Student Spotlight

In Memoriam:

Dr. Mohammad Amin Jebelli

By: Parisa Dastoori

“He wanted to be remembered as a friend and as a brother, and someone who cared about the people around him and made the world a better place. His profession was a means of him doing that.”

Those who embodied the ideals of knowledge and grace, In the gathering of peers were candles that lit the place, Did not find their way from this dark night till the day: They told their mortal tales and vanished without a trace. Omar Khayyam

(Translated by Sahand Rabbani)

Fifty seven Canadians died on a plane crash in Iran at the beginning of 2020.1 Similar to how a candle illuminates the darkness with the light that it emits, many of the deceased were scientists who enlightened their communities with knowledge. Mohammad Amin Jebelli, a Masters of Health Sciences student in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto, was one such bright candle.

We remember Amin as a 29-year old medical doctor who graduated in 2007 from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. From completing a topranking medical program in Iran, he was well prepared to serve as a family physician1. In addition, he participated in various community volunteering initiatives. For example, he was a volunteer at the Primary School Health Program, which is an annual medical check-up program that screens children for undiagnosed health issues, such as developmental disabilities, medical diseases, and mental health concerns.2

During his practice, Amin became interested in advanced cardiac imaging techniques, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac computed tomography.3 He was curious to learn how these techniques can be used to diagnose cardiovascular diseases; particularly coronary artery disease, which is a prominent cardiovascular morbidity in Iran. Motivated from seeing his patients, Amin wanted to find out ways to help people in his home country of Iran. Thus, he contemplated pursuing a PhD.1, 3

Following his academic passions, in 2018, Amin joined the Translational Research Program (TRP) in the UofT’s Faculty of Medicine. Quoting Dr. Richard Foty (Assistant Professor, TRP) and Dr. Joseph Ferenbok (Director of TRP), “Jebelli attended UofT because of an intense love of learning. He wanted to have (an) impact on patients, so he was looking at a biomaterial that he learned about in Canada (and how) it could potentially be used to treat people in Iran with a specific type of medical condition”.1

Amin was known among his peers at university and the community as a gentle, bright, and caring individual. “He wanted to be remembered as a friend and as a brother, and someone who cared about the people around him and made the world a better place. His profession was a means of him doing that,” recalled Dr. Foty.1

So, let us remember Amin’s character, passions and accomplishments.

References 1. Giroday G. ‘He did everything for everybody’: Remembering U of T student Mohammad Amin Jebelli. U of T News, Jan 10, 2020. [cited 2020 Apr 1]. Available from: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/remembering-u-t-student-mohammad-amin-jebelli 2. Subramaniam V. Mohammad Amin Jebelli. The province, Jan 12, 2020. [cited 2020 Apr 1]. Available from: https://www. pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20200112/284099208407513 3. Aguilar B. U of T students killed in Iran plane crash remembered at vigil. Jan 10, 2020. [cited 2020 Apr 1]. Available from: https://trp.utoronto.ca/student/mohammad-amin-jebelli/

Photo: Dr. Mohammad Amin Jebelli’s Facbook Page