Samir Bishara
Samir Nessim Bishara ONZM FRCS FRACS
15 November 1928 - 21 June 2016
Neurosurgeon
Samir Bishara (widely known as Sam for much of his life) was born in Cairo, Egypt, the eldest child of Nessim Bishara (a general surgeon) and Clare Simaika. He had four sisters - Aida, Leila, Sophie and Mary, and grew up in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, and the surrounding provinces.
Strongly influenced by his father's work as a surgeon, Sam embarked on a medical career graduating MB. BCh. in Cairo in December 1950. He then commenced as a trainee in surgery and subsequently assistant surgeon at Cairo's Kasr-El-Eini University Hospital. He was awarded a Diploma in Surgery in 1956 and a Master of Surgery in 1958 (this being presented by President Nasser). Sam emigrated to Britain to enter neurosurgical training and worked as SHO, Registrar and Senior Registrar successively at the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, Morriston Hospital in Swansea and then in the London Hospital, where while working as Senior Registrar to Mr WDC Northfield, a prominent neurosurgeon, he participated actively in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Sam gained his FRCS in 1962. While working at Morriston Sam met Lois Gravelle, a nurse on the surgical ward, and they married in 1965.
Sam and Lois migrated to New Zealand in 1966, following his appointment as Consultant Neuro- surgeon at Dunedin Hospital and Honorary Lecturer to the Otago School of Medicine. There he joined Professor Richard Robinson providing a neurosurgical service for the lower South Island of New Zealand. Established in Dunedin, he and Lois had two children - Nadia, born in 1967 and Marc in 1970. In 1981 Sam became Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and three years later Director of the Dunedin Neurosurgical Service. Sam was awarded FRACS in 1980.
Sam was a constant stimulus to innovation in the unit, familiarising himself with and seeking to apply the latest techniques being developed in neurosurgery. He was the first neurosurgeon in the South to use the operating microscope and developed considerable expertise in microsurgery. He introduced and helped develop the use of CT scanning in Dunedin and had an equally important role in the obtaining of an MRI scanner for Dunedin Hospital. Through his drive for personal excellence and his integrity Sam ensured the Dunedin neurosurgery service was highly regarded. Full staffing of the Neurosurgical unit was difficult to maintain at times and indeed Sam ran the unit single-handedly for a period of seven years without respite. When needed he would always come. He developed a working relationship with Martin MacFarlane who experienced similar difficulties in maintaining a 24-hour acute service in Christchurch.
Sam was noted for his clinical acumen and well-grounded scholarly command of the latest trends in neurosurgery. He was very loyal to his colleagues, staff and the institution employing him. Consequently, he gathered a circle of colleagues who greatly valued their association with him and developed a great affection for him. A cautious educator, Sam wanted always to see the basics well instilled before sharing responsibility for more taxing procedures and operations. To trainees and medical students he sometimes projected a gruff and somewhat abrupt facade, but this belied a warm-hearted and deep respect lurking beneath the surface. The accuracy and fastidiousness he demanded of them ("Cut it nicely now!") he demanded equally of himself. He hated complications and constantly strove to eliminate them. He could be infuriatingly cryptic at times; a somewhat timid staff member would ask which particular instrument he would like, A or B? ... to which he was most likely to reply "Well of course, the usual!"
A far harsher critic of himself than others he did not hide his opinions and expected others to be equally forthright, daunting as that may have been for the uninitiated. At times he would sum up some people with a wave of his hand and let slip a remarkably insightful comment, though not always happily phrased. Grant Gillett recalls walking from the bedside of a patient being assessed for carotid artery surgery and Sam dropping the aside, "Smokes like a fish." But if he thought he could help the patient, he was absolutely committed to the end. Beneath his gruff exterior, Sam cared very deeply about his patients and their outcomes, and his supervision of their well-being was based on his desire that they receive the best possible care. This endeared him to so many.
Sam retired from his university appointment in 1995 and his public hospital appointment in 1998 but continued to undertake some work in private. He was also an advisor to the Accident Compensation Corporation. Sam's main pastime was fishing in the rivers and lakes of Central Otago. He often said that it was only when he was fishing that he could truly relax from the pressures of his work. Here again he made interesting observations, revealing as much about himself as the object of his comments. After a weekend of fishing with Mike Hunter, then his registrar, when asked about his success he pronounced - "Well you know, I strode along the bank and the trout were fleeing this way and that ... but that Hunter; he crawls on his belly ... like a thief in the night!" Sam maintained a thirst for knowledge throughout his life, reading widely and with a particular interest in astronomy and solar science.
Sam served as President of the Neurological Society of New Zealand 1985-87. He was the New Zealand representative on the RACS Neurosurgical Board 1988-1994. His contributions were recognised by Rotary International in the award of the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1997, his appointment to ONZM in 1998 and receipt of the medal of the Neurological Society of Australasia in 1999. On the occasion of his academic retirement a book of neurosurgical research papers was assembled and published as a festschrift to Sam, with neurosurgeons and colleagues both within Australasia and from the wider international community of academic neurosurgery willingly contributing.
Sam is survived and greatly missed by his wife, Lois, children Nadia (trained opera singer) and Marc (finance director), sisters Aida, Sophie and Mary (Leila having predeceased Sam) and two grandchildren.
This obituary is based upon A Tribute to Samir Nessim Bishara - Twenty Five Years of Service: Grant Gillett FRACS February 1998 with contributions by family and colleagues.