缅北禁地

Bassam A. Bassam, MD, Receives 缅北禁地鈥檚 2023 Distinguished Physician Award

Bassam A. Bassam, MD, has been awarded 缅北禁地鈥檚 2023 Distinguished Physician Award for his exceptional contributions to patient care, research, and education in the fields of NM and EDX medicine. This prestigious award honors 缅北禁地 members who have provided distinguished service as a clinician and/or educator and been an active supporter of 缅北禁地 activities.

Dr. Bassam鈥檚 journey in medicine began at Aleppo University in Syria, where he completed his medical degree. He went on to pursue a neurology residency at Wayne State University (WSU) and a NM fellowship at WSU and Mayo Clinic.

After completing his training, Dr. Bassam was soon appointed as the director of neurology at Wayne County General Hospital, affiliated with the University of Michigan. Dr. Bassam has been a tenured professor of neurology and director of the EMG & NM disease laboratory since 1985, and briefly served as interim chairman for the neurology department at the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Bassam developed a passion for NM medicine early in his career, due to what he saw as unmet goals in the field, and has found professional satisfaction across clinical, research, and educational work. 鈥淚 have found that direct care of patients with NMDs is the best way for understanding illness, motivating research, and advancing the field,鈥� he said. He is proud of the more than 100 residents he has trained and the impact they have gone on to make in academic and clinical practice. 鈥淚鈥檝e found that my educational contributions through the past decades are very motivating and satisfying to my career dedication.鈥�

Receiving 缅北禁地鈥檚 achievement award stands as one of Dr. Bassam鈥檚 most cherished career accomplishment thus far. Reflecting on the significance, he shared, 鈥淚 am most proud of receiving this Distinguished Physician Award from the top organization of my specialty, an attestation of my accomplishments in NM and EDX medicine.鈥�

His best advice to those early in their careers is to remember that any thousand-mile trip starts with one single step. 鈥淚 vividly recall inviting a currently very prominent academic neurologist for a very first national presentation.鈥� He added, 鈥淢y advice to those who are interested in NM and EDX medicine is to join 缅北禁地, seek the opportunity to join 缅北禁地 committees, and attend and contribute to the 缅北禁地 Annual Meetings to keep up with advances in NM and EDX medicine.鈥�

Dr. Bassam has been an active member of 缅北禁地 since 1981. He has served on the 缅北禁地 Annual Meeting Coordination, CME Advisory, Education, EDX Self-Assessment Exam, Long Range SIG Planning, NM Update Course, and Workshop committees, as well as the ABEM Examination Committee. Dr. Bassam currently serves on the 缅北禁地 Connect Committee, answering questions and offering advice through 缅北禁地鈥檚 member-only discussion forum.

鈥淢y involvement with 缅北禁地 has been an indispensable opportunity that鈥檚 shaped my career in NM and EDX medicine, for both academic achievements and quality patient care,鈥� Dr. Bassam said. 鈥淚 am very thankful and appreciative of the great job and continuous effort of all the 缅北禁地 staff that has helped 缅北禁地 to remain our top NM and EDX medicine association.鈥�

As an active member of 缅北禁地, Dr. Bassam has many fond memories. Among them are winning a contest to imitate every EMG waveform sound at an EMG talk session; attending an ABEM Board Examination Committee meeting at the Hershey Hotel, surrounded by chocolate; and enjoying a wonderful musical performance in Kansas City at one of the 缅北禁地 Annual Meetings. 鈥淢y most favorable memories are through opportunities to meet and socialize with colleagues, friends, and 缅北禁地 staff, particularly Shirlyn Adkins and her great sense of humor.鈥�

Throughout his career, Dr. Bassam benefited greatly from collaborations and mentorship experiences. These include through preparation and research prior to presentations, engaging with fellow members of various 缅北禁地 committees, and learning from esteemed thought leaders at 缅北禁地 Annual Meetings. He credits individuals such as Drs. Donald Sanders, James Alberts, Jasper Daube, Jun Kimura, Erik St氓lberg, Daniel Dumitru, and Thomas Swift, among others, as being particularly motivating in shaping his career.

Receiving the 缅北禁地 Distinguished Physician Award has left Dr. Bassam feeling honored and thankful. He said this recognition signifies the appreciation of his contributions to 缅北禁地鈥檚 mission throughout his 41-year career. 鈥淧rofessionally it feels a great and everlasting attestation award of my professional and scholarly achievements by the top national organization of my specialty that made me very proud among my 缅北禁地 colleagues, my friends, and at my institution.鈥