Mongi Ben Hamida

Mongi Ben Hamida , born 1 February 1928 in Kelibia, and died on May 4, 2003, was a Tunisian neurologist and neuropsychiatrist.

Education After finishing his primary education in Kairouan, Ain drahem and Kelibia, Mongi Ben Hamida completed his secondary education at Sadiki College, where he got his baccalaureate degree in 1948. Later, he enrolled in medical studies at the Medical School of Paris (divided in 1970) where he specialized in neurology.

His thesis on the dento-olivary pair in 1965 won him a Prix de Thèse (thesis prize) and quickly became an international clinical and neuropathological reference.

Mongi Ben Hamida held a diploma of advanced studies in histology and cytology under the direction of Professor René Couteaux.

Medical career During his stay in France, Mongi Ben Hamida worked as a clinic chief at the Salpêtrière hospital, in the unit of Professor Raymond Garcin, then in Professor Boudin's, Simultaneously, he joined Michel Fardeau's research program on Myopathies as a collaborator at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research. Later, he moved to New York City, where he completed a one-year internship as an associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Indeed, this represented a great obstacle for Ben Hamida during the conduction of his research, since he could not rely on the support of the local and international scientific communities, a situation which, at times, prevented him from sharing his results and articles in scientific journals.

Throughout his time as Chief Physician at the Neurology Institute (until 1995), he was known for his professionalism, his efforts in training his students and his exceptional behavior towards his patients.

He was also a Knight in the French Legion d'Honneur.

He also chaired the Arab and Pan-African Neurological Sciences Associations and is elected vice-president of the World Federation of Neurology.

Political career Mongi Ben Hamida was the mayor of Kelibia, his hometown, as well as minister of public health from 1977 to 1979.

Tribute The institute he founded took his name posthumously on May 12, 2012.