Arif Chowdhury

       Arif Chowdhury recently passed away on Monday, April 6 at age 72. He was a neurologist who first practiced in Layton, Utah from 1998 to 2014, later in Federal Way, Washington from 2015 to 2024, and finally in Anchorage, Alaska until he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2025.

     Since childhood, Arif aspired to be a doctor, and after completing his internship at Baylor College of Medicine, he selected neurology as his specialty. He impressed his mentors at Baylor with his aptitude for neurology and had a deep desire to help people with complex brain disorders. Arif’s father suffered a major stroke, impressing upon him the importance of guiding patients through the brain’s many challenges. This experience led him to pursue his residency in neurology at the University of Washington, followed by a fellowship under Dr. Mark Bromberg at the University of Utah in neuromuscular diseases. Arif treated every patient with exceptional care, recognizing that the human brain is remarkable and resilient—capable of recovering in unexpected ways. 

     Arif began life in a family of seven, with three brothers and one sister, and his family grew even larger over time. His childhood pranks and games earned him the love of dozens of cousins, uncles, and aunts, while his warmth and openness extended that circle to friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even the local fire department. He showed his wife Marina, mother-in-law Inna, daughters Polina and Bashira, and his son and daughter-in-law Kirill and Negla that kindness and compassion are what truly make a family—though good food and warm smiles certainly helped.

     After his fight with cancer, Arif was laid to rest on Thursday, April 9 next to his first wife Mina at Redwood Memorial Estates in West Jordan, Utah. We are sure he is now catching her up on all that has happened over the past 22 years.