Tribute to Professor Dr. Philip George Parikial (1962-2022)
Professor Philip George was born on 28th October 1962 and had his early education in Toronto and later in Ipoh when his father returned and was posted as a veterinary surgeon. He continued his higher education in the University of Mangalore in Manipal and came back and served in the Ministry of Health in Ipoh. He then entered the Masters’ Program in the National University of Malaysia and subspecialised in Addiction Psychiatry, having worked in Canberra and later Kuala Lumpur upon his return. Other than private practice in his spare time, his last posts in the International Medical University were that of Head of Department of Psychiatry and Assistant Dean. He passed away on 25th November 2022.
From someone who was a senior we looked up to in university, to the ‘pull’ who enticed many of us to venture into the field of psychiatry and to the mentor who kept re-affirming that kindness, humility and work ethics mattered most in our vocation, he consistently exuded his innate gift of making everyone around him feel special. He had patience like no other and was non-judgemental, always analysing before acting on his emotions – truly a learning curve and trial for many an impatient clinician he inspired. His stamina for delivery of garnered knowledge was bar none and he had turned up without fail at the recording studio of the radio channel LiteFM weekly to talk about mental health.
Other than his professional workplace commitments, Professor Philip had in the course of his career worked for and achieved many milestones. His passion was Addiction Medicine and he was on the committee of the Addiction Medicine Association of Malaysia and a pioneer trainer for the National Drug Substitution Therapy group. He was active in the Malaysian Psychiatric Association, the Manipal Alumni Association of Malaysia where he was one of the founding editors of its Manipal Alumni Health and Science Journal. He was also a past president of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society and the guiding voice in having the Psychiatry Chapter of the College of Physicians, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia formed and thereafter instrumental in fostering an on-going collaboration with the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia.
He had also contributed many scholarly articles to numerous scientific journals and was a keen supporter of the Malaysian Medical Association (but an even more ardent supporter of Liverpool Football Club!). Unbeknownst to many of us, his contributions extended further with charitable endeavours to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Monfort Boys Home and the Malaysian Catholic Doctors’ Association, both in pro-bono and financial capacities. Despite accolades received, Professor Philip remained humble at all times, a virtue he unknowingly propagated for the rest of us to imbibe, emulate and re-propagate again. His life mission of prioritising other’s happiness and well-being before his was a truly endearing quality.
We will all miss the wonderful moments shared with him, the build-up to conferences, the research, scientific articles and thence publications, and basically just working with him in academia and being guided by the ideas and wisdom he selflessly shared…and not forgetting his efforts to keep us all socially connected during the pandemic, being the one who was always in favour of fraternity support groups. Mere words cannot describe the devastating loss we colleagues and countless other patients and friends feel – our profession may have lost an esteemed psychiatrist but many of us have also lost a most kind, giving and valuable friend, probably the best as it gets.
In closing, we are constantly reminded of what Sarah mentioned at his wake if we find ourselves about to judge or get angry with someone: “Stop! Think what Philip would do.” May Professor Philip rest in peace and may his family – his wife Dr. Susan, daughter Rachel and ‘adopted’ son Miles, father Dr. George, brother Dr. Martin, sister Sarah and brothers-in-law Dr. Paul, George and Lew – have the strength to get through this difficult period. Many thanks for all the lessons in life, undoubtedly thankfully received and will henceforth be faithfully applied.
by Prem Kumar Chandrasekaran