News

The ISN was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Professor Rashad Barsoum.

Professor Barsoum served the ISN in several roles, including as ISN secretary-general from 1999-2005. He was a pillar of ISN’s most renowned programs, directing both the Fellowship and Sister Renal Centers Programs in the early 2000s. He received the Roscoe Robinson Award in 2007 and the ISN Pioneer Award – Africa in 2014.

Professor Barsoum was a professor emeritus and former chairman of internal medicine at Cairo University and founding president of the African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN). He was involved in many positions within African public health and published almost 200 research papers. He was the recipient of national and international awards and honors, including the Egyptian State Appreciation Award in Advanced Technological Sciences in 2009.

ISN Past-President Vivek Jha commented, “This is a great loss to global and African nephrology. In addition to being an exceptional clinician and researcher, Professor Barsoum was a visionary leader and instrumental in shaping the direction of the ISN at a critical time. Many of the ISN programs that are so popular and highly regarded were started under his leadership.

He was also always very kind and thoughtful to younger colleagues (which included me) and made time to discuss the issues we wanted to talk to him about. Personally, I learned a lot from him.”

Pierre Ronco, editor at KI, added that his passing was “a major loss for nephrology much beyond Africa.”

The ISN offers its sincerest condolences to Professor Barsoum’s family, colleagues, and friends.