Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz Butt, a physician from White Rock, British Columbia, was recently recognized by The University of Toledo for his pioneering efforts in starting a kidney dialysis program in northwest Ohio in the 1960s and for a generous contribution to an endowed professorship at the University.

Dr. Butt’s generous gift of $100,000 to the University completed the campaign to raise $1 million for the S. Amjad Hussain Endowed Professorship in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, which is named for his long-time friend Dr. S. Amjad Hussain for his myriad accomplishments as a surgeon, writer, explorer, philanthropist and community leader.

While completing his senior residency in internal medicine in 1966 at Maumee Valley Hospital, the predecessor for the Medical College of Ohio that is today known as The University of Toledo Medical Center, Butt began working with a patient who was having to regularly drive 60 miles to Detroit for dialysis treatment. Butt felt strongly that the service should be made available in northwest Ohio and he designed the first dialysis service in Toledo in 1966. That pioneering effort later morphed into a nephrology fellowship at The University of Toledo.

“The gift will help to continue this legacy in northwest Ohio through the Hussain Endowed Professorship,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, UT chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, who honored Butt at the 4th annual S. Amjad Hussain Visiting Lecture in the History of Medicine and Surgery on Oct. 31. “We cannot thank Dr. Butt enough for his generosity.”

“The contribution Dr. Butt made to this community and the world of medicine cannot be understated,” Hussain said. “His gift to this professorship is one that will positively impact thoracic and cardiovascular research and education for decades to come. I am humbled my dear friend’s generosity.”

Butt is a 1960 graduate of King Edward Medical College of Lahore in Pakistan. He came to America for his medical internship at St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, Ohio.

Click here to download a photograph of Dr. Gold recognizing Dr. Butt at the University Oct. 31.

For more information contact Meghan Cunningham at 419.530.2410 or meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu.

Tags: College of Medicine and Life Sciences