Salem Ali Eltabal (1959-2019)

Dr. Salem Eltabal passed away suddenly in Benghazi on February 18, 2019, at the age of 60 years. Dr. Eltabal was formerly a consultant physician at the Endocrinology Unit, Jamhoriya Hospital, since 1997 and a teaching staff at the Faculty of Medicine, Al Arab Medical University, since 1999.

He started his basic training in Benghazi hospitals progressed up to senior registrar in the main teaching hospitals of Benghazi (1986–1996) under the auspices of the Libyan Board of Medical Specializations leading to Board certification in 1996 and rise to the consultant physician post in medicine at the Jamahiriya Hospital, Benghazi, Libya, held for 6 years (1997–2002).

In 2003, he moved to the UK. He started by taking the required registration examinations and some introductory observer attachment for 6 months before undertaking further clinical training posts in Nottingham and Sheffield (2003–2005) and a locum consultant physician, in endocrinology and diabetes in Mansfield (2006–2007). On his return to Libya in 2007, he returned to his consultant physician in endocrinology at the Jamahiriya Hospital, Benghazi, where in addition to general diabetes and endocrinology care and metabolic bone disease, he also joined the Faculty of the Medical School of the University of Benghazi and he also took several leading roles in the Faculty of Medicine, Benghazi University, in study and examination committee, as Vice Dean for Scientific Affair of Faculty of Medicine, Benghazi University (2013–2014), Vice President of Benghazi University for Medical Faculties (2014–2015). At various times between 2013 and 2018, Dr Eltabal headed several entities including the endocrinology unit at Benghazi Medical Center, The Libyan Board of Medical Specializations, the scientific committee at Benghazi Medical Center, and the Department of Medicine at Benghazi Medical Center. His research interests involved osteoporosis and diabetes. He was very influential in the establishment and the life of the Libyan Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology and its annual congresses between 2006 and 2010.

His dedication, his permanent smile and his contagious friendly approach to everybody around him will be remembered by many of his patients, students, and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, his two daughters (Sarah and Aisha) and two sons (Ali and Ahmed). Sarah and Ali have followed their father's tradition and qualified in medicine.

Salem A Eltabal (1959-2019)

Publication History

Received: 25 June 2019

Accepted: 25 June 2019

Article published online:
07 July 2022

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