SAGES Magazine

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 1 | 50 OBITUARY Prof Hendrik de Klerk Grundling matriculated in 1964, at Windhoek High School and completed his undergraduate medical studies in 1973 at the University of Pretoria (UP). During his years as a student Hennie took a keen interest in student life and politics. He was an active member of various committees on the campus, amongst them were the Intervarsity Organizing Committee, House Committee of his Hostel - Huis Taaibos and the University Central Social Committee. Hennie served on the latter committee as secretary and eventually as vice chair. For his services to the University of Pretoria Hennie was awarded the UP Medal for Special Services in both 1969 and 1970. Immediately after qualifying in 1973 Hennie started his medical career as an intern at the Windhoek State Hospital (WSH). He continued his tenure at WSH during 1974-1975 as a medical officer and from 1976 -1978 as a senior medical officer. During these years Hennie made many friends as a respected colleague, testimony to this are the many times that he was invited back to Namibia to deliver continuing medical education lectures to both general practitioners and specialists. At the end of 1978 Hennie decided to specialize in internal medicine at the University of the Free State (UFS). After qualifying as a physician in 1982 he started to work in the Department of Internal Medicine, UFS and Universitas Hospital with the responsibilities of a general medical firm and gastroenterology. In 1984 he received an award from ICI for postgraduate training in Gastroenterology at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. Hennie became the head of Gastroenterology Unit at UFS and Universitas Hospital in 1986. Once again Hennie became involved in the University and Hospital committees and in 1996 he became an Associate Professor. Hennie’s passion was teaching and undergraduate and postgraduate students appreciated his efforts and remembered his colourful lectures long after they qualified. In Hennie’s career he attended many local and international congresses during which he befriended renowned gastroenterologists like Prof. Tytgat, Cotton, Axon and Blumgart. These friendships were rekindled when they visited South Africa as international speakers. Acid- and acid related disorders were Hennie’s main interests and due to this he was involved in many early studies of acid suppressants and prokinetics including Famotidine, Cisapride, Ranitidine, Pantoprazole, Lansoprazole and S-Omeprazole, amongst others. With the advance of biologic agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease he was also one of the early investigators of Vedolizumab. Hennie was an active SAGES member since 1983. He became a committee member in 1993. In 1993 Hennie was elected as treasurer of SAGES - a position which he held until 1999 when he was elected as president elect of SAGES. During his tenure as president of SAGES from 2001 -2002 Hennie was instrumental in formalizing the constitution of SAGES - a testimony to his leadership and organizational skills. Hennie was also a proponent of an ASSA/SAGES conference and chaired the organizing committee of the first ASSA/SAGES conference at Sun City in 2002. In his spare time Hennie was an avid golfer and those who played with him will remember how he verbalized his frustrations when he played a bad shot or missed a put! He loved rugby and was the most loyal supporter of the Springboks and his beloved Cheetahs. Hennie’s phone calls or Whatsapp messages to his friends before and after matches will be dearly missed - especially if his team was victorious! Hennie will be remembered by SAGES as an esteemed colleague and a loyal friend. We will miss his ever-jovial presence at SAGES gatherings. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Antionette, his children Christiaan, Sanchia and Annelize and grandchildren with their sad loss. Hennies legacy remains at SAGES. SAGES Council Prof Hennie Grundling 18/03/1947 - 18/12/2021