Digital Legacy Archive · 1988 – June 14, 2025
Dr. Qusay Salih
Hussein Al-Mamari
Ph.D. · MSSW · Scholar · Humanitarian · Author
Surviving a suicide bombing in Iraq at 17 that took his sight, Dr. Qusay rebuilt his life through education, advocacy, and service — earning three degrees from UT Austin, serving on the board of Doctors Without Borders USA, and publishing his memoir weeks before his passing.
Explore the archive — select a chapter:
Pain is something many of us endure, but how we respond to it varies. Resilience, determination, and finding meaning in suffering can make a difference.
— Dr. Qusay Salih Hussein Al-Mamari
Dr. Hussein addressing graduates at the University of Texas at Austin
His story
Mosul → Amman → Austin → Legacy
Qusay Salih Hussein Al-Mamari was born in Abujuna, outside Mosul, in northern Iraq. In August 2006, at age 17, a suicide bombing stole his sight and left him with severe facial injuries requiring more than 70 reconstructive surgeries over many years.
He received treatment at Doctors Without Borders' reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan — where he also served as a patient counselor for fellow survivors. In 2012, he resettled alone in Austin, Texas. He taught himself English entirely through listening and memory, learned Braille, and enrolled in school.
By May 2025, he had earned three degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, culminating in a Ph.D. in social work — a promise fulfilled to his late parents. He passed away peacefully on June 14, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was 36 years old.
His story is not primarily one of tragedy. It is a story of transformation — from a boy playing volleyball in Mosul, to a doctor whose name now graces an award given every year to the graduate who best embodies his spirit.
His journey in images
A Life Photographed
From the bombing in Mosul to the podium at UT Austin — a visual archive of courage, scholarship, and service.
His memoir · Published 2025
Can You Open My Eyes?
This is not just a story of survival — it is a story of vision, purpose, and possibility. In Can You Open My Eyes?, Dr. Hussein takes readers far beyond the moment that changed his life. Through deeply personal reflections, candid humor, and powerful storytelling, he offers an intimate look at what it means to rebuild identity from the inside out.
From learning English entirely by ear, to navigating university as a blind student, to finding belonging in unfamiliar places — he recounts the everyday moments that became milestones. Co-authored with Monica Sakura Urso and published just weeks before his passing, this memoir preserves his voice, his wisdom, and his irrepressible humanity.
His lasting impact
A Legacy That Continues
Dr. Qusay Salih Hussein Al-Mamari left institutions changed, awards established in his name, and a generation of scholars and humanitarian workers transformed by his example. His impact was not posthumous — it was built deliberately, year by year, through service.
Outstanding Young Texas Ex
Posthumously honored by UT Austin for exceptional achievement in career, community, and service. Awarded 2025.
Read UT tribute →Qusay Hussein Humanitarian Award
Established by the Steve Hicks School of Social Work — awarded annually to the graduate who best demonstrates resilience, strength of character, and compassion.
Read the announcement →First MSF Patient on Their U.S. Board
Dr. Hussein became the first former Doctors Without Borders patient to serve on the MSF USA board of directors — a historic first that reshaped the organization's governance.
Read MSF tribute →Can You Open My Eyes?
Published in 2025, his memoir preserves his voice for every person who will ever need to be reminded that rebuilding is possible — and that a life of service is the highest form of resilience.
Get the memoir →