ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FROM DR. FAISAL MUNASIFI, 2023 I.B. HARRISON, M.D. HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENT

Managing Editor’s Note: These are Dr. Munasifi’s notes and not a formal write-up. Please excuse spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Thank you Frank, for that gracious introduction.

Your family's friendship has meant so much to me and my family over the years.

Friends and colleagues, I am humbled to accept the I.B. Harrison, M.D. Humanitarian Award from the Capital Medical Society tonight.

Frank is right. The practice of medicine is about much more than diagnosis or financial gain. For me, psychiatry is not just my profession; it is my passion and my purpose.

I have been interested in psychiatry since I was in high school in Baghdad in the 1960s. I used to buy “Psychology Today” from the McKenzie local bookstore, and read the writings of Sigmund Freud in my free time.

I still remember my medical school classmates telling me, “Faisal, you are going into psychiatry”. They knew even then that I was drawn to psychiatry. They also knew that I failed anatomy because I found it boring. And psychiatry fascinating.

During my residency at the University of Miami, I rotated on both internal medicine and psychiatry services. While focusing on psychiatry, I decided to engage in classical Freudian psychoanalysis. I laid on the couch in the psychoanalyst office four times a week for 3-1/2 years, and unearthed emotions I did not know I had buried. The experience was beyond belief. I came to understand myself, and accept my assets and vulnerabilities. [Some of my friends here today think I could have benefited from a few more years!!!]

Psychoanalysis gave me the tools to know myself. Psychiatry gave me the tools to help others. When it came time to choose between internal medicine and psychiatry, I did not hesitate. Psychiatry was my path.

After completing my residency at the University of Miami, I stayed on the faculty for several years teaching medical students and residents. In 1982, when my wife Nola and I were considering relocation, Dr. Bob Bragg, the director of psychiatric education at the department, [Bragg Stadium at FAMU is named after his father] suggested I visit his hometown. He thought we may like it. So we did. And not long after that, Nola and I moved here. I became staff psychiatrist at Apalachee mental Health Center.

I met Dr. Bud Harrison when I applied for hospital privileges at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. As prior speakers have noted, Dr. Harrison was the medical director, and he set the tone for the practice of medicine in this community. After sharing his expectations for members of the medical staff, he looked at me and said, “why don't you go to private practice, we need some good psychiatrists in the community.” But I had my doubts. I told Dr. Harrison, “I am new here, I do not know anyone, how would I survive in private practice?” He smiled and responded “you will do alright”. Without his encouragement, I do not know if I would have started my own practice in Tallahassee.

40 years and thousands of patients later, I still love what I do. I still look forward to going to the office, learning about new developments and treatments, and sharing this knowledge with others.

Most of all, I enjoy helping people by making a difference in their lives. When demoralized, depressed patients are in my office, I tell them that there is so much we can do for them. Being able to reduce their pain gives me a lot of satisfaction.

I would like to thank my colleagues who have been essential to my practice all these years, many, including Dr. Harrison, lent me their wisdom and guidance throughout my career. Especially I would like to thank Dr. Connie Speer, who has been my associate for over 40 years, and my professional and office staff, who have made coming to the office every day, efficient and fulfilling.

I extend my deep thanks to Nola, for her unwavering support. We have known each other since first grade. And to my daughter's, who let me turn our dinner conversations into decades of instructions on psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

Even now, Dr. Harrison's influence on my career continues. I am proud to receive this award that honors his Legacy.

Thank you.

Managing Editor’s Note: These are Eric and Camille’s notes and not a formal write-up. Please excuse spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Eric

What a special award and an amazing group of past recipients.

Leadership and Advocacy is never easy, especially today’s time when so many of us have forgotten how to disagree or how to embrace opportunities for improvement.

We all have ideas, priorities, values that shape who we are. But occasionally you find that person – that Andrea Friall - who is able to:

To lead and not upset

She can Advocate for and not necessarily against

She has the ability to shape and guide an outcome without taking over situation

She has that balance of confidence and compassion

She leads through action and not lecture.

Those words aren’t from a colleague, those words are from a husband. But I’m sure that colleagues, friends, family, and peers would have similar reflections.

Having met Andrea right here at FSU in 1989, there are many, many stories that I could tell you. In fact, she is probably terrified right now wondering which one I tell…

But she will get a pass tonight because I want to share this moment with our daughter Camille.