Mohamed Ahmad Afify MD

Dr. Mohamed Ahmad Afify, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 8:53 AM. Dr. Afify was born in Cairo, Egypt, to Ahmed and Nabawiya Afify. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Abla Afify, also born in Egypt; his daughter, Sarah; family in Egypt; and many, many dear friends. Dr. Afify received an academic scholarship to medical school at Kasr El-Aini, in Cairo, Egypt, graduating first in his class. He served in the Ministry of Public Health in Cairo. After choosing his specialty of Otolaryngology (Ears, Nose, and Throat), he served residencies in Cairo University Hospitals, England, and Buffalo, New York, before starting in solo private practice in Norfolk, Virginia. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, and was a member of the American Academy of Facial, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Medical Society, the International College of Surgeons, the Medical Society of Virginia, the Virginia Society for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Tidewater Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Society, and the Norfolk Academy of Medicine. He was affiliated with many area hospitals, including Sentara Norfolk General, Sentara Leigh Memorial, and Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters; he was among the first to perform surgery and provide emergency room coverage at Chesapeake General at its inception; and he was perhaps most well-known and well-loved at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. In his forty years of private practice, Dr. Afify enjoyed caring for patients of all ages, who will remember his cheerful greeting, “What’s the good news with you today?” He had a special love for his youngest patients, who would run to give him a hug and climb up in his lap. It was not unusual for him to treat three and four generations in the same family. In addition to his skillful, gentle touch, a special gift he gave each patient was his time and focused attention. He never rushed. He developed excellent working relationships and close friendships with many of his colleagues; however, in addition to the many area physicians who referred patients to him, his patients were the reason his practice thrived for so many years, as they expressed to their families and friends their appreciation of his compassion, gentleness, and kindness as well as his skill, knowledge, and expertise. Everywhere Mohamed Afify went, he made lifelong friends. A devout Muslim, he had respect for and deep friendship with people of all faiths. A fascinating teller of true stories, he was an even better listener, with a genuine interest in people. He was gifted with an amazing memory for faces, names, and facts, and was always interested to learn more from each person he talked to. Nothing gave him greater pleasure than helping others, whether by free medical care, a gift, advice, or compassionate listening. He is greatly missed. Funeral prayers will be held 12:45 p.m., Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the Mosque and Islamic Center of Hampton with interment to follow at Parklawn Memorial Park. Donations for research toward Merkel Cell Carcinoma to University of Washington MCC Research; c/o Paul Nghiem, MD, PHD; 850 Republican Street; Brotman Building Room 242; Box 358050; Seattle, WA 98109. Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family. Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, VA 23666.