Prestigious AFLAR Master Award for Lifetime Achievement in Rheumatology

The African League of Associations for Rheumatology (AFLAR) has bestowed its highest honour, the AFLAR Master Award, on renowned South African rheumatologist, UKZN Emeritus Professor Girish Mody, in recognition of his extraordinary lifetime contributions to the field of rheumatology across Africa.

Presented during the AFLAR Congress in Cameroon last month, the award celebrates Mody’s distinguished leadership, visionary work and enduring impact in shaping rheumatologic care, education and research on the continent. The accolade is a rare and distinguished recognition, reserved for individuals whose legacy has profoundly influenced the advancement of rheumatology in Africa.

A pioneer in every sense, Mody was the first Head of the Department of Rheumatology at UKZN. Over his four-decade-long career, he has trained and mentored generations of African rheumatologists, established specialist clinical services, and led ground-breaking research contextualising rheumatic diseases within African populations. His tenure as President of both the South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association and AFLAR, as well as his involvement with international bodies such as the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, the American College of Rheumatology, the Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology, and the International League of Associations for Rheumatology, cemented his role as a unifying force for progress and collaboration across the global rheumatology community.

Born in Durban in 1950, Mody earned his MBChB from the University of Natal in 1974, followed by specialist qualifications from the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and the College of Physicians of South Africa. After completing his rheumatology training in Cape Town, he returned to Durban in 1984 to lead tertiary services for over 10 million people in KwaZulu-Natal. In 1987, he was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree by the University of Cape Town, and in 1992, he became the inaugural Aaron Beare Family Professor of Rheumatology at UKZN – a post he held until his retirement in 2018.

His career is marked by numerous accolades, including Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (London), the title of Master of the American College of Rheumatology (the first African rheumatologist to be so honoured), and selection as an ambassador for the United Nations-endorsed Bone and Joint Decade. He also served as Dean of the UKZN Medical School from 2005 to 2006. In 2023, Mody was recognised as a UKZN Living Legend for his contributions to science, medicine and public health leadership over a number of decades.

Throughout his illustrious journey, Mody has been known not just for his academic excellence, but for his humility, integrity, and dedication to uplifting healthcare standards for African communities. The AFLAR Master Award in 2025 is a fitting tribute to a life devoted to excellence, service, and the advancement of Medicine.

‘Professor Mody’s name has become synonymous with integrity, excellence and visionary leadership in African rheumatology,’ AFLAR noted in its official citation.

The honour is a lasting testament to a legacy that continues to inspire current and future generations of clinicians, researchers and educators in Africa and beyond.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied