Dr. Reza Khatib, M.D. crafted a remarkable career that always reflected his lifelong commitment to medicine, and to improving the lives of people of all faiths – both here and overseas. His achievements as a neurosurgeon and multicultural philanthropist have resulted in very significant breakthroughs in clinical diagnosis and treatment in neurological oncology, the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, and in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Most of all his lifelong mission became to provide support to those working in our major medical institutions every day to find the cure for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and other brain tumors that claim so many victims and devastate so many families.
All of the Khatib projects share his humanitarian intent and transcend politics, whether in America or in his native Iran. They are built on his long and close associations with major medical institutes, American universities and like-minded supporters on both sides of the Atlantic. His projects are designed to function in perpetuity – and will continue Dr.Khatib's legacy well into the future.
Recording by Dr. Khatib
From his early years, Reza Khatib dreamed of being a neurosurgeon. As a medical professional he was profoundly saddened and professionally frustrated by the plight of patients and their families when the diagnosis was glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Dr. Khatib's mission would thereafter become the search for a GBM cure.
His dedications to clinical practice and medical began early in his life. He recalls that when only a boy of ten, living with his family in Mashhad Iran in the Holy City of Mashhad, a very popular public official who served as a security officer sustained a fatal head injury. The officer's autopsy revealed an epidural hematoma, and Reza later learned that a neurosurgeon, if present, could have saved that life.
The incident made a profound impression on that boy of 10 and it was at that moment that his commitment to medicine began. His parent supported his pursuit of a medical career and gave him the advantages he needed. As he completed his regular school attendance, he began to plan his road ahead. He though about medicine, and he thought about the United States.
Reza completed his initial training at Tehran Medical School in 1956 and came to the United States in 1958. A one year internship at Harlem Hospital (New York City) was followed by one year residency in pathology at Barnet Memorial Hospital (Paterson, New Jersey), followed in turn by a one year neurological residency at Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital (Brooklyn, New York).
What followed those initial years of service, both here and abroad, would develop into a lifelong commitment to medical and cultural philanthropy, enabled by his network of personal friends, his highly successful practices, his capacity for empathy for patients and families, his medical and interpersonal skills, his extended family and the commitment he shared with his loving wife
In creating the Khatib Foundation and providing for its Medical Legacy, Reza is provided support for research for eliminating glioblastoma multiforme. This institute is designed to function today, and in perpetuity. Khatib Foundation trustee and personal friend Dr. Henry Brem, Johns Hopkins Director of Neurosurgery, offered the following:
Georgie Khatib
Georgianna Clifford Khatib and Reza enjoyed their loving marriage for 57 years. “Georgie" was born as Georgianna Clifford in Indiana on April 3th, 1930 while her parents were on a road trip.
She grew up in New York City and graduated from Bishop McDonald High School on Eastern Parkway in New York City, later receiving her bachelor's degree from Brooklyn's Saint Joseph College in 1958. She enjoyed a successful career as a special education teacher before accepting the job of principal for all five of New York City's special borough schools for the language and hearing impaired
Georgie loved travel, vacationing five times in Europe even before meeting Reza. Following their courtship, she was immediately embraced by Reza's Iranian family, and became Reza's loving wife in 1965. Georgie and Reza returned to Iran for joyful family visits many times thereafter.
Georgie always encouraged and shared her husband’s altruistic spirit and personal energy. In his medical world, Georgie quickly became the good doctor's most valued companion and assistant to his practice. She assumed office manager duties and joyfully promoted his associations with other health care professionals in the ongoing fight against brain cancers and Alzheimer's disease.
Reza and Georgie were also cultural benefactors who saw bringing people together as their team effort.They always worked to unite those of diffent communities and cultures with projects that included the study of comparative religions at two American universities. In his native Iran, they shared the origination of the Mashad clinic for the indigent, and the first hospice of Mashhad. And both Georgie and Reza enjoyed the game and bridge center they both loved and shared.
Georgie passed away peacefully at home during 2023, and will be missed by her bridge friends, her extended family and her community..
Khatib Foundation Origin
Reza first met Dr. Abraham Rabiner in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Rabiner was Chief of Neurology, and meeting him was a great honor. The photo of them was taken at the Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital of Brooklyn in 1959, the year John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States.
Reza was also introduced to Dr. Jefferson Browder and Dr. Al Cook, who was serving as Chairman of Neurosurgery at Downstate Medical School and Kings County Hospital, where Reza's full five year neurosurgical residency began.
Each years of his residency, Reza's empathy for glioblastoma patients and their families, and his dedication to the task of finding a cure, continued to grow.
His plan for what would become the Khatib Foundation took root.
It was also during that first resident year that Reza met Dr. Andy Parsa at Downstate Medical School, then involved in GBM research at Columbia University.
Dr. Parsa Impressed Reza from the first day they met, for his intelligence and the energy he devoted to his research, and it was at that time that he decided to financially assist Dr. Parsa during his residency and activities – at Columbia University, University of California in San Francisco, and Northwestern University.
The late Dr.Andrew Parza
Working with Dr, Parza, Reza designed a new position, research-oriented, that would be specifically target work on the gliobastoma problem. The result of their association endures as the Khatib/Parsa Endowed Chair for Treatment of Skull-Based Tumors at the University of California, San Francisco.
After serving as the university's first endowed chair, Dr, Parza moved on to further build a wonderful reputation, cut all too short by his untimely death at 47. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Charlotte Shum, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Today, Dr. Shum serves as one of the distinguished Trustees of the Dr. Reza Khatib Foundation.
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Tehran Medical School
1950-1956 | M.D
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University Hospital , Tehran , Iran
1955 – 1956 | Intern
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University Hospital , Tehran , Iran
1956 – 1957 | Gerenal Surgery
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Harlem Hospital , New York
1958 | Rotating Internship
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Barnert Memorial Hospital , Patterson, New Jersey
Jan 1959 – Dec 1959 | Pathology Residency
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Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital
Jan 1959 – Dec 1960 | Neurology Residency
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Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York
Jan 1961 – Jun 1965 | Neurosurgery Residency
Licences
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Licensed to practice Medicine, State of New York
1967 | License #: 098762-1
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Compensation Board, CNS
1967 | Authorization #: 21415
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Diplomate of American Board of Neurological Surgery
May 1969
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Fellow of American College of Surgeon (FACS)
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