In Memoriam: Lesley Rees MD, FRCPCH

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a wonderful  friend and colleague, Professor Lesley Rees. Lesley has contributed immensely to the educational mission of IPNA, in particular in her role as Co- Editor of Pediatric Nephrology for 12 years, leaving an indelible mark on the journal’s growth over the past decade. Her dedication to the quality and content of the journal as  being essential to the education of our pediatric community was unsurpassed.  Of course, Lesley  dedicated her professional life to improving the lives of infants and children with chronic kidney disease  and she helped train  generations of pediatric nephrologists globally to look after children with kidney disorders, always emphasizing the importance of clinical expertise, dedication to excellence and compassion.  For this, she was  awarded the IPNA Lifetime Achievement Award in  2016, our society’s highest honor.

While there is undoubtedly great sadness with her passing, we must celebrate her substantial contributions to our community and recognize how lucky so many of us have been to have had the opportunity to know her as a colleague and a dear friend.  To quote from the perfect introduction of the Festschrift published in her beloved journal  in her honor in 2021 that was written by Michel Baum, her Co-Editor of the journal for a decade, “She is loved and respected by her patients, their families, trainees and her colleagues.  One of the greatest joys of my career has been working with such a wonderful colleague and friend”.  So many of us feel exactly the same.    

Hui Kim Yap, IPNA President

Brad Warady, IPNA Treasurer