UHS honors memory of Dr. Saeed Bajwa

Saeed Bajwa, MD, was known and widely regarded as the dean of neurosurgeons in the Greater Binghamton area. His name became synonymous with UHS' commitment to excellence -- combining knowledge, compassion and expertise to elevate one of our most distinguished services.

Dr. Bajwa passed away on December 13, 2024, at the age of 73. He will always hold a special place in our hearts, for both his contributions to surgical excellence and his incredible generosity.

Born in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, Dr. Bajwa moved to the United States in 1980 to pursue his medical career. His passion for medicine and healing led him to specialize in neurosurgery, a field in which he made an extraordinary impact.

His patients, colleagues, and staff at UHS remember him as a compassionate and patient-centered physician, always seeking the best outcomes for those under his care.

“Over the course of his career, Dr. Bajwa used his talent as a neurosurgeon to provide exceptional care in our community,” said Kay Boland, senior vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer, UHS. “As a healer, he demonstrated compassion for his patients and their families. As a colleague, he was dedicated to ensuring that care at UHS was consistently best in class. He was deeply passionate about advocating for quality healthcare that was accessible to everyone.”

“Dr. Bajwa expected the best of himself and others,” said Rajesh Davé, MD, executive vice president for Clinical Integration and chief medical officer of UHS. “As a visionary clinical leader, he drove the expansion of not only neurosurgical programs but also neuroscience services to the community. His enthusiasm will be missed by his patients, medical students and colleagues.”

Beyond his work as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Bajwa was deeply committed to humanitarian efforts, contributing his time and expertise to underserved communities both locally and abroad, bringing medical care and hope to those in need.

As a long-time board member and significant donor to the UHS Foundation, Dr. Bajwa was generous with financial support for international patients struggling to pay for medical care. Most recently his donations supported the UHS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in recognition of quality care provided for two of his grandchildren as patients of the NICU. He also made several donations to UHS Neurosurgery in support of the new High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

Dr. Bajwa was a mentor to countless young doctors, a leader in advancing neurosurgical techniques, and a strong advocate for education and research in the field. His dedication to the medical field and the well-being of others will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact in our community, and beyond.

Dr. Bajwa is survived by his wife, Zaikra, and his children: Zafar (Maria Bajwa), Omer (Lisa Kinney-Bajwa), Khurram (Sidra Malik), Nida (Omar Sattar), and Lina (Nabeel Minhas) and many grandchildren.