Memories of Donal Joseph O'Donoghue

Donal was very welcoming from my first day on RCP Council. He made it his business to make me feel welcome and gave me a tour of his serene office! He showed wisdom and was generous with his time. There is such a large gap now he has gone. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

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In response to "What did Donal love to do?"

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Sue Crossland

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Jenny Vaughan

Shared a heart

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Rachel Vokes

Unexpected sad news to hear of Donal's passing. A very brief encounter as colleagues but what an incredible impact. So kind and professional. Unforgettable gentleman.

Many many condolences to his family and colleagues.

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Ibi Erekosima

2006, Harrogate, UK

Donal and Dr Ibi Erekosima. He is my Mentor, Friend and Colleague. Let his memory be a blessing

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Ibi Erekosima

2019, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Formerly Hope Hospital), Stott Lane, Salford, UK

Donal with Ibi Erekosima and ISN fellow Dr Prelador Fakurogha

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Rachel Middleton

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Ibi Erekosima

Professor Donal O'Donoghue has been a great mentor to me from when I started working with him in 2004 and it is still in memory when he agreed to be the guest speaker to the annual conference of the Nigerian Nephrology Association in Abuja Nigeria in 2006 amidst the logistic challenges.
He was a real source of encouragement and motivation to me in the advancement of my career. He was such a professional and kind man, who worked with colleagues with so much warmth and for his patients, championing their access to excellence in their kidney care and experience at the highest level. He will forever be missed. I deeply express my heartfelt sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Let his memory be a blessing to us all.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Colin Geddes

I first met Donal at a BRS Conference in 1999. Over the years we met at many renal events and Donal was always friendly, kind and interested in people and, above all, the problems faced by people with kidney disease. He was always a popular guest at Scottish events. A great leader and role model with a healthy sense of fun. So disappointed to hear of his passing and am thinking of his family and many friends.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Yvonne Alexander

A most unexpected sadness. I had the honour and privilege of meeting Donal on numerous occasions, in his capacity as Medical Director of The Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network, through Health Innovation Manchester activities and Masterclasses, sharing interests in cardiovascular disease and algorithm based Personalised Medicine. He was a true creative visionary with a unique ability to reach out and influence people in building bridges across medical, biological and computing disciplines, supporting joint clinical academic and industry proposals and working to revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of patients with renal disease. From his friends in the Renovascular Group and Centre of Bioscience in Manchester Metropolitan University, we are deeply saddened by the untimely end to Donal’s inspirational life, and would like to say farewell, and send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Yvonne Alexander

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Fiona Lemmens

On behalf of all of Donal's friends and colleagues at Liverpool CCG where he was a valued team member from 2012-2018.

The common theme amongst all of us was how much we all learned from Donal's wisdom and experience as a clinician but also how he was such a genuine, warm and kind man.

We all feel grateful that we had the opportunity to know him and his influence in Liverpool will not be forgotten.

https://www.groupgreeting.com…

Fiona Lemmens
Chair Liverpool CCG

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Ilora Finlay

Donal's untimely death is an enormous loss to the College and to medicine. He gave his life to medicine during his career, ultimately becoming a tragic casualty of the pandemic. His warm personality, combined with a cheerful calm approach to problems and a personable style were refreshing. He made each person feel they mattered to him personally and his energy for life, working and intellectual pursuit were infectious. His family and close colleagues will miss him terribly.

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Katie Honney

One of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Thank you for everything Donal, you are so missed.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Robert Lewis

Donal was a friend an ally to me for nearly 30 years. It hit me like a physical punch when I heard the news that he was no longer with us. Donal was special; no matter how important he became, he never became self-important. He was just a great guy who had a positive effect on all those who had the privilege to know him. Many will miss his massive contribution to the world of renal medicine (as described elsewhere), but the lucky ones will also remember and miss his company at the conference hotel bar in the early hours. Thanks for everything, pal.
May I pass on my deepest sympathy to Donal’s family. Thank you for sharing some of him with us.
Robert Lewis

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Matthew Graham-Brown

Kathryn Mills-Webb

Sue Crossland

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Ailsa Dunn

My sincere condolences to Professor O’Donoghue’s family and friends and all the many people who will mourn him. I didn’t know him but had very much enjoyed reading his emails as RCP Registrar . These emails were warm, inclusive and easy to read. He was a gifted communicator as well as a hardworking, knowledgeable and kind physician . He will obviously be sorely missed.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Tim Goodship

Donal epitomised the very best of renal medicine. He was a superb clinical researcher, an outstanding leader, a great teacher and a most supportive mentor. But most of all he put the care of each and every patient before everything else. I cannot think of a better role model.
I personally am extremely grateful to Donal for the support that he gave us when we were battling to get approval for the use of eculizumab for aHUS. He told me how moved he had been by meeting a young aHUS patient who was consigned to a lifetime of dialysis with no hope of transplantation because of the risk of disease recurrence.
The Renal Community owes an enormous debt to Donal for his outstanding contributions.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Bev Matthews

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Matthew Graham-Brown

I was introduced to Donal at an Association of Renal Industry meeting in 2013 where (as a baby registrar) I felt a little out of my depth. Donal's reputation as one of the leaders of our specialty preceded him and I was a bit daunted when he came over to chat. Any fears I had were completely misplaced and we ended up sitting down for dinner and talking all evening about all number of things. Like so many have reflected he was interested in people, helping to build them up and helping them to succeed. Donal had no reason to remember me from that first meeting, but he always did and he always made time to catch-up, check-in and invariably impart some wisdom.

