KARACHI, May 30: Karachi University has awarded the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree to a US-based Pakistani cardiologist, Dr Shahbuddin H. Rahimtoola, at a special convocation held at the Sindh Governor’s House, on Thursday.

Dr Shahbuddin, born in Bombay (India) and a Dow Medical College student, acquired his first degree in medicine, MBBS, from Karachi University in 1954. He left Pakistan in 1956, for further studies and after completion of postgraduate works in England, started his career in the field of cardiology at the US in 1963.

After conferment of the KU honorary degree by the Sindh Governor and the KU Chancellor, Mohammedmian Soomro, Dr Shahbuddin, in his brief speech, said that both the DMC and the KU provided him with basic and fundamental knowledge of medicine. “I was nurtured in these hallowed grounds where I earned not only medicine, but also the sanctity and uniqueness of each individual patient, and most importantly knowledge about how to care for a patient in a humane manner,” he informed the audience comprising senior academics, physicians and surgeons.

He continued: “It was also on these sacred grounds that the fire was lit within me to explore advances in medicines and to improve the well-being of patients. My success and what I have been able to achieve are a tribute to the ability of this medical school (DMC) and this university (KU) which have motivated and inspired its students to great heights.”

Mr Soomro, while referring to the conferment of honorary degrees on heads of states, governments, men of letters and knowledge by the KU in the past, said that by such gestures, the universities were enriched and the faculties as well as the students were highly inspired.

The governor noted that it was the pleasant responsibility and privilege of a university to recognize and acknowledge academic landmarks, achievements, contributions and advancements in knowledge and services to humanity.

He said that Dr Shahbuddin was one of those distinguished persons who had brought the hope of life to those who were under the imminent threat of death as cardiac patients. Very few physicians and surgeons can claim to have achieved eminence as Dr Rahimtoola, added the governor, expressing the confidence that Dr Shahbuddin’s eminence would pass on to succeeding generations who would pave way for the establishment of a better and healthier world of tolerance, happiness and enlightenment.

The KU VC, Dr Zafar Sayeed Saify, said that the university had a long tradition of honouring persons of eminence who further the cause of knowledge and contributed towards improvement in the quality of lives of the people. Dr Shahbuddin’s extraordinary clinical experiments, achievements and profound interest in the field of medicine is internationally recognized, he added.

The Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dr Tipu Sultan, read out the citation of Prof Dr Shahbuddin. The honoured doctor has also served in the capacity of associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois and Chief Cardiology at Cook County Hospital from 1969 to 1972.

He remained as a professor at the University of Oregon from 1972 to 1980, and Chief of Cardiology division at the University of Southern California from 1980 to 1992. At present, he is distinguished professor of the University of California, included the citation.

He has given over 1,420 national and international presentations and lectures and edited 11 textbooks and has 513 scientific articles to his credit.

Among other awards and honours, he also received the Distinguished Scientists Award from the American College of Cardiology in 2001.