In Memoriam - Professor Satish Keshav

Satish grew up in Zambia and Johannesburg, won a scholarship to read Medicine at Witwatersrand (achieving distinction) and first came to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1987. His DPhil, with Siamon Gordon at the Dunn School of Pathology was on Paneth cell biology, which remained an abiding passion and he became a gastroenterologist as a consequence. He was two decades ahead of his time in recognising their pivotal role in the pathogenesis of IBD. After Research Fellowships he was appointed Senior Lecturer at the Royal Free Hospital (2000) and returned to Oxford as a Consultant Gastroenterologist in 2007, where he has been Clinical Director since 2013. 

Satish was an outstanding intellect, a thoughtful clinician much loved by his patients and a wonderful colleague. His upbringing and search for truth in science created a respect for others who might hold a different point of view, which he would endeavour to change by reasoned discussion. His understated, quiet manner disguised a fine sense of humour, but never at another’s expense: his percipience, patience and modesty made him a wise colleague who will be much missed not only in Oxford, but around the world. 

He made seminal contributions to Gastroenterology, especially in basic, translational and clinical IBD research, but was a polymath, interested in philosophy, music, literature and the idiosyncrasies of the world in which we live. 

Satish leaves Camilla (a Neurologist in Oxford), Vijay, Ajay and Sanjay.

A memorial and celebration of the ways in which he touched many people’s lives for the better will be held in due course.

Professor Simon Travis DPhil FRCP
Oxford, January 27, 2019