The inaugural Ralph Kirsch Golden Pen Award, honouring the former University of Cape Town Head of the Department of Medicine after whom it is named, was presented at a dinner with Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa's former health minister and current African Union Chairperson, as guest-speaker.

"The late Professor Kirsch was a 'giant in the field of medicine'," says Head of Department of Medicine Professor Bongani Mayosi fondly of his predecessor, "and this award is a celebration of his exceptional contributions to the field of medicine in South Africa." During his colourful career, Professor Kirsch edited 6 books, wrote chapters in 47 other books and authored 174 abstracts and 32 listed publications; his work also contributed to the formation of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), of which he was president at the time of his passing.

Dr Dlamini-Zuma concluded her keynote address on the status of health on the continent by speaking about Professor Kirsch's contribution to medicine, referring to him as not only a doctor, but a researcher, a scientist and above all, a mentor. Dr Dlamini-Zuma was among the first ministers of health from developing countries to introduce routine Hepatitis B vaccinations, based on advice from Professor Kirsch and other liver specialists in South Africa.

The South African Medical Journal (SAMJ) Ralph Kirsch Golden Pen Award, introduced by SAMJ Editor, Prof Janet Seggie, was established to recognise the journal's most cited publication in the preceding 3 years. The first recipient is Prof Mike Sathekge of the University of Pretoria, who had the most cited article published in the SAMJ from 2009 to 2012.

The event, at the Marimba Restaurant, Cape Town International Convention Centre, was attended by the leadership of both Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT, as well as family, friends and colleagues of Prof Kirsch.

View the full speech of Dr Dlamini Zuma