Varun Bisessar

Michael Grove

ENGL21003

10/10/2018

1. Introduction: – Brief introduction of Dr. Zaher Sahloul

• Career (critical care specialist, associate clinical professor, and senior advisor to SAMS) Why is Sahloul important? Patient advocacy in Syria
• Accomplishment/notabilities: Dr. Robert Kirschner Award and Chicagoan of the year

1. Early Life and Education: – Born in Algeria, attended secondary school in Syria and Damascus university

• Attended the medical school at Damascus University, graduated top of his class in 1988, of 600 students. Attended medical school with one of the sons of Hafez al-Assad.
• Reference interview questions I and II
• Why is he a subject of interest/career highlights: – initially a critical care specialist in Chicago
• Syrian civil war begins in 2011, Sahloul joins the SAMS and becomes president of the organization, becomes a human/patient’s rights advocate for the people of his home country
• Sahloul makes upwards on 30 visits to Aleppo and Syria, conducts extensive research in 2013-2014 for foundation of prevalent diseases and how to limit those diseases in Aleppo/Syria
• Medical professionals are being killed by regimes for helping innocents, Sahloul becomes mentor for the limited medical professionals in Syria on how to perform operations on patients the most effectively.
• Participated in U.N. discussion about the crisis in Syria in 2016 (ARRIA-FORMULA), explain the sense of urgency to U.S.
• In 2015 aided the American Relief Coalition for Syria, leaves presidency of the SAMS for senior advisor
• Spreads knowledge of the electronic ICU to Syrian counterparts in order for the SAMS to have direct conferences with Syrian medical professionals using satellites
• Reference to interview questions III – VIII

1. Accomplishments/Current objectives/ what does he hope for the future? – Dr. Robert Kirschner Award significance

– Chicagoan of the year significance and contributions to philanthropy

-Have the conditions in Syria approved?

-Important events that may shift the focus of research and action in the future?

-Reference to interview questions IX-XII

 

Interview Questions:

1. Who or what influenced you to attend Damascus Medical school and choose the profession of a doctor? Before Damascus what school(s) did you attend? What years did you attend Damascus from, what was your training process like? What did it feel like attending Damascus with one of the sons of Hafez al-Assad?
2. Was Chicago your original choice to settle after medical school? What part has Chicago played in your development as a physician and what role have you had at the Chicago University in Illinois?

• The SAMS emerged as an educational and services society for Americans with Syrian descent in 1998, in 2010, the society began humanitarian missions. What does it mean to be in a position to overlook the efforts of the SAMS?

1. In 2016, you spoke at the UN Arria-Formula Open Meeting conference, did you feel the sense of urgency you described was properly acknowledged? and if any, what feedback did you get?
2. During a humanitarian mission, how would you describe a normal day? What occurs? What do you fear? What location do you find yourself spending the most time?
3. What advice do you give to medical professionals in Syria? Your trips are a couple weeks long, then it is up to the medical professionals on site to help patients, how do you best use the short time you are there to help and teach?

• Of your many publishing’s, which article was the most influential and will have or has had the greatest impact on your cause?
• Are there any misconceptions about what the organizations you are tied to actually do? How do you address these misconceptions?

1. The Dr. Robert Kirschner Award, what is its significance?
2. You were Chicagoan of the year along with two other physicians from Chicago, what does this award mean to you?
3. The SAMS has performed millions of operations and aided the people affected by this civil war, do you believe the SAMS is at its maximum potential?

• Have the conditions in Syria improved? Do you one day envision Syria in the way that you left it 30 years ago?