Under the patronage and in the presence of the Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Baghdad, Professor Dr. Ameen Abdul-Hassan Mani’ Al-Alwany, the College held an official memorial gathering earlier this week in honor of the late Professor Dr. Iyad Ali Rashid Al-Bair, one of the distinguished academic figures in the fields of medicine, urology, and nephrology.
The memorial gathering was attended by the Associate Deans for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, Administrative Affairs, and Student Affairs, alongside a number of academic and scientific figures, faculty members, staff, and students. They came together to commemorate a distinguished academic and humanitarian career marked by dedication, service, and loyalty.
The late professor was among the prominent scholars who left a lasting mark on the development of Iraqi medicine. He devoted his life to scientific research, education, and medical practice, drawing on his extensive experience and sound expertise to advance the field of urology and nephrology. His academic and administrative contributions further cemented his standing among Iraq’s distinguished medical professors.
His career exemplified the qualities of an educator who combined academic excellence with professional dedication, regarding education as a mission that extended beyond the classroom to the development of generations of physicians capable of upholding the values of their profession and serving humanity.
During the memorial gathering, Professor Dr. Mohammed Basil Ismail, Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, delivered a eulogy recalling the late professor’s outstanding personal qualities and distinguished academic and humanitarian career. He reflected on his role as a professor, teacher, and mentor, highlighting his exemplary academic ethics, genuine humility, and fatherly concern for his students. He also emphasized that his passing represented a profound loss for the College of Medicine and the wider medical and academic community.
Professor Dr. Iyad Al-Bair was more than a professor who imparted knowledge to his students. He was an educator who instilled confidence, a role model who embodied professional ethics, and a mentor who guided successive generations along the path of scientific knowledge and professional expertise. The true measure of a great teacher lies not in the number of lectures delivered or positions held, but in the knowledge imparted to students, the values instilled in their character, and the lasting influence on their professional lives that the passage of time cannot erase.
The passing of a scholar of such distinction therefore signifies more than the loss of an individual; it marks the departure of a rich academic and humanitarian legacy that will remain alive in the memories of all those who knew him, studied under his guidance, and worked alongside him.
His students and colleagues mourned his passing with profound sadness, remembering a professor for whom knowledge was not merely a field of specialization, but a responsibility and a humanitarian mission. He believed that a successful physician requires compassion as much as scientific knowledge, and that a true educator remains present in the lives of students long after his passing through the principles he instilled and the knowledge and guidance he imparted.
His distinguished legacy will remain a testament to his dedication, and his name will continue to be associated with generations of physicians who carry forward elements of his knowledge and experience, continuing the professional and educational mission to which he devoted his life.
Honoring Professor Dr. Iyad Ali Rashid Al-Bair extends beyond commemorating his life at a memorial gathering. It also entails preserving his academic legacy, emulating his exemplary conduct, and continuing the mission of medical education to which he dedicated his life. Although life comes to an end, the influence of great educators endures through their students, the knowledge those students share, the patients whose suffering they alleviate, and each new generation taught that medicine is, above all, a discipline founded on scientific knowledge, ethical principles, and humanity.
At the conclusion of the memorial gathering, attendees recalled the late professor’s virtues and contributions, praying that Almighty God would grant him His boundless mercy, admit him into His eternal paradise, and reward him abundantly for his contributions to medical science and medical education. They also prayed that God would grant his family, relatives, students, colleagues, and loved ones patience and solace in their time of grief.
