Dr Faieza Jabeen Qasim, MB BChir MA PhD FRCP
Born: Nairobi, Kenya 6/12/1961
Qualified Cambridge 1985
MRCP London 1989
PhD Cambridge 1995
Consultant Renal Physician, Manchester Royal Infirmary
FRCP London 2004
Died: Manchester, UK 2/12/2020, Acute Myocardial Infarction
Obituary
At the age of 4, growing up in Nairobi, Faieza had decided she was going to become a doctor, a commitment and passion that she held throughout her life.
As the first Muslim pupil at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School, Faieza excelled in her studies and blazed a trail for bright children from all backgrounds. In spite of the devastating loss of her father, who died a few months before her A level exams, she achieved A grades, with the highest Biology A level mark in the UK, receiving the Biology Council National Award.
She went up to Newnham College, Cambridge University in 1980 as a scholar at a time when the university and medical student intake were overwhelmingly white and male. What today would be termed microaggressions in relation to race and gender were endemic, yet trivial compared to the blatant racism and sexism of some senior doctors and academic staff. Faieza directly challenged these behaviours and had a simple belief that she and her colleagues should be judged on their merits. She was a popular student, elected President of the Clinical Students’ Society, who threw herself wholeheartedly into student life.
Following house jobs in Addenbrooke’s and Leeds, and a registrar rotation in Newcastle, she returned to Cambridge in 1992 for a PhD, and was awarded a Medical Research Council Fellowship. She carried her scientific interest in transplantation and vasculitis forward into her clinical career, securing grant funding and supervising research students, whilst working as an NHS consultant.
Appointed as a Consultant Nephrologist in Manchester in 1999, she was always committed to getting the best outcomes for her patients. She was an active supporter of the Kidney Patients’ Association, involving patients in research and education programs. She was also a consultant to the Noor Foundation, a charity which provides free haemodialysis to patients in Pakistan. Following her retirement from the NHS she was a Care Quality Commission inspector and remained active in teaching and training. She undertook regular teaching sessions at the Royal Free Hospital and was about to complete a Masters in Medical Education.
She was an enthusiastic tennis player at the Northern Tennis Club, a regular at the ballet and opera, an avid reader and talented cook. She had planned to continue in medical education, and write both her autobiography and first novel.
Faieza died suddenly at home on 2nd December 2020 from a myocardial infarction. She inspired her two younger brothers into medicine, one is a Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy, the other an Interventional Cardiologist. She had devoted the last year to caring for her mother and sister. Her family and friends, and their children who could always count on auntie Faieza for help and support, mourn her loss and, with fond memories, celebrate her life.
In the words she had used recently when her aunt passed away: from Allah we come, and verily to Him we will return
Author
Dr Asif Qasim, Brother
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
31/12/20
