SAMJ FORUM
IN MEMORIAM

Bryan Kies

Professor Bryan Kies passed away peacefully on 18 July 2011 after a long illness borne with great courage. At the time of his death, he was a Specialist Neurologist at Groote Schuur Hospital and an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Cape Town.

Bryan Kies earned the MB ChB degree with honours from UCT in 1971 and proceeded to specialise in General Internal Medicine and then Neurology at Groote Schuur Hospital from 1973 to 1977. In 1976, he was admitted to the Fellowship of the College of Physicians of South Africa, and later to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

Apart from two stints overseas, as a Postgraduate Fellow at the Institute of Neurology, Queens Square, London, in 1977 - 1978, and as a Fellow in Neurology at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1986 - 1987, he dedicated his life to the care of patients with neurological disorders, and to the training of generations of students and registrars at Groote Schuur Hospital. He distinguished himself as a continental expert in the management of patients with epilepsy and was on the African Commission of the International League Against Epilepsy. He also played a leadership role in the Department of Medicine as the Convenor of the Physicians Conference (2006 - 2011); in the health service of the Western Cape as the Coordinating Clinician for General Internal Medicine (2007 - 2008); and, nationally, as a Secretary of the College of Neurologists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (2002 -2011) and as a member of its Senate. In addition to his many professional activities, he played an important role in the anti-apartheid movement as a member of the New Unity Movement which has contributed greatly to the intellectual development of the struggle for justice and freedom in South Africa.

Professor Kies is survived by his 90-year-old father, his sister and her family.

Associate Professor Alan Bryer
Division of Neurology

Professor Bongani Mayosi
Department of Medicine

Professor Marian Jacobs
Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town

Professor Anil Madhari
President, Colleges of Medicine of South Africa