Karachi: Pakistan’s neurology community is mourning the loss of Dr Nadir Ali Syed, a highly respected neurologist whose sudden death in Karachi late Thursday night has left colleagues, patients, and students in shock.
Dr Nadir, believed to be around 60, passed away at his residence. He had no known major illness and had been professionally active until his final day.
Regarded as one of the country’s top specialists in adult neurology, Dr Nadir played a pivotal role in developing Pakistan’s treatment guidelines for Parkinson’s disease. His expertise extended to epilepsy, stroke, and chronic headache management, and he was known for combining clinical precision with deep compassion for his patients.
At the time of his passing, Dr Nadir was consulting at South City Hospital and contributing to medical education as part-time faculty at the Aga Khan University (AKU).
An alumnus of Karachi Grammar School, Dr Nadir earned his MBBS with distinction from AKU before moving to the United States, where he completed his neurology residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey. He served as Chief Resident—an honour reserved for top-performing trainees.
He later trained at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, completing a prestigious two-year fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology. There, he honed his skills in the diagnosis and treatment of complex neurological disorders.
Returning to Pakistan in 1998, Dr Nadir joined AKU’s neurology department, helping transform it into one of the most well-regarded academic units in the country. He chaired the neurosciences module and eventually took on the role of Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education, mentoring scores of physicians now practicing across the country.
Board-certified in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology from the United States, Dr Nadir published more than two dozen research papers in peer-reviewed journals and was the recipient of several accolades recognizing his contributions to neurology, education, and medical ethics.
Tributes have poured in from medical professionals and former students across the country. “He was a steady and kind presence for his patients and an invaluable mentor to young doctors,” said one former colleague. “He helped shape the careers of many of us, and his absence will be deeply felt.”
Dr Nadir leaves behind his wife and three children. Funeral arrangements are being finalized and are expected to take place on Sunday following the return of family members from overseas.
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