Living his passion and helping others live theirs
Dr. Tarif Bakdash is driving UK’s Child Neurology Program to reach new heights. At the same time, he’s helping his team and their young patients excel by fostering a culture of caring, curiosity and collaboration.
Pass by Dr. Bakdash's office and you’re likely to see a provocative question or saying on his door. “What life is worth living?” “When do you feel most alive?” “In the darkest of nights, the stars shine the brightest.”
Each week’s posting, usually outside the field of medicine, is intended to inspire self-reflection and conversation.
Dr. Bakdash’s door reflects a lot about the pediatric neurologist, chief of the division of Child Neurology for the UK Kentucky Neuroscience Institute. With a master’s degree in the philosophy of medical ethics from the University of Toronto, a Master of Education in the health professions from Johns Hopkins University and special training in leadership and creativity from the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, he is, at heart, a curious and lifelong learner.
“Really, it all goes together,” he said. “Philosophers tend to be deep questioners. There’s so much we don’t know and understand in neurology. And kids’ brains are changing and evolving continuously. I love the challenge of trying to understand the most complex organ in the world.”
During his medical training, Dr. Bakdash debated his career options. His uncle, a neurosurgeon, brought him into the OR, but Dr. Bakdash discovered it wasn’t the right fit. When he won a competition among pediatric residents for fastest newborn nursery diaper changing at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, he found his calling.
Fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Rush University and Baylor College of Medicine — in pediatric sleep medicine, epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology, movement disorders and child neurology, among others — followed.
Dr. Bakdash came to Lexington in September 2023, ready for a new endeavor and a different work environment. “When you’re young, you want to work in big places, but as you get older, you start realizing there is much more in life,” he said.
The number of children in need in Kentucky, as well as the University of Kentucky’s supportive and collaborative atmosphere, were important to him and come up as he recruits today. “Most who go into medicine do so to help others. What better place for that if not UK? And then I ask candidates if they want to work with people they truly like,” he said. “I am working with nice, collegial, humble people. It feels like a family here and you don’t find that in many medical centers anymore.”
The university’s and department’s goal of growing its child neurology department into a top-ranked leader in the region is built on the strong foundation established by many longtime and outstanding KNI physicians, Dr. Bakdash said.
“We already have amazing services in headaches, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, neonatal neurology, neuroimmunology, neurogenetics, and movement disorders,” he said. His short-term agenda includes building centers of excellence led by exceptional team members (in neuromuscular disorders, as an example).
Knowing that a healthy and happy team leads to the best care for patients, Dr. Bakdash encourages everyone to live their passion and to seek life-work balance. As for himself, Dr. Bakdash walks to and from his office each day and helps care for his aging mother who lives with him.
When he’s in clinic, kids love his trademark Lego and Disney ties, which reflect his playful nature. “The Lego tie is 3D and kids are always trying to grab it,” he said, recalling his own love of Legos as a child.
As he embarks on year two of the job, Dr. Bakdash wants everyone to know his door is always open. If you stop by, be prepared for a friendly visit and possibly a chat about the question of the week.
