Dr. Said A. Awad passed away peacefully on June 19, 2021, at the age of 84. Born in pre-war Cairo, Egypt and after graduating from Cairo University, Said immigrated to Canada in 1961. He was 25 years and quickly embraced all the opportunities which Canada had to offer as he dedicated himself to his Urology training. After a four-year residency in Kingston, Ontario, Said moved to Toronto for additional specialization. A few months later, he met the love of his life, a nurse named Sharon Jones. They were engaged after six weeks and married a few months later.
After four years in private practice in London and Kitchener, Said moved back to Kingston and developed an excellent neurourology program, and established the first urodynamics laboratory, at Queen’s University in Kingston. In 1980, Said moved to Halifax where he served for seventeen years (1980-97) as the Head of the Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University. Said built a remarkable department including clinical, academic, and research areas, especially functional urology. He retired in 2003 as a professor emeritus of Dalhousie University. Said thrived with a mix of teaching, research, and clinical responsibilities throughout his career, and he was repeatedly recognized for his accomplishments in all three areas. Said loved teaching and mentoring Urology trainees. His legacy includes a large, worldwide diaspora of medical practitioners who graduated from the Urology programs at Queen’s and Dalhousie between the 1970s and the 2000s.
Said’s contribution to the Canadian Urological Association was enormous since he become a member in 1969. He was Secretary of the association from 1982 to 1987, and was Scientific Chair of the CUA meeting in Halifax in 1988. He was especially proud to have served as President of the CUA in 1989-1990, with the annual meeting held in Vancouver, B.C.. For his contribution to the CUA and Canadian urology, Said received the CUA Life Achievement Award in 2002. Said also significantly contributed to international associations, and was named as one of only 75 members of the American Association of Genito-Urinary Surgeons. Said was elected President of the Northeaster Section of American Urological Association in 1990-91, with the annual meeting held in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Said contributed considerably to the International Continence Society and was the Chair of the annual meeting in 1992, held in Halifax.
Said was always an early riser. He had energy, dedicated himself to his work, and had a remarkable ability to focus. He was humble. He was respectful and sincerely grateful for everyone around him, recognizing the blessings of his life, and rarely complaining (even when his golf ball went in the water). Said strived for excellence, but not for accolades. We will forever miss his warm smile, compassion, curiosity, and support.
Said is survived by Sharon, his spouse of 55 years, his daughter Michelle (Jack Graham), son Brian (Catherine McKellar), grandchildren Paige (David Owens), Elias, Amelia, and Ephrem, step-grandchildren Hannah (Gabriel Rose), John, and Mac, and step-great-granddaughter, Hadley.
Jerzy B Gajewski, MD FRCSC