In Memoriam, Prof. Mostafa Elhilali (1937-2017)

With great sadness, the European Association of Urology announces the death of Prof. Mostafa Elhilali, whilst he was attending the American Association of Genito Urinary Surgeons meeting on Saturday, 29 April.

Elhilali was born in Egypt and was awarded in 1959 his medical degree at the University of Cairo. He completed his PhD at McGill University in Canada and was certified as urologist by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He was appointed Chair of Urology at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke.

Elhilali has devoted his life to urology and has made a huge contribution in many different areas. In 1982, he returned to Montreal as Chief of the Department of Urology at the Royal Victoria Hospital, (then McGill University Centre) and Chief of the McGill Division of Urology. He was also professor of surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. He was named Chair of the McGill Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospitals.

He served as chairman of the Quebec Urology Association (QUA), the Canadian Urological Association (CUA), the Northeastern Section of the American Urological Association (AUA), and was appointed Secretary General and President of the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU). The European Association of Urology has had excellent ties with Elhilali and recognises his significant contributions in urology.

Specialised on endourology, Elhilali was involved in Egypt in developing neuromodulation technology and laser prostatectomy, amongst others. His accomplishments in urology were recognised when he was given the titles “Officer of the Order of Canada” and Ordre National du Quebec. He earned lifetime achievement awards from the AUA, CUA, QUA and SIU, and received the Founder’s Award from the Kidney Foundation of Canada. He was awarded the Gold Medal by the Egyptian Urological Association. To acknowledge his contributions, a Visiting Professorship and Chair were established in his name in 2011 at McGill University.

Prof. Elhilali will be sadly missed as a great family man, philanthropist, colleague and friend.

Photo Courtesy of McGill University