• Dr. Riad Fikry, MD, was the chairman and
medical director of Watany Eye Hospital in east Cairo,
Egypt since its establishment in 2001.
• His ambition was to establish a
state-of-the-art hospital. He saw it as a market
necessity and a haven for both doctors and patients.
• As the CEO and medical director of WEH, he
introduced subspecialty practice in Ophthalmology- an
idea that was novel to the Egyptian market at the time
and hence drew expertise from all over Cairo to run and
further develop the new model.
• Moreover, he initiated the first ophthalmology
residency program in a private hospital in Egypt
• Dr. Riad was the driving force behind the
hospital becoming Egypt’s International Chapter
Affiliate for the Association for Research in Vision and
Ophthalmology (ARVO-Egypt), and chaired the fledgling
chapter for 3 years. With the team, he started an annual
scientific meeting of ARVO-Egypt aimed at supporting
local and regional research in vision sciences.
• With him at the helm, the practice grew and the
catchment area extended beyond Cairo to include Upper
Egypt and the Nile Delta. What started as a relatively
small two-floor section of a building in a busy street
in East Cairo proceeded to become the biggest standalone
private ophthalmology hospital in Egypt and the Middle
East.
• Dr. Riad Fikry test-drove the hospital but did
not see it in full operation. He passed away peacefully
while he and his son, Dr. Ramy Riad, were on their way
to surgery. He was 63.
• There is not a day or a moment that we do not
think of him and remember his advice and ideas. Dr. Riad
has inspired many of his colleagues and juniors, leaving
his mark on their careers. But his real talent was his
personal approach—the way he individually communicated
to the Watany Eye Hospital family members, addressing
their issues privately, wisely, and, most important,
tirelessly.
• Standing on 4,000 m2 in the outskirts of Cairo,
WEH is a memorial to him and his utter dedication.
•
Dr. Riad Fikry was a truly special person. He touched
the lives of so many people, and he will be deeply
missed. But his legacy will live on in the hearts of all
who knew him.
Thank you,
Dr.
Riad Fikry,
for everything.