In memoriam: Rashad Sami Barsoum

Rashad Sami Barsoum, a pioneer in nephrology in Egypt and Africa, and former secretary general (SG) of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and inaugural past president of the African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN), died on October 25, 2022, at the age of 81 years, after a long illness with pancreatic cancer and its complications, all borne with much fortitude and serenity. Barsoum’s contributions to ISN were massive and distinguished. As SG (1999–2005), he demonstrated outstanding leadership, and made friends everywhere he went. He was a major leader for ISN in Africa and the Middle East. Barry Brenner remembered his novel ideas to promote nephrology in Africa that opened doors. He was greatly sought as a speaker because of his outstanding knowledge, technical skills, remarkable clinical acumen, and eloquence. Barsoum served ISN in various capacities for over 20 years—beginning with leading ISN’s first Africa conference on electrolytes in Cairo in 1987, councillor in 1993, SG in 1999, member of the nomination committee 3 times, and chair of the Awards Committee (2009), among many ISN positions. Noteworthy was the transformation of a fledgling Sister Center program into a vibrant set of world partnerships. Former President Robert Atkins said “We worked closely together. Rashad was much loved and respected throughout the world of nephrology—he will be greatly missed.” Barsoum was truly one of a handful of leaders that forever established ISN’s dominant global outreach in nephrology. The ISN honored Barsoum with the Roscoe Robinson Award in 2007 and the ISN Africa Pioneer in Nephrology Award. Rashad Barsoum was born in Assiut, Egypt, on July 3, 1941, son of cardiologist Dr. Samy Barsoum and Souad Bidwani. He was a brilliant student, and at the age of 14 years, he began medical school in Cairo, soon joined by 2 younger brothers, who later became a surgeon and an oncologist. Rashad graduated from the Kasr-El-Aini Medical School, Cairo University, with a bachelor’s degree (MB BCh with honors) in 1963, having gathered gold medals in physiology (1959), toxicology (1961), and internal medicine (1962). He undertook postgraduate training as a registrar in internal medicine at Cairo University from 1963 to 1965 and was awarded the Diploma of Internal Medicine (DM with Distinction) in 1964 and a Doctorate in Internal Medicine (MD) in 1969. He trained in nephrology at Cairo University from 1965 to 1967, becoming a clinical demonstrator from 1967 to 1969. He was a clinical fellow in nephrology at the University of Paris (Hôpital Tenon) in 1971, acquiring French as one of his languages; a nephrology registrar at the Urology Institute of London in 1972; and a World Health Organization fellow in renal transplantation at the University of Minnesota in 1975. He achieved the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians [MRCP(UK)] in 1972 and was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCPE) in 1982 and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of London (FRCP) in 1986. Barsoum was at the forefront of bringing up-to-date nephrology to Egypt. Clinically, he was a key person involved in initiating dialysis and was involved in transplantation in Egypt. He was the founding chairman of the Cairo Kidney Center in 1987 and the Kasr-El-Aini Nephrology and Dialysis Center in 1994, served as the director of the King Fahd Nephro-Urology Center from 1999, and enabled proliferation of several satellite centers in greater Cairo. He was appointed chairman of internal medicine at Cairo University in 1999; and he served as chairman of the medical sector of the Supreme Council of Medical Universities, the National Medical Board’s Central Committee, and several other legislative and regulatory committees in the Ministries of Health and Higher Education and the National Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. Barsoum was an institutional builder in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East. He was a key founder of the Egyptian Society of Nephrology and served as its SG from 1981–1993 and president from 1996 to 1999 and participated annually in its successful programs for all his remaining years. Barsoum was the founding president and SG of AFRAN, which now encompasses most African countries. In the Middle East, he was heavily involved in the Arab Society of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation (ASNRT), and The Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation (MESOT), as well as others. Barsoum was a serious, prolific scholar and contributed extensively to knowledge and teaching. Notable were his seminal contributions to the understanding of kidney involvement in schistosomiasis. He was the editor/coauthor of 48 international textbooks/chapters and 206 research articles. He served as an editorial board member of 20 international journals and as a reviewer for 39. He supervised numerous doctoral and master’s degrees in internal medicine, clinical pathology, biochemistry, anesthesia, biochemical engineering, and nephrology nursing. He was highly sought as a compelling, well-organized, and authoritative speaker and participated in about 200 congresses, including 100 international, 60 regional, and 40 Egyptian meetings. He served as congress president, honorary president, or chairman of the organizing committee in 8 national and international meetings. He was a keynote speaker at