayeb and Noora Abubaker, Sudanese American Medical Association interns. They wanted to launch Surgery ECHO, a virtual telementoring program that would connect junior surgeons in Sudan with global subject matter experts in Surgery in interactive sessions over Zoom.

It was their idea to do it; leveraging SAMA’s experience in running the Project ECHO model from the Sudanese American Medical Association‘s office in Khartoum at the time. Both still in the early stages of their surgical career, they needed a mentor to guide them.

In her own words, Wisal said, of Dr. Osman:
“ His support and encouragement during the program was beyond what I could hope for. I was always impressed by the way he disseminated knowledge and how it was easy to communicate with him. His commitment was also astonishing. I remember how he made sure to join sessions during his busy schedule and travels even when he didn’t have to. His support, kindness, and helping nature showed no boundaries. “

In June 2023, it was a couple of months into the heinous war raging in Khartoum. SAMA had opened an office in Port Sudan led by safaa AwadAllah and Abdulmajid Osman. I got a message from Ayman Ahmed, secretary general of the Sudanese Association of Vascular Surgeons wanting to partner with SAMA in rehabilitating hospitals in Port Sudan. We then came up with the idea of expanding the scope of the partnership to launch Trauma ECHO.  Dr. Osman carried the program, leveraging his personal network to recruit stellar subject matter experts in trauma surgery to donate their time and expertise in the service of trauma surgeons in Sudan.

Over the following four months, Dr. Osman traveled twice to Port Sudan with King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to do whatever could be done to ease the pain and suffering of our kindred in Sudan.
In his most recent trip to Port Sudan, with his team, he performed several surgeries in a harsh environment with frequent power outages.
On September 23rd, he sent this message to the surgeons in Port Sudan
“I hope that our visit has first and foremost lifted your spirits in that other surgeons are with you and haven’t forgotten you. We may, together, have helped 60 patients with operations, and yet hundreds more go uncared for. That is the way it is sadly. But we will persevere. We will return.
In my 35-year career, I have been fortunate to have worked in some hospitals that some would consider ‘world-class ‘. None have left me with more pride than having operated at Al Mawani Hospital, Port Sudan. Thank you. Mawafageen. You are not alone. Tahiyati”

Dr. Osman had the rare combination of clinical brilliance, compassionate mentorship, and visionary leadership; yet maintained unparalleled grace and humility.

May he rest in peace

Salaheldin Abusin
October 1st 2023