For someone from the field of surgical precision, this philosophy couldn’t have been more precise in describing this World’s most talented cardiologist’s working ethics.
From his very first innovation in interventional cardiology to his most recent quest, Dr. Fayaz Shawl has propounded the very essence of ‘possibility’. And through out his sparkling career he has continually inspired hope and trust, usually at times of great risk. This defiant attitude to pursue simple solutions in bleak circumstances has indeed positioned Dr. Shawl as a pioneer, innovator, surgeon-par-excellence and above all an epitome of undying humane spirit.
Another commendable aspect is the genesis of this erudite maestro from the poetic valleys of Kashmir. Dr. Shawl received his medical degree from Kashmir Medical College in 1972 and completed his residency in England. In 1977, Dr. Shawl moved to the United States and completed his cardiology fellowship at The Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This is where
Dr. (Maj.) Shawl brought the military into the balloon age when he performed the first Angioplasty in the United States Military (Army, Navy, Air Force) at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1981. From here onwards, Dr. Fayaz Shawl played a stellar role in the destiny of Interventional Cardiology.
From 1982, Dr. Shawl refined his leadership role in Interventional Cardiology at Washington Adventist Hospital while keeping his clinical faculty appointments at Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC and presently at George Washington University School of Medicine. During his stint, he was the first to perform Mitral Valvuloplasty in the Washington DC metropolitan area in 1985. In the same period, Dr. Shawl also developed the famed “Shawl Technique” (percutaneous approach to cardiopulmonary bypass support ) in 1988 for ’high risk angioplasty and cardiac arrests. His unique and innovative technique is a true life-saver especially when conducted in a cardiac catheterization Lab like the CATH LAB we have acquired at Zulekha Hospital. Inspiring more hope is a Miraculous Shawl Statistic, since the introduction of this “Percutaneous bypass support technique in the Cath Lab, he has had no mortality (Death) during interventional procedures .
True to the spirit of an inspiring innovator, he has passed on ‘The Shawl Technique’ and trained physicians through out the world at times with live demonstrations from the CATH lab. His expertise over coronary, carotid and other peripheral techniques, even non-cardiac interventions like valvuloplasty have also been widely tutored.
Another Dr. Shawl ‘medical moment in high risk’ interventional cardiology was when he used both the Eclipse Holmium Laser as well as the AngioTrax mechanical device in 1999 for Percutaneous Transluminal Myocardial Revascularization on terminally ill patients. Dr. Shawl also performed the same procedure as part of Research at New Delhi.
Currently in pursuit of stroke prevention, the number two cause of death, Dr. Shawl along with his co-research team have pioneered the technique of carotid artery stenting and he performed the first percutaneous carotid artery stenting in Washington metropolitan area in 1995. If interventional cardiac procedures were to be the ocean, ‘absolutum dominium’ is Dr. Fayaz Shawl’s contribution.
Dr. Shawl has a very active, an interventional fellowship program at Washington Adventist Hospital in association with the accredited program at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. His drive for the progression of interventional cardiology is imminent from his association of various prestigious medical councils and the academic responsibilities he shoulders through out the year. Additional to this, he has authored over 150 leading articles, abstracts, editorials, book chapters on interventional cardiology and also published a book “Supported Complex and High Risk Coronary Angioplasty”.
Dr. Shawl is acknowledged to have performed the most interventional procedures as a single operator than any other interventionist in the world and has been the recipient of innumerous awards and felicitations. But this grounded gentleman and gentle man, after having spent the past 24 years at Washington Adventist Hospital, Dr. Shawl plans to help to establish interventional cardiovascular centers to provide modern cardiac care to the poor and importantly needy parts of the world where it is not currently available...
Heart Care at Zulekha Hospital, Dubai is proud to associate with such caliber of excellence who will partner our promise of delivering quality healthcare to the UAE. It’s true - a chosen few excel in their field of specialization, while the extra-ordinary keeps inspiring excellence.