Alan Reichman

So sorry to hear the passing of our beloved classmate and friend. 

I have so many fond memories of Roy both as a member in the same clinical firm and also socially.As we all know Roy was an outstanding Medical Student as well as an outstanding physician.He had a zest for life and studied and played hard.

I have a great memory of travelling with Roy (in my Ford Anglia) to (then) Rhodesia when we stayed in Salisbury with his uncle before going to Livinstone to see the Victoria Falls. I met his wife Bobbi while in Salisbury and already knew instantly that she would be Roy's future wife.

My condolences to Bobbi and his children.

We have lost an amazing man.

 Alan Reichman

Norman Silverman

 Roy was a dear friend . We even served in the SA army together! in 1968    Roy had a great carrer and a good life!  He was one of our class's academic stars.

 Norman SIlverman 

Geraldine Auerbach

There is a picture of Roy First and Robert Jacobson crouching in from of Harry Seftel and firm, on page 70 of the eBook of the class of 60, kindly send to me by Robert. Roy sent me his amazing bio which I am sure you classmates all know. Really sorry to hear of his passing.

There is also a link to the class of 66 Website from the eBook 'From Wits to the World' on page 136

You can access the eBook here: https://wits_medical_alumni_1960.mailchimpsites.com/from-wits-to-the-world 

this is the biosketch he sent me a couple of years ago. 

M. Roy First, M.D. has been an Independent Consultant since January 2020. Previously he was the Vice President, Medical Affairs, Transplant Genomics, Inc./Viracor-Eurofins and Chief Medical Officer at Transplant Genomics, Inc. Prior to that he was Vice President and Global Therapeutic Area Leader, Transplantation at Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc.

He graduated  from medical school at the University of Witwatersrand in 1966, and was elected as a Fellow of the College of Physicians (FCP {SA}) in 1970. After completing his training in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to Chicago in 1972 to take the position of Renal Research Fellow at the Michael Reese Hospital. In 1974, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Cincinnati, later becoming full Professor and Director of the Section of Transplantation, a position that he held until 2002, when he moved to Fujisawa (later Astellas). He is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Nephrology (both in 1976).

During his distinguished academic career, Dr. First has published 408 articles on transplantation, as well as 39 book chapters and two books. He is a past President of the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and has served on many United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) committees, including chairing the Organ Donation Committee, on the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on the NIH Data Safety and Monitoring Board for Clinical Trials in Transplantation, and as a Councilor of the Transplantation Society. Dr. First has been on the editorial board of a number of journals including Transplantation, Transplantation Proceedings, Clinical Transplantation, the American Journal of Transplantation, and the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. In 2013 he received the AST Lifetime Achievement Award. Elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Transplantation (FAST) in April 2016.

He currently resides in Rhode Island with his wife of 55 years, Bobbie  (Barbara), who is a medical graduate from the University of Capetown (1968). They have two children and four grandsons, all currently in college. Roy enjoys travelling, fishing and his large wine collection.  

Andre Van As (Class Of 1960)

Roy First was a student In prof Elliots' ward where I was a registrar for nearly four years. During this time I got to know Roy, and it was a real pleasure to have him in the firm that I taught. My condolences to his family. This experience kindles fond memories of very enjoyable times that I was prileged to participate in.

Kind regards

Andre van As
 

Robert Jacobson

Roy and I started our medical journeys together as interns in Harry Seftel's ward . This was a time  of  comradship and intense learning and Roy and I supported each other daily. We wrote our first medical journal article together during that period on methyl alcohol poisoning affecting several men in Hillbrow flats. Over the years I stayed in contact with Roy and it always was a delight to see him and Bobbie and hear about his family and rewarding medical career. 
I send my heartfelt condolences to his family.

Heather Crewe-Brown

Sincere condolences to Martin's (Roy's) wife Bobbie and all their family at his loss.

Heather Crewe-Brown