Dr. Abbasey, long-time surgeon and medical director at Medina Memorial, retires

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 December 2020 at 2:13 pm

Dr. Sallah Abbasey

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced the retirement of Dr. Sallah Abbasey, effective at the end of 2020.

Dr. Abbasey has practiced surgery for more than 30 years and has been chief of surgery since 1997 at Orleans Community Health.

In a press release Friday morning, Orleans Community Health expressed thanks to Dr. Abbasey for all his years of dedicated service to Medina Memorial Hospital and the community. His legacy of high ethical standards and devotion to his profession and community have been outstanding.

Dr. Abbasey came to the United States from Pakistan in 1963 to train as a surgeon. He interned at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. before coming to Buffalo, where he did his surgical training at the University of Buffalo. In 1968 he completed the program. While studying for his surgical boards, he briefly joined the VA Medical Center in Canandaigua.

He came to Medina, where he explored the area and established his business.

A group of citizens, including Barbara Waters, Van Hungerford, Jack Botsford and several others in Medina had a vision to bring specialists to the community and Medina Memorial Hospital. They were able to recruit a surgeon, an OB/GYN, an internist and a pediatrician through this program.

Dr. Abbasey was part of their vision and established his surgical practice in Medina in 1970. It is noted he was the first county board certified general surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons for Orleans County.

On his first day of practice, Dr. Abbasey had an emergency case at midnight, where he had to activate the on-call surgical team. The case could have waited until morning, however, Dr. Abbasey was nervous with his first emergency case. The surgical team was very professional about coming in so late and everything went well for that first emergency. No one can say what would have happened if they had not acted when they did.

On a whim, Dr. Abbasey offered to take the medical director position temporarily when he learned they were having difficulty filling that job. The temporary position lasted from 1997 to 2020. During his tenure, Dr. Abbasey has been president of the medical staff, president of the County Medical Society, the Cancer Society, as well as a member of the County Health Board, to name a few.

Dr. Abbasey has been married to the former Christine Siedikowski from Buffalo for 52 years. They have four children and now enjoy their many grandchildren. Dr. Abbasey still considers Medina to be his home, even though he and his wife have moved to Rochester to be near one of their daughters. He appreciates all the love and support given to him and his family through his long career in Medina.