Dr. Aljarallah was a highly respected and beloved pediatric neurologist at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, who spent most of his short career treating children with neurological disorders and disabilities while researching and teaching at the College of Medicine of King Saud University.
In the few years before his premature passing, he took upon his shoulders the heavy responsibility of helping patients with autism and autism spectrum disorders — a condition that was, at the time, almost unknown to both the public and medical professionals. He was passionate about that task, and it consumed much of his time and energy.
In his forties he was diagnosed with cancer while leading a large nationwide study to establish the prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders among Saudi children. In the last stages of his illness, Dr. Aljarallah was organizing the first international symposium on autism and related disorders in Riyadh, while drawing the blueprints and preliminary plans for an academic center for autism research and treatment at King Saud University. Cancer did not wait: it took his life months before the symposium's opening address, and years before the completion of the nationwide autism study and the establishment of the research center he had envisioned.
His legacy
His death was a shock to everyone who knew him — his family, his colleagues, his patients and their families. He remains an inspiration to the students he taught at the College of Medicine, to the neurologists who care for autistic children, and to the patient families who became advocates for improving the care of their loved ones.
He was born in Riyadh on 22 January 1958, and passed away on 28 June 2004. He was a husband, and a father of seven.
1958 · 1377هـ|Life
Born in Riyadh
Born on 22 January 1958; studied at Al-Yamamah Secondary School in Riyadh
1976–1983 · 1396–1403هـ|Education & Training
MBBS — King Saud University College of Medicine
Graduated from the College of Medicine in Riyadh, followed by an internship at King Khalid University Hospital
View certificate1983 · 1403هـ|Positions
Demonstrator, Department of Pediatrics — KKUH
1984–1988 · 1404–1408هـ|Education & Training
Pediatric residency — King Khalid University Hospital
1985 · 1405هـ|Education & Training
Diploma in Child Health — Dublin, Ireland
Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
View certificate1988 · 1408هـ|Positions
Pediatric consultant — Suleimaniah Children's Hospital
1989 · 1409هـ|Education & Training
Jordanian Board in Pediatrics
View certificate1990 · 1410هـ|Positions
Consultant pediatrician and deputy chairman — King Saud Hospital, Unaizah
1990 · 1410هـ|Positions
Consultant-in-charge, pediatric ambulatory and emergency care — KKUH
1991 · 1411هـ|Committees & Memberships
Membership of the American Academy of Neurology
Later serving on its Standards, Therapeutics and Technology Assessment subcommittees (1997–2005)
View certificate1991–1993 · 1411–1414هـ|Education & Training
Child neurology fellowship — King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
View certificate1992–1995 · 1412–1416هـ|Committees & Memberships
Board member, Saudi Association for Disabled Children
Also serving on its medical care committee, then supervising the Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (1993–1995)
1995 · 1415هـ|Positions
Chief of Pediatrics — Al Fanateer Hospital, Jubail Industrial City
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu
1997 · 1417هـ|Education & Training
Fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) — London
1997 · 1417هـ|Education & Training
Arab Board in Pediatrics — Arab Board of Medical Specializations
View certificate1997–1998 · 1417–1418هـ|Education & Training
Postdoctoral pediatric neurology fellowship — University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
1998–2004 · 1418–1425هـ|Positions
Consultant pediatric neurologist and head of the child neurology unit — KKUH
Also assistant professor at King Saud University's College of Medicine and examiner for its students and for the Arab and Saudi fellowships
1998 · 1418هـ|Honors & Awards
Listed in Marquis Who's Who
In Who's Who in Science and Technology and Who's Who in Medicine and Health Sciences
1997–2000 · 1417–1421هـ|Honors & Awards
Co-investigator, the national research project on disability in Saudi children
Funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
2001–2004 · 1421–1425هـ|Committees & Memberships
Chairman of the experts committees for polio eradication — World Health Organization
2003 · 1423هـ|Honors & Awards
Principal investigator of the national study of autism and related developmental disorders
The first national study of its kind, under a grant from KACST
2004 · 1425هـ|Life
His passing
He passed away on Monday 28 June 2004 (10 Jumada I 1425 AH) after a three-year struggle with illness, while leading the autism study and chairing the organizing committee of the 1st International Autism Symposium, which convened after his passing