Friday, February 28, 2025, 8:39PM |  50°
MENU
Advertisement
This image provided by Dr. Mohamed Eisa shows Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudan-born American citizen, left, posing for a photo with Dr. Eisa. Sulieman was the second American killed in Sudan after battles between two rival Sudanese commanders erupted in Khartoum and turned the capital city into a war zone.
1
MORE

‘It was completely scary’: A Pittsburgh-area doctor fled his native Sudan after fighting broke out

Mohamed Eisa via Associated Press

‘It was completely scary’: A Pittsburgh-area doctor fled his native Sudan after fighting broke out

Mohamed Eisa had traveled back after father’s death, days before conflict began

Last month, Dr. Mohamed Eisa, a gastroenterologist who practices in Jefferson Hills, traveled to Sudan after receiving news that his father had died.

Dr. Eisa arrived in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, on April 12.

By April 15, armed conflict had broken out between two competing groups, Rapid Support Forces — a paramilitary force that was part of the transitional government in Sudan — and Sudanese armed forces, composed of the country’s military. There had been earlier rumors that fighting would begin, Dr. Eisa said, but many people didn’t expect it to occur so soon or that they would be trapped in the eastern African country.

Advertisement

“On Saturday at around 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning, we were woken up by sounds of missiles, and heavy machinery, guns and bullets … we were told it was going to go away in a couple of hours, and that didn’t happen,” Dr. Eisa said, speaking from a secure location in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

President Joe Biden makes a toast Wednesday during a reception and dinner for the Combatant Commanders, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Mr. Biden signed an executive order Thursday authorizing sanctions on people who “threaten the peace, security or stability” of Sudan.
John Wagner and Claire Parker
Biden authorizes new sanctions on Sudan, says violence 'must end'

“It was completely scary and frightening.”

Dr. Eisa’s father, Eisa Ahmed, had been suffering from complications from a 2021 brain bleed.

After being trapped in the country during the early days of fighting, Dr. Eisa said he arrived in Saudi Arabia within the past week and hopes to return to the Pittsburgh region soon. Since he had traveled on a work permit, he had an interview with the U.S. Embassy over the weekend. He is waiting to be approved to return to the United States.

Advertisement
Image DescriptionClick for larger image

As a gastroenterologist, Dr. Eisa said his schedule quickly filled once he started working with the Allegheny Health Network last August.

Dr. Simran Kochhar, director of gastroenterology for AHN, said that when he and others interviewed Dr. Eisa for the position, they were immediately impressed with his compassion and generosity.

Because gastroenterology touches on so many different types of medicine — colon disease, Crohn’s disease and liver transplants — it’s important that patients have a good relationship with that doctor, Dr. Kochhar said.

“He’s very important to our division because he provides some care to hospital patients in the south of Pittsburgh ... his patients can suffer because he has to cancel his procedure days and clinic days throughout the [region],” Dr. Kochhar said.

A woman inspects a destroyed medical storage unit Tuesday in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province, as deadly clashes between rival generals' forces have entered their third week.
Katharine Houreld and Hafiz Haroun
Sudan's warring generals closely matched ahead of latest cease-fire

“We have a very good group of physicians who have stepped up, [but] when a patient has a personal relationship with their physician, they want to continue that relationship.”

Dr. Eisa said countries like Sudan are in great need of additional medical support and infrastructure. He said that was one of the concerns of Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a fellow gastroenterologist who was stabbed to death last month as fighting in Sudan began.

Dr. Sulieman always told Dr. Eisa and others that places like Sudan needed greater assistance when it comes to general health care, he said.

In his role as secretary general of the Sudanese American Physicians Association, Dr. Eisa said he has been focused on delivering medical supplies and providing other assistance to Dr. Sulieman, as the latter spent much of his time in Sudan providing medical care.

While patients who need to receive dialysis regularly can have sessions two or three times a week in the United States, Sudanese citizens often wait up to two to three weeks to get a treatment.

Rehabilitating hospitals and providing those core medical supplies and services is vital, said Dr. Eisa, who now sees it as a way of honoring Dr. Sulieman.

“We all could do something to make sure his legacy and what he really wanted to do is happening.”

Steve Bohnel: sbohnel@post-gazette.com

First Published: May 8, 2023, 6:19 p.m.
Updated: May 9, 2023, 11:03 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (12)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington
1
news
Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing minerals deal after Oval Office blowup with Trump
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, center, and teammates run the 'Tush Push' play during an playoff game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia.
2
sports
Ray Fittipaldo: The Packers are right. The NFL should ban the 'Tush Push'
The Downtown skyline with the Fort Pitt Bridge on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
3
opinion
Brandon McGinley: Is Pittsburgh doomed?
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.
4
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits at quarterback
Co-owners Mary Mancini Hartner and her son, Nick, stand  in front of the original mixer at Mancini’s Bakery in Stowe.
5
life
Iconic Eats: Stowe-based Mancini’s Bakery has been feeding the area since 1926
This image provided by Dr. Mohamed Eisa shows Dr. Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman, a Sudan-born American citizen, left, posing for a photo with Dr. Eisa. Sulieman was the second American killed in Sudan after battles between two rival Sudanese commanders erupted in Khartoum and turned the capital city into a war zone.  (Mohamed Eisa via Associated Press)
Mohamed Eisa via Associated Press
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story