Remembering Dr Riaz Haider
By C. Naseer Ahmad
Dr Riaz Haider, a renowned Pakistani American physician in the Washington DC area, passed away on June 8, 2023. He was 89 years old and continued to play tennis until his untimely death. Dr Haider authored “A Triumphant Voyage: Great Achievements in Cardiology ” and numerous articles in scientific journals. He established the Haider Foundation with the primary purpose “to provide funds for education promotion, respect for ethnic, religious, and gendered backgrounds promotion, cancer research and treatment of patients, and prevention research.”
In its announcement, Becker Hospital Review noted that Dr Haider was a cardiology leader “ known for his research in diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, pacemakers and heart catheterization.” The announcement further stated that “ Dr Haider was a lifelong leader in the field, serving as president of the American Heart Association and Nation's Capital Affiliate; clinical professor of medicine at the Washington, DC-based George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences; and elected fellow of American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, and the Royal College of Physicians. He also served as chief of cardiology at Providence Hospital from 1974 to 1993 and president of Washington Cardiology Associates from 1974 to 2008, both based in Washington, DC. He directed catheterization labs at five universities, introduced cardiac catheterization in evaluation of cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction at Washington, DC-based George Washington University Hospital, and initiated new cardiovascular labs at Providence Hospital.”
Cardiologists and physicians will remember Dr Haider’s professional accomplishments. But like many of his friends who are not physicians, I just remember him as a caring and loving friend.
Dr Haider was a kind person, who leaves behind wonderful memories for those who had the good fortune to know him as a friend. My first meeting with him happened due to a referral by common friend Mowahid Shah for the treatment of my late mother-in-law Aunty Rabia.
Although I had heard his name but had not met Dr Haider until a cold morning in early January 1984. Dr Haider received us warmly in his Providence Hospital clinic and was very thorough in the examination of Aunty Rabia. When I asked for the bill, he refused to accept any payment.
Since that time, we became good friends, and I came to know him quite well. “Please give me news of yourself,” he would say or write if we had not been in touch for more than a few weeks. Our friendship, like all of Dr Haider’s friendships, were based on mutual respect and keeping our accounts straight; if one hosted a lunch or dinner then the other reciprocated; we never discussed money.
The late Dr Riaz Haider (right) with the author
As is natural among friends, we would talk about family. Dr Haider was very proud of his daughters and wife for their achievements. During a lunch about fifteen years ago, I mentioned about my younger son’s interest in medicine. Dr Haider’s eyes lit up and he invited me and my son Ali to his house for breakfast on the following Saturday, during which he offered many valuable suggestions. He continued to show interest in my son’s educational progress during medical school, residency, and fellowship.
Support for education was very important to Dr Haider and he served on the Board of Directors of the International Student House (ISH) in Washington. He was Director Emeritus at ISH. For over a decade, the “Riaz Haider Scholarship Fund,” has supported deserving and needy graduate students from Pakistan at ISH.
As I write a few words remembering my good friend, my mind takes me to the sunny afternoon lunches, when he was the host, on the terrace overlooking the golf courses in the Congressional Country Club, Potomac, Maryland, where Dr Haider was a lifetime member. Almost always, Dr Haider would mention something a graduate student from Pakistan and was eager to find a way to help him or her - both financially as well as to get an internship or job for the student. Similarly, he would mention someone of Pakistani origin who had achieved distinction in one field or another. There was never an unkind word coming from the lips of Dr Haider. Quite often, he would start the conversation reminiscing about friends we both knew and loved.
Dr Haider was disarming and witty when introducing himself in a gathering. When asked about his profession, he would almost always say something like: “I take care of hearts. Do you have a heart?” This would immediately result in laughter and friendly conversations would follow.
There was always something to learn from Dr Haider. An important thing I learned from him was that he put wellness into practice. Even in his eighties he kept playing tennis. Out of curiosity, one day, I asked about his lifting weights, so he took me to the gym at his club and showed the exercise equipment that he used. This inspired me to exercise regularly and when I am lifting weights, I am always thinking about my friend Dr Haider.
Always courteous, Dr Haider walked me to my car and then we talked about plans for the next get-together. So, his untimely passing away leaves a big void for his family and friends like me.
No matter how many times, we repeat the saying: “To Him we belong and to Him we shall return.” It is just hard to accept the loss of a dear friend and in such circumstances, solace comes through the words of poets. As my conversations with Dr Haider were in Punjabi, which both of us spoke while growing up, the words of the Punjabi Sufi saint Mian Muhammad Baksh author “Saif-ul-Mulook” come to mind:
Tur gaey yaar muhabbatan waley, laay gaey naaley hassay
Dil naeen lagda yaar Muhammad, jayeeaay keyray pasay
In other words:
Gone is the laughter with my loving friend’s passing
Where to turn to? My heart is aching.
