Syed Arshad Husain, M.D.

Dr. Syed Arshad Husain M.D., former Chief and Director of Training of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Missouri and the Senior Vice President/Medical Director of Psychiatry Services of Compass Health, died peacefully the morning of September 24th, 2022 at his home in Columbia, Missouri with his wife of over 50 years, Jennifer Devine Husain, at his side. He was 84 years old. A titan in the field of Child Psychiatry and a foremost expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dr. Husain’s greatest impact was the result of his decades-long worldwide humanitarian work serving the most vulnerable as they coped with the grief and trauma in the aftermath of the unimaginable destruction of both natural disasters and human created war zones.

Dr. Syed Arshad Husain was born on June 25th, 1938, in Delhi, India. The fourth of eleven children, he learned from his father, Syed Mumtaz Husain, the importance of education, a strong work ethic, and a principled life. From his mother, Akhtar Zamani, he witnessed the value of compassion and unconditional love. Dr. Husain would meld both of his parents' attributes into his life approach. Before the age of ten, a young Arshad found himself in the middle of civil duress as his homeland was “partitioned” into the nations of India, West Pakistan (Pakistan), and East Pakistan (Bangladesh). As devout Muslims, it was decided that the family would migrate to Karachi where other extended family members resided. During this dangerous and harrowing journey, he observed the numerous atrocities when humanity refuses to solve their perceived differences peacefully, but instead resorts to unimaginable acts of violence. This experience left an indelible impression and shaped the central theme of his professional and humanitarian efforts: the advocacy for and care of children.

As a young man, Arshad excelled both at academics and athletics.  A standout sprinter at Dow Medical College in Karachi, he qualified for the 1960 Olympics in Rome but turned down this opportunity to further pursue his medical career. This pragmatic choice led him to some of the world’s most bustling Metropolises - first to London, then to Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City, and finally to McGill University in Montreal. It was at the latter where he met Jim Chapel and, recognizing Dr. Husain’s passion and endless potential, recruited him to join the fledgling Psychiatric Department at the University of Missouri in Columbia. At first glance an unlikely fit - Columbia’s population was less than 50,000 at the time and he was one of the first Muslims in the community - Dr. Husain would go on to plant deep roots and forge an over 50-year career at the University, rising to Chief and Director of Training of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Early in his tenure at MU, in a life that required an endless amount of courage, he made what was likely his bravest decision: asking out on a date a woman he often later referred to as “the most beautiful he ever had seen.” Her name was Jennifer Devine and she happened to be the oldest child of Missouri Football Coach and future Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Devine. While Arshad immediately endeared himself to his wouldbe mother-in-law, Joanne Devine, it took a little longer (including a failed kickoff attempt in his snakeskin shoes during a Devine family football game) to win over the Tiger legend. Dr. Husain eventually became Coach’s close friend and confidant and developed a genuine kinship with the entire Devine Family.

After a short courtship, the two were married in 1972, electing both Catholic and Islamic ceremonies. Their union resulted in the birth of two sons: the first, Kareem (Keary) Daniel Arshad Husain in 1973 and later, Abraham Darius Arshad Husain in 1977. Dr. Husain showered his two sons with boundless love and would shamelessly brag about them to anyone who would listen. Keary and Darius idolized their father and, while never pressured to do so, attempted to follow him, each in their own ways. Keary would represent the field of medicine as a noted trauma/emergency surgeon and intensive care doctor based in St. Louis while Darius chose the route of education and service in his role of Executive Director at Face to Face Academy, a Charter High School in St. Paul, MN focused on those most At-Risk for dropping out of High School.

In the early 1980’s, Dr. Husain’s mother and father passed away while his younger siblings were still in the process of coming into their own. Arshad pulled his brothers and sisters aside and told them “not to worry, I will make sure that everything will be alright.” From that moment on, he became the patriarch of the entire family. This promise, however, extended beyond the typical fatherly support and guidance. He ensured that his siblings were able to pursue every opportunity including sponsoring their applications to become U.S. Citizens and promoting their own pursuits in the field of medicine. This support extended to the next generation, Dr. Husain’s nieces and nephews, as they continued the tradition of becoming doctors and obtaining advanced degrees.

Shepherding the careers of many aspiring physicians was a role he would find himself beyond family ties. Through his work at the University of Missouri, he trained a legion of residents. He was especially giving of his time and resources to international students looking to break through the hyper-competitive world of medical school and residency. There is unlikely a child psychiatrist in the entire region that wasn’t either trained or influenced by Dr. Husain.

The 1990’s defined an evolution in Dr. Husain’s professional and humanitarian endeavors. This prolific period was fueled by two significant developments. The first was spurred by his introduction to Al Greimann, with whom he would develop a brother-like bond. Starting with a modest 40-bed psychiatric hospital in Windsor, Missouri, their partnership was indispensable in the formation of what is now Compass Health. This conglomerate of hospitals and clinics employs over 3,200 individuals and has grown to be the largest mental health system in Missouri and the third largest in the United States. As Senior Vice President/Medical Director of Psychiatry Services, Dr. Husain oversaw a team of over 100 psychiatrists and mental health practitioners. His leadership style was described as both transformational and democratic; it didn’t matter if you were a doctor or the housekeeper, “the one with the best idea wins the day.”

