December 15 1940-January 15 2022
Dr. Syed Latafat Husain Hamzavi, devoted husband of Aquela Hamzavi, father of Iltefat, Fasahat, and Asra Hamzavi, passed away in the early morning hours of January 15, 2022. Dr. Latafat Hamzavi was born in Aurungabad, India in 1940 and graduated from Nizam College in Hyderabad, India. He went on to pursue his medical education at Liaquat Medical School in Hyderabad, Pakistan and then completed his dermatology training at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. There he pursued his passion for research and completed his PhD on the use of zinc for the treatment of leg ulcers. Dr. Hamzavi always recalled with fondness how the British dermatology community embraced him despite the prevailing ethnic biases of the time. He married Dr. Aquela Ali Hamzavi in 1969. In 1977, they relocated to Detroit, Michigan to work with Dr. Herman Pinkus to develop the Contact Dermatitis Unit. In 1980, he started his full-time academic practice at Wayne State University. He was one of the first South Asian and Muslim physicians to become an American Board of Dermatology-certified physician. Dr. Hamzavi and his wife started Hamzavi Dermatology in Port Huron, Michigan. This office went on to become the founding practice of Hamzavi Dermatology and Dermatology Specialists with many partner physicians and sites across southeast Michigan. Dr. Hamzavi’s deep appreciation for the humanities gave him a unique leadership style and prompted his philanthropic support for the Pinkus Chair and the Aronson lectureship at Wayne State University, The Henry Lim research Chair at Henry Ford Hospital, and medical student scholarships at The University of Michigan. Throughout his career, Dr. Hamzavi steadfastly continued his weekly commitment to Wayne State and retired as a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Wayne State University. He was a long time member of the AAD and the Michigan Dermatologic Society.
Dr. Hamzavi cared deeply about his patients and staff alike, following his beloved wife, Aquela’s, lead in treating his staff like family. To his three children, he was a loving father with high expectations and a ready smile. His son, Iltefat Hamzavi, is a highly published and passionate academician at Henry Ford while also serving as the physician liaison and partner for Hamzavi Dermatology and Dermatology Specialists. Dr. Hamzavi’s other son, Fasahat, is triple boarded in procedural dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and general dermatology, and leads the Fort Gratiot office and is also a partner in the group. Latafat’s daughter, Asra, is a psychiatrist with a focus on ADHD. In addition to his career and philanthropic activities, Dr. Hamzavi was proud of his Indian and Pakistani heritage and served on the boards of various cultural organizations, including APPNA, The Pakistani American Association, and was a member of the Indian medical group, AAPI. He also led the weekend Islamic school activities at the IAGD mosque in Rochester Michigan. An avid Urdu poet, he participated in numerous literary events. In addition to these accomplishments, he was a man of deep religious conviction who believed in an inclusive world. He was generous to all and always sought to improve himself.
Funeral services for Dr. Latafat Hamzavi were held at the IAGD Mosque at 865 West Auburn Road, Rochester Hills Michigan on January 17, 2022 at 2pm EST.
In the spirit of Dr. Hamzavi’ s passion for giving back to the community, in lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating;
- Wayne State Univ Dept of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital’s multicultural dermatology center, IAGD, ALIM, ISPU, Crescent Academy
- Zaman international
- The Hamzavi foundation - The Hamzavi Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) tax exempt organization, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. The mission of this foundation is to promote education, healthcare, and research.