Professor Bahia H. Moustafa, born in Cairo on November 5, 1948, passed away at the age of 76, on November 9, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, surrounded by her loving family. She was a nationally, regionally and internationally recognized leader in pediatric nephrology. During her amazing presence, she significantly impacted multiple generations of patients, colleagues and trainees.

Graduating from Cairo University Faculty of Medicine in 1971, Prof. Moustafa completed her residency in pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University in 1975 during which she got her Pediatrics Diploma in 1974 and Medicine Diploma in 1975. After obtaining her Medical Doctorate degree in Pediatrics from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University in 1979, her focus was on how to improve the care provided to children with kidney diseases. She went on to train in the UK in the pediatric nephrology units of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in 1986 and Guy’s Hospital in 1990. She then returned to the Department of Pediatrics and shared in building the Center of Pediatric Nephrology & Transplantation (CPNT) Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University from the ground up where she worked until she passed away.

Prof. Moustafa was one of the pioneers in the field of pediatric nephrology in Egypt. She had the intellect and clarity of thought to analyze the issues and provide rational solutions. Her passionate dedication to improving the lives of children with kidney diseases led her to successively establish numerous services, first, peritoneal dialysis in 1987, followed by bedside ultrasonography for pediatric nephrologists and ultrasound-guided renal biopsy in 1988. In 1990, she established the first pediatric hemodialysis unit at Cairo University Children Hospital and was appointed as its first director. Thanks to her competence, perseverance and natural leadership, she earned the respect of her team, patients, families, authorities and NGOs that enabled her to establish the very first pediatric kidney transplantation program at ElMunirah Children Hospital, Cairo University in 2008 which is up and running to save hundreds of children with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. She was also strongly involved in the foundation, organization and achievements of the Egyptian Society of Pediatric Nephrology and Transplantation (ESPNT).

Her enthusiasm to improve the medical care of African children with kidney diseases led her to be a huge driver behind the foundation of the African Pediatric Nephrology Association (AFPNA). In 1999, with strong support from IPNA Secretary General Ira Griefer, Prof. Moustafa shared in the foundation of the African Society of Pediatric Nephrology (AFPNA) and served as its founding Secretary General. A year later, AFPNA held its first congress in Cairo in 2000 and she was the Congress President. Her contributions to put African pediatric nephrology on the global map gained international support and recognition. She was the first African and Egyptian Council Member selected for the International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) (2000–2006), and again her focus was on the children. In 2019, she was awarded the “Women Empowerment Award” for her great contribution to the African health sector.

Prof. Moustafa was selected as the Chair of the nephrology subcommittee of the Egyptian Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee (EPCPG) in 2019. She led by example and thanks to her remarkable leadership qualities of stimulating and inspiring her colleagues, the adapted guidelines for the Egyptian pediatric nephrology clinical practice for urinary tract infection (UTI), steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS), steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and kidney transplantation were successively published between 2020 and 2024.

Prof. Moustafa has been contributing for almost 45 years in training junior doctors not only clinically but also academically. Through her academic journey, she supervised 178 Master’s degree and 76 Medical Doctorate degree fellows in pediatrics and pediatric nephrology. She had trained and supervised doctors from all over Egypt as well as trainees from many, regional African countries.

Her active contribution in the “Kidney genomics for practicing nephrologists” IPNA Teaching Course held in Cairo May 2024 was impressive to its IPNA speakers Franz Schaefer and Elena Levtchenko, who were later saddened by the news of her passing. “I was truly impressed by her enthusiasm and dedication, what a loss to the community”, Franz Schaefer. “She was such a wonderful and dedicated person”, Elena Levtchenko. The sad news was also painful to African colleagues: “Her contribution to the pediatric nephrology in Africa at the early stage and particularly to the French speaking members will be remembered always”, Isaac Ocheke.

Prof. Bahia Moustafa’s dedication to pediatric nephrology and academic medicine was only exceeded by her love and devotion to her family. She is survived by her son Hesham, her daughter Heba, her brother Hani, her five grandchildren and by the many patients, families and colleagues whose lives she forever changed.

An astute clinician, Prof. Moustafa was consulted by colleagues on difficult cases. Her greatest joys were her family and her young patients. She was utterly devoted to her patients who loved and respected her for that. Prof. Bahia Moustafa, or as we used to call her, Dr. Bahia, made the world a better place through her unwavering support, care, passion and devotion. We were humbly honored to be her trainees and later her friends and colleagues.

Her legacy lives on, she will be lovingly remembered by her colleagues, her students and her devoted patients and their families.