The second was the spark of what would become his humanitarian efforts. Dr. Husain completed his first Hajj, the pilgrimage to the Kabba in Mecca required by all Muslims. This experience drew him closer to his faith. Soon after, as he watched in silent horror at the genocide occuring in Bosina-Herzegovina, he awakened to the conviction that he uniquely possessed the necessary tools and resources and it was his duty to step off the sidelines and make a difference. Over the next three and half years, he would travel to Bosnia 15 times accompanied by his son Keary on more than one occasion. HIs principle mission and that of the members of the mental health team that volunteered their talents was to work with the group most exploited and vulnerable in times of war: the children. It was during these travels, he met Elma Dizdar who served as his interpreter and guide. Such was their connection that he would henceforth refer to her as daughter.

Building from the lessons learned from his experiences in Bosnia, Dr. Husain formed the International Center for Psycho-Social Trauma at the University of Missouri. Dr. Husain realized that the traditional model of disaster intervention contained a major limitation. The life cycle of grief and trauma continues long after the vast mobilization of resources is removed and the crisis is deemed concluded. Dr. Husain's great innovation was to empower the individuals in these communities who would remain to continue the healing work in the months and years ahead. His trauma team at the University of Missouri trained approximately 7,500 teachers, physicians, nurses and other volunteers in Bosnia, Kosovo, Russia, Palestine, Afghan refugee Camps in Pakistan, earthquake disaster zones in Gujarat, India, tsunami disaster areas in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, earthquake disaster zones in Pakistan/Kashmir, and more locally the aftermaths of Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing, Hurricane Katrina and Maria, and the devastation of EF5 Tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

Dr. Husain’s humanitarian efforts extended beyond disaster response. He founded the International Medical and Educational Trust (IMET) and through this non-profit, he established a hospital and birthing center in Karachi for those who lacked access to quality medical care. Seizing upon the notion that education is the clearest pathway to advancement, Dr. Husain formulated the Mothers as Teachers (MAT) model that allowed thousands of Pakistani youth the opportunity for schooling in a system that often shuts their doors to the less privileged.

Despite an agenda that would fill the calendars of ten members of his profession, Dr. Husain was also a prolific contributor to Academia, publishing over 70 papers in noted medical journals, including the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He authored seven professional books on various aspects of child psychiatry including “Road Map to Power” co-written with his son Darius. He was a member of twelve professional societies in the United States and internationally, where he was elected to key leadership positions.

Always shunning the spotlight and preferring to emphasize the contributions of those around him, Dr. Husain could not avoid the numerous accolades and awards that were bestowed upon him. A small selection of these honors include:

⬥The Bruno Lima Award by the American Psychiatric Association in for his outstanding contributions to Disaster Psychiatry.

⬥ The Irving Phillips Memorial Award by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for a “Lifetime of contributions to preventing mental illness in children and adolescents”.

⬥ The “Pride in the Profession Award” by the American Medical Association “to recognize a physician whose volunteer service and public health advancement brings great credit to the medical profession.”

⬥ The “Doctor of the Year” award from the National Council of Well Being (nominated by his peers at Compass Health).

⬥ The Catcher in the Rye Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry honoring an individual "who has made sustained and significant contributions to the field of children's mental health."

⬥ The Citation of Merit Award, the University of Missouri School of Medicine's highest honor, "for contributions to the field of medicine."

⬥ Missouri Governor Bob Holden proclaimed July 13, 2001, as Syed Arshad Husain, M.D. Day, in honor of his outstanding humanitarian work throughout his career.

With the philosophy of “do good until I no longer can,” Dr. Husain continued his humanitarian work and fulfilled his role as Senior Vice President/Medical Director Psychiatry Services of Compass Health until three weeks before his 82nd birthday when a series of serious health setbacks forced his retirement. A man whose world was larger than life, spent his final two years in a quieter existence centered on his wife, children, and what he considered his most priceless treasures: his four grandchildren.

Upon reflection on how one man could make such a positive difference in so many lives, those who knew him best identify qualities that were interwoven in the fabric of his being. A tireless work ethic that seemingly allowed him to bend space and time. An unshakable faith in Allah who calls us to a life of service to others. A warmth and kindness that when you spoke to him, he made you feel like you were the most important and beloved person in the world. An incalculable optimism that, despite witnessing the darkest moments of our recent history, there was always light and that this hope for the future was best personified in the innate goodness of our children.

He is preceded in death by his father Syed Mumtaz Husain, mother Akhtar Zamni, brothers Raghib ul Hassan and Mumtaz Akhtar, and Sisters Zaib Naqvi and Surriya Mumtaz. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, sons Keary and Darius, daughter Elma, his daughter-in-law Jennifer Plum, his grandchildren Daniel, Ava, Margaret, and Charlie, brothers Massod Akhtar, Khalid Anwar, Shahid Mumtaz, and Rashid Mumtaz, sisters Khalida Yousafi and Shehanz Maudood, dozens of nieces and nephews who adored him, and the countless individuals who consider him a father, brother, mentor, and friend.

A foundation is being established to continue Dr. Husain’s considerable legacy. Donations can be made to the “Dr. Syed Arshad Husain Hope for the Children Memorial Fund” ℅ Jennifer Husain, 5909 Ivory Lane, Columbia, MO 65201.  Donations can also be made online by going to the following link: https://square.link/u/B3DN7r9X