Dear Colleagues,

It is my solemn duty to inform you, as president of the Renal Association, of the tragic and untimely passing of Donal O’Donoghue, the Renal Association immediate past president, British Renal Society past president, registrar of the Royal College of Physicians (London) and our great friend, colleague, and special person, on the night of Sunday 3rd January 2021.

It is so cruel that Donal has been cut down by COVID-19 at such a young age.

I do not need to tell you that Donal was a titan of UK Nephrology and medicine and an inspirational leader of our community, with over three decades of dedicated work focused on improving the care of patients with kidney disease.

I am sure you will wish to join me in offering your condolences, thoughts, prayers, care and support for his wife Marie and his three children and four grandchildren during these dark times.

We will open an electronic wall of remembrance in the next few days so we can start to share our loss through our appreciations and memories of Donal.

The Renal Association will look to join with the Royal College of Physicians to hold a joint memorial in the summer, where we can all get together and celebrate Donal’s massive achievements and great humanity.

With best wishes,

Dr Graham Lipkin