Parviz Nikoomanesh
Johns Hopkins Bayview physician served for 46 years and was recalled for his devotion to his many patients
Dr. Parviz Nikoomanesh, a retired Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist, died of brain cancer March 17 at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he had worked for more than 45 years. The Cockeysville resident was 77.
Born in Kermanshah, Iran, he was the son of Ismail Nikoomanesh, a business owner, and Zari Nikoomanesh. Family members said that as a youth he excelled in science and mathematics. He initially wanted to become an electrical engineer, but he also ran his school infirmary.
He earned a degree at Tehran Medical School in 1964 and moved to the U.S., where he interned at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. In 1971, he was named a gastroenterology fellow at the old Baltimore City Hospitals, now the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He remained at Bayview for 46 years and was its director of endoscopy.
“He had heard about Hopkins and he always wanted to work there,” said his wife, the former Susan Amini, a Baltimore City schools speech pathologist.
According to a biography supplied by Johns Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Nikoomanesh was promoted to associate professor of medicine in 1994. He was clinical director of the division of gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins Bayview from 1997 to 2013.
He initially did research in his field with Dr. Marvin Schuster and later spent his days seeing patients.
Hopkins colleagues said that Dr. Nikoomanesh became one of the busiest gastroenterologists at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
He was also a popular figure within the Bayview medical community.
“He was extremely hardworking, dedicated and kind,” said Mary Sobus, his administrative assistant for 30 years. “He was the kind of doctor who was ready to do everything he could. He was a lovable person, down to earth, who could make a patient feel comfortable.”
She said Dr. Nikoomanesh showed considerable interest in his patients’ lives and well-being and was generous with his time when consulting with them.
“He was highly respected not only for his superior procedural skills, but also for his collaborative approach with nurses, physicians, and surgeons,” said a statement from the hospital.
“He was a champion of teamwork, which helped the Endoscopy Center achieve one of the center’s highest scores on patient satisfaction.”
Dr. Nikoomanesh was recognized for “his extraordinary contribution to the Bayview Medical Center” when he received its William McCarthy Award last year.
His colleagues recalled that Dr. Nikoomanesh visited the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor to scope a dolphin suffering an internal ailment.
His daughter, Yalda Nikoomanesh, a New York City resident, said her father loved jazz, Latin and traditional Persian music. He kept a large musical library and was interested in the newest electronic and computer equipment.
“He bought a Commodore computer just about as soon as they came out,” she said. “He also had one of the first wireless phones. They were big and clumsy, but he had them.”
He also collected watches, vintage cameras and pens.
A memorial gathering will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Johns Hopkins Club on the school’s Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles Street.
In addition to his wife and daughter, survivors include a son, Sam Nikoomanesh of Arlington, Va.; three sisters, Lila Krabbe of Cockeysville, and Mahin Nikoomanesh and Monir Nikoomanesh, both of Tehran; and a grandson.