Just before the first lockdown in March 2020 I gave the RCP Turner-Warwick Lecture for the East Midlands in Loughborough. My parents lived nearby and came to watch. Donal was at the meeting too and knew my parents were attending. He had no reason to do so, but he took the time to meet them when they arrived, chatted to them while they waited and sat with them during the presentation. It was the type of kindness you can't learn or teach and meant a great deal. The photo is from that day and I'm so pleased to have it.

Donal's impact and influence on the world of renal medicine (and so much more) is multi-generational. Many other knew him far better and for longer than I did, but that's the measure of the man - he made everyone feel valued and special and that is why he will be so greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his life and legacy should make you immensely proud.

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graham warwick

Gill Manning

Hugh Rayner

James O'Donoghue

Kathryn Mills-Webb

Marie O'Donoghue

Alice Smith

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Jane Youde

Donal was really supportive when I started my role as a clinical director at the RCP. He was a wise and measured opinion that I greatly valued and will miss terribly.

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In response to "What act of kindness did you witness from Donal?"

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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John Harty

I was Donal's senior register in 1995 - he was a role model, mentor and friend. He was excellent clinically, academically and politically but what made him extra special was his humanity - to both his patients and to his colleagues. He was kind, genuinely caring and always good fun. My condolences go out to his family and colleagues. I will miss him but will never forget Donal for all of his support and for his inspirational leadership.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Marie O'Donoghue

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graham warwick

I first met Donal in the late 80's at my first nephrology SR/SpR club meeting at Warwick University. I had travelled by train from Glasgow but Donal and Liam Plant offered me a lift back as they were driving back to Edinburgh. We set off on a memorable road trip stopping at Donal's family home in the Manchester area where his wife fed us, then on to Glasgow to drop me off. I hate to think what time they reached Edinburgh. It was a surreal and entertaining journey.

Over the years, I have met him many times. Although I did not know him well personally, his many achievements in the world of nephrology, in medicine and health service management leave a legacy of which his family can be very proud - a life well and fully lived. He was a fantastic advocate for patients especially in his role as 'renal tsar'. Despite all his achievements, he remained very approachable and helpful to all.

I am so sad to hear this news.

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Matthew Graham-Brown

Kathryn Mills-Webb

Bev Matthews

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Simon Davies

This was deeply shocking news. We have all lost a good and kind friend - one I have known and admired since my training days. What he achieved for those with kidney disease and our speciality is hard to overstate. Thank you Donal for all that you did - and the way you did it.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Bev Matthews

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Richard Banks

A friend through many years. Medicine, especially renal medicine has lost a champion. Never lost the common touch. I last saw Donal when he travelled from Manchester to the Forest of Dean just to open our small satellite unit. Never too grand. Sadly missed

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Gillian Leng

Donal made a fantastic contribution to NICE's work on kidney disease - a brilliant, inspiring colleague.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Bev Matthews

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Maxine Jones

I have very fond memories of working with Donal and his team on the Kidney Care Events - what a delightful gentleman to work with. My thoughts and prayers go to Donal’s family - he will be missed by many.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

Bev Matthews

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Carolyn Charman

On behalf of the NHSX Mission 5 Electronic Referral team and the NHSE Advice and Guidance team we would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Donal's family, and pay tribute to a wonderful and caring physician. Donal had kindly offered to join our new monthly Clinical Council starting this month to improve patient referral pathways. We are deeply saddened by his death and we will greatly miss his enthusiastic passion for patient care and gentle wisdom. He has clearly been an inspiration for many and will be greatly missed.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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Mike Delaney

Very sorry and shocked to hear about Donal.
A real gentleman and a pleasure to talk to about anything and meet at conferences over the years. An empty seat at Old Trafford.
Thinking of his family and close colleagues at this sad time.

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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GEORGE VARUGHESE

2019, University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust

Keele Undergraduate Medical School Physicians Career Roadshow

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Kathryn Mills-Webb

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GEORGE VARUGHESE

Donal came to represent the RCP at a Physicians careers roadshow for Keele University Medical School students... Read more Donal came to represent the RCP at a Physicians careers roadshow for Keele University Medical School students and he was amazing... Read more Donal came to represent the RCP at a Physicians careers... Read more

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Donal Joseph O'Donoghue

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