the Second AFRAN Congress in Nairobi, Kenya (1990), and the Eighth World Congress of Nephrology, Cape Town, South Africa (2015), and prominently engaged in regional congresses over 30 years. His exemplary character and vast experience made him a mentor in ethical issues for numerous physicians and institutions. On his death, there was an outpouring of appreciation by his Egyptian colleagues for his lifetime contributions and guidance. His impact is clearly articulated by friends and colleagues (and former students). Amin Roshdy Soliman stated “Barsoum was such a great person, he will live in our memories forever; I am honored and blessed to have known him for more than 40 years,” and Adel Afifi, in his Facebook comment, said “his friendship was a great treasure and his giving was limitless.” The Egyptian Nile and State Appreciation Award and the Tarek Suhaimat Award of ASNRT were made in recognition of his contributions to the region. He held academic positions in several international organizations: examiner, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, since 2001; and international advisor, Royal College of Physicians of London, 2004 to 2007. He was visiting professor at American and European Universities: The State University of New York (New York, NY; Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; the Sheffield Kidney Institute, Sheffield, UK; Danube University; University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Khartoum University, Khartoum, Sudan; Ministry of Health, Dubai General Hospital, United Arab Emirates; and many more. In addition, he frequently served as an examiner at universities in the region. He was a hard worker and was intensely committed to serving globally, including as the regional officer for Africa for the International Society for Artificial Organs (ISAO) from 1988 to 1999, member of the Publications Committee (1990–1996), and vice-president of the Society (1990–1999). He was a member of the Board of Trustees (2001–2007) for the International Society for Hemodialysis (ISHD) and member of the Presidential Nominating Committee (2002, 2015). He served Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) initiatives in various capacities: member of the International Board (2002–2003); member of the Executive Committee (2003–2005); member of the Board of Directors (2003–2007); chairman, Committee for Implementation in Countries Without Clinical Practice Guidelines (2003–2005); counselor (2007–2009); member, work group on Acute Kidney Injury Clinical Practice Guideline (2007–2009); and international guidelines reviewer (from 2007). He was “keyman” for Egypt (1980–1993) for the European Dialysis and Transplantation Association (EDTA); and group member (from 1990) and press speaker (in 1992) for the Collaborative Transplant Study Group, Heidelberg, Germany. He was a member of 16 international, regional, and national societies, and was awarded life-time honorary membership of the International (2009), Egyptian (2000), Lebanese (1998), and South African Societies of Nephrology (1992) and the Association of Egyptian American Scholars of North America (2012). He was a person of many diverse interests and hobbies. At home, he was the ultimate handyman—anything electric—he loved making systems, such as for security and irrigation, and fixed anything at home, including plumbing, electricity, and carpentry. He even made a dialysis machine all by himself early in his medical life, long before they were imported into Egypt. He was an avid reader of science and literature, like the novels of Dan Brown. He savored action movies, like James Bond, at movie theaters, and loved classical music and Arabic songs. He loved traveling, enjoyed trying new foods, and made a point of learning about new cultures he encountered. He kept in shape by swimming regularly. He had a tradition of gathering the whole family together every other year on a cruise, something everyone loved and looked forward to. Rashad was a person of faith as member of St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. He was a close friend of the late Pope Kirolos, who greatly impacted his life. He was a key member in the church administration, and close to his heart was the recent award of wisdom from the current pope for his service to the church. As a fellow, he met medical student Mona Tawfik Farid, who became a consultant in psychiatry, and their loving marriage of 51 years led to an exemplary close family, with 3 accomplished daughters—all followed their parents into medicine: Drs. Noha (nephrologist), Nadine (radiologist), and Mireille (former pediatrician and now marketing consultant); their spouses (Drs. Hany Farid [radiologist] and Ramy Edward [general surgeon]); and 5 grandchildren (Alexander, Daniel, Annie, Nader, and Farida). Rashad Barsoum died peacefully at home, surrounded by his whole family and having prepared himself in all matters. Over 2000 people attended his funeral at St. Mary’s Church, showing how much he was loved and respected by everyone who knew him as a kind and compassionate man; and he is remembered for his gentle, peaceful smile and his boisterous laugh. He is greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and students worldwide and mourned by the nation of Egypt. The authors warmly thank Nadine Barsoum, Robert Atkins, Barry Brenner, Amin Soliman, and Adel Afifi for their beautifully phrased comments.

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