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T H E S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N J O U R N A L O F H I V M E D I C I N E                                 J U N E 2 0 0 7 7

Professor Des Martin was the visionary who in 1998 saw a
need and pulled together a group of HIV specialists who
became the founder members of the HIV Clinicians Society of
South Africa. It has become the largest interest group of the
South African Medical Association and now has branches
throughout the SADC region. This phenomenal growth is a
tribute to Des’s extraordinary ability to inspire and challenge
others to take up the cudgels and fight the good fight. The
mushrooming number of branches in other countries in this
region also speaks to Des’s passion for Africa and his deep-
seated commitment to see capacity grow throughout the
continent. He has personally visited most of these branches at
their inaugural meetings and then singlehandedly nurtured
them to independence. Many branches now provide some of
the most critical support and continuing medical education to
HIV doctors in their areas.

Des is no stranger to hard work. Born and bred in
Johannesburg, educated at Wits, he started his career as a
general practitioner first in Johannesburg but then moving to
the ‘Eastern Transvaal’ where he became a household name
among the farmers and townspeople of the Nelspruit area. He
devoted 20 years to general practice before heeding the call to
academia and returning to Wits to specialise in clinical
virology. Subsequently Des has held pivotal posts in the
National Institute of Virology and national pathology
structures. He is currently a consultant virologist at Toga
Laboratories, and a senior member of the Departments of
Virology at Wits and the University of Pretoria. 

Des launched the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine as
president of the Society in August 2000. From the first
distinctive edition with its bold design and eye-catching colour
the journal has gone from strength to strength. Remarkably,
Des has involved world-renowned HIV specialists on the
editorial board and forged important and strategic

partnerships with a wide range of people, institutions, funders
and organisations. 

Des has a wonderful ability to spot talent, especially in
younger members, and has framed the careers of many who
now play important roles in South African HIV and virology.
Encouraged by Des, Francois Venter took over the reins as
president of the Society in 2005, and Linda-Gail Bekker
stepped into his shoes as editor just in the last two months.
Des is a hard act to follow. He describes himself as a ‘fence
sitter’, but in fact it is his masterful diplomacy and artful
chairmanship of meetings, especially in the presence of strong
personalities and opinions, that (together with an incorrigible
sense of fun and outstanding sense of humour) have made
him stand out as a statesman of note. 

Des is a devoted family man, father to five grown children and
some grandchildren, and loves nothing better than to spend
time on the golf course, or at their holiday home in KwaZulu-
Natal, with his talented wife Lori. He is a sportaholic who can
be relied upon to know the score of most cricket and rugby
matches while they are still being played. 

Professor Des Martin, the Society and the editorial team salute
you for all your years of commitment and service. We wish you
well as you take a little more time for relaxation, but greatly
appreciate your ongoing wisdom with so much still to be done
in combating the HIV epidemic in South Africa.

LINDA-GAIL BEKKER
Editor

DES MARTIN – A TRIBUTE