Mohamad Isam Abdelazim

Mohamad Isam Abdelazim, “Dr. Sam,” passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on December 15, 2021, finally finding his way to the light after a twelve-year struggle with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Sam will be fondly remembered (but never replicated) for the provision of forty years of superior medical care, tending to the hearts of our loved ones with humor and excellence, and positively impacting thousands of lives in the area. Dr. Sam is survived by his wife of 53 years, Anne Marie Abdelazim, their five children, a small colony of grandchildren, and nephews and nieces who live overseas. The children include Susan Northrup, Nadia Margherio, Tarik, Hady (Kim), and Sami (Jessica). From oldest to youngest, the grandchildren include Samantha, Sydney, MJ, Sophia, Alexandra, Samia, Joseph, Aria, Mia, and Nora. Mohamad is predeceased by his father, mother, three brothers, and one sister, all of whom lived and died in Syria. Mohamad, born in 1938 and raised in Damascus, left his homeland in 1965 to continue his medical studies and escape authoritarian rule. He met his wife Anne Marie in 1966 during his medical residency in Cleveland, and they married in 1968. After completing a two-year fellowship at Cleveland Clinic under the pioneering cardiologist Dr. Sones, Mohamad was heavily recruited by a number of small and large cities to help launch cardiac cath labs—and somehow Binghamton won the young, promising cardiologist. Dr. Sam’s tenure as our region’s top “heart doc” was regularly marked by accomplishments. He was instrumental in establishing the first cardiac catherization lab at Binghamton General, and then brought open-heart surgery to the area. He was the only private physician appointed by New York State to inspect cardiac cath labs across the state. He went from the “new immigrant” with bold ideas that rattled the local status quo to one of our area’s most respected doctors who still holds the record for consecutive terms as Chief of Staff at UHS, a position voted in by other doctors. While he spent half his working days at the local hospitals, he spent the other half at his private office, Oakdale Medical. It’s where his values shined. He never turned away a patient and wrote off mountains of debt when patients couldn’t pay. And we’d be remiss to not give credit to his own “Charlie’s Angels,” his steady office staff of 30+ years that became a second family to the Abdelazims and who embraced his values of kindness, compassion, and joy in serving any resident who sought help for a broken heart. Dr. Sam will be remembered and celebrated for his joyful, honest, and personal bedside manners; his belief that nurses and all staff were equal partners in care; his preference for high-end cologne, love of gold and fast cars, and refined taste in suits; his legendary walks in Oakdale Mall as the “guy in the yellow jacket”; and his signature phrases, like “One gram of prevention is better than a ton of cure,” and “Stay happy and healthy,” and “Be nice and kind,” and “How much did you pay for that?” The Abdelazim family would like to thank all those who helped us navigate the last decade of our father’s illness with grace and compassion. We owe special thanks to Tisha, Alexa, and their incredible support team who most recently enabled us to bring Dad home, providing him comfort, love, and care these last two months as he moved from this world to the next. A private viewing for family and a humble burial service consistent with his faith was held Thursday, December 16th. A Celebration of Life will be planned and publicized in the Spring of 2022 in a manner that ensures the safety of all attendees. Dr. Sam would want it no other way. In lieu of flowers, the family invites friends and patients of Dr. Sam to make donations in his name to either the Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Community Free Clinic (225 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905) or the Alzheimer’s Association, the largest nonprofit funder of research for new treatments, preventions, and ultimately a cure (https://www.alz.org/research). To forward condolences please visit www.demunn.com.