We fondly remember respected nephrologist, researcher, and our EMJ Nephrology editorial board member Prof Donal O’Donoghue.
Prof O’Donoghue qualified in physiology and medicine in Manchester, UK and trained in internal medicine and nephrology in England, France, and Scotland.
Alongside his clinical duties at Salford Royal Hospital, where he worked for almost three decades, he was the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Registrar, the inaugural President of the British Renal Society, President of the Renal Association, Chair of the patient support charity Kidney Care UK, the first National Clinical Director of Kidney Care at the Department of Health, and served as a valued member of the EMJ Nephrology Editorial Board since 2017. In 2018 he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to patients with kidney diseases.
RCP President Prof Andrew Goddard remembered Prof O’Donoghue: “Words cannot express how sad this has made all of us at the RCP. Donal was the loveliest person and considered by many to be the ‘big daddy’ of British renal medicine. He was my friend, my wingman, and my confidant. I will miss him terribly.”
Prof O’Donoghue died peacefully at the critical care unit of Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, UK, on January 3rd 2021, from coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He will be sorely missed by the nephrology community and our thoughts are with his family and colleagues.
