Born on 22 May 1901, he graduated at Cairo in 1923. After working at Guy's Hospital during the 1930s, he was appointed Professor of Surgery in the University of Alexandria on 16 December 1942. He resigned this post after a few years to protest against the appointment of a younger foreign professor as head of the section. On 21 October 1950 Professor Kamil Hussein, Dean of Heliopolis University appointed him to the Chair of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine there. "Afify" Hilmy held this post till his death in 1963. He left a widow but no children.