From Vice Chancellor Office to Hometown Streets: Dr. Muhammad Umar’s Gift of Care

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar, the Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University, exemplifies the rare union of academic leadership and unwavering medical compassion. Known both for his distinguished career in hepatology and his visionary role in transforming medical education in Pakistan, Dr. Umar has redefined what it means to serve in public office. Under his stewardship, Rawalpindi Medical University has emerged as a center of clinical excellence and academic integrity. He has modernized the infrastructure, championed a research culture, and instilled a deep sense of responsibility among faculty and students alike. Yet, despite holding one of the most demanding administrative roles in the country, Dr. Umar remains deeply rooted in his original identity, that of a compassionate physician. Here is his personal narrative to hometwon visit:

"Alhamadolillah, this time Eid  was bit different, decided to pay prayers at the shrine of great saint & great supporter of Quaid e Azam, in Pakistan independence movement., Pir Jamat Ali Shah Lasani of Ali Pur Syedan District Norowal. I usually go there at least once a year but could not go for last 2/3 yrs because of  bad condition of Narowal road. This time road was fantastic. Story of Pir Sb goes back before partition when my great grandfather came from Kashmir to have: Bait of Great Saint of that time, Pir Syed Jamat Ali  Shah Sb. After partition 1947, my grandfather with my school going father (Allah SWT bless his soul in eternal peace) migrated to Pakistan shelterless to my now native village near Head Marala  Sialkot. My father could not go to school for one year as headmaster very strict on uniform which was difficult to afford by my refugee homeless family. Any way I used to company my grandfather as 5th class student to Pir Syed Ali Hussian Shah Sahib who was grandson of Pir Syed Jamat Ali shah Sb ( As Grand Pir Sb had died ). This 6 decades association of respect & religious learning continued till this Eid, Alhamadolillah. Pertinent to mention that Pir Ali Hussian Shah Sb also fought along with his Mureedan in Kashmir in 1948. Just add, Pir Syed Jamat Ali Shah was great friend & contemporary of Pir Meher Ali Shah Sb of Golra Sherif & Caliph of Pir of Choora Sharif well before partition . Pir sahib prayers & influencer  paid a great role in my strong belief in God, religion & all success of my life & family. My close friend Dr shahid Hameed was with me on this trip & we decided to visit Great Sikh Saint in Kartar  Pur near Narowal, an amazing story of love to God & love for all humans. Guru sb was & is equally respected by Sikhs & Muslims. A beautiful Shrine is built & maintained by Govt of Pakistan. I just saw the Sikh families praying with same Vigour,  which I was doing at my Pir sahib shrine  with same vigour & respect half an hour before, still dazzled?, Third was off course Graves of my grand parents & parents whose prayers is everything for me & my family not only what I achieved in this world but surely the world hereafter. My father wish to continue to medical service of my village, which is continued over last 50 yrs till time of my medical College Days, Alhamadolillah"

As you can see in his expressions, what truly distinguishes Prof. Umar is his enduring commitment to humanity. This Eid, when many in positions of power retreated into private celebration, he returned to his ancestral village not with ceremony but with purpose. There, he established a free medical clinic, providing care to the underserved, the elderly, and those for whom modern healthcare remains a distant promise. It is gestures like these that reveal the actual depth of his character: a man who has not allowed prestige to obscure the pulse of human suffering. His presence was not symbolic; it was hands-on, heart-first. In an era where detachment often accompanies ascent, Prof. Umar continues to show that leadership, at its best, is a form of healing.

According to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, "I have long admired Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar for his scholarly excellence, but it is his enduring compassion that leaves the deepest mark. His recent Eid visit to his hometown, where he established a free medical clinic, was not only an act of service but also a reflection of his lifelong commitment to healing. We need many more professionals/Vice Chancellors like Dr. Umar.