Y. K. Seedat BSc, MBBS, MB, BCh

Professor YK Seedat, an Emeritus Professor in the School of Clinical Medicine, is the first recipient from Africa to receive the 2013 Pioneer award for Africa, from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). The recipient of two South African Medical Association (SAMA) awards and several national and international awards, Seedat continues to make outstanding contributions in the field of medicine.

The ISN award was recently established to recognise outstanding and sustained contributions to the establishment and/or development of nephrology in the various emerging regions of the world. Nominations were sought from the ISN Global Outreach Regional Committees; and one individual from each region was selected.

ISN President, Dr John Feehally said: 'Dr Seedat, your selection for this honour by the society reflects our recognition of your multiple roles in the advancement of medicine and medical education in South Africa but particularly for your pioneering efforts in difficult times to insure that renal replacement therapy in your country was available to all of its citizens regardless of their race or the color of their skin. You have set a standard that exemplifies the importance of diversity in the ISN mission and brought renal care in your country to an entirely new level’.

Seedat began his academic undergraduate career in Dublin in 1950. From 1957-1958, he served his internship in Medicine and Surgery in Jervis Street Hospital (Dublin, Ireland). Seedat also served as Academic Registrar of the Royal Infirmary, Manchester, England from 1967 to 1968.