Meet a Specialist - Professor Thamer Hamdan
Professor Thamer Ahmed Hamdan Al Tameemi
FRCS (Ed) FRCS (Glas), FRCP (Ed), FACS, FICS, AAOS
American Board Neuro Orthopaedic (Nevada)
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Basrah Teaching Hospital and Medical College, Iraq
International Surgical Adviser, The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Visiting Professor, Imperial College, London
Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine, London
Research Fellow, St. George’s Hospital, London
We’ve been talking with Professor Hamdan, another of our amazing Consultants who has volunteered for the Trust for the last 12 years. Professor Hamdan has taught undergraduates and postgraduates over the last 40 years and is a postgraduate examiner in several countries. He has, during that time, dealt with numerous missile injuries of the extremities. He has a special interest in spinal and tumour surgery. An “A” grade Iraqi scientist, he has been named “One of the outstanding people of the 20th Century”. He has been Dean of Basrah Medical College and is also a past President of Basrah University. Professor Hamdan has published 134 scientific articles and written 41 books. He is a reviewer for seven international journals and lectures worldwide. He received an award in 2005 from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and was a keynote speaker for the Washington War Symposium in 2005 (AAOS).
What attracted you to go into medicine?
No-one in my family comes from a medical background. My main priority in my life is to serve humanity. Many of the patients in my country have been suffering due to a serious deficiency in medical staff.
What branch of medicine are you in?
Orthopaedic and trauma surgery, in addition to my special interest in medical ethics and medical education.
Why did you get involved with the Trust?
I got involved with the Trust as I could see that they were helping people all over the globe, for free. The Trust is unique in that it provides an outstanding service, alleviating patients suffering, with the help of Specialists and Consultants from all over the world.
I feel really very proud to have a connection with this respected Trust and more than happy to volunteer my services to the Trust in all aspects of its work.
Why do you think the Trust is important?
It is not simply thinking the Trust is important, but the fact that I have seen the work it does on many occasions. I can say with confidence that the Trust is outstanding and unique in offering free medical consultations through the use of Telemedicine, linking referring hospitals and clinics worldwide with experienced and knowledgeable Consultants and Specialists.
Any interesting cases you can share?
I can recall several rare and difficult medical problems and through the Trust I have been able to find reasonable solutions which have vastly benefited patients, thanks to the advice given by distinguished and skilled Consultants. One example I can give is congenital limb deficiency syndrome where a boy was born with a complete absence of the tibia.
Your most rewarding case?
I had a patient with upper motor neurone lesion which was due to advanced cervical spondylosis. The patient was almost crippled and with advice from Consultants I was able to treat the patient with success.
How would you like people to help the Trust?
I wholeheartedly appreciate the great men and women working hard to support the Trust and one of the best ways I think of supporting the Trust is to keep sending problem cases through from referrers, allowing them to be responded to quickly and clearly. I would like to reiterate how grateful I am to Lord and Lady Swinfen and their team, for their global humanitarian assistance, and for giving me the honour of being one of their Consultants.