It is with great sadness that we report that the past president of the Norwegian Society of Hypertension, Professor Bjarne Magnus Iversen, MD, PhD, died the night to August 5th. He was born in March 1942 and became 69 years old.
Professor Iversen joined the Norwegian Society of Hypertension in 1988, the year after its founding. He served on the board for several years, and from 2003 to 2007, he was the president of the society. At the 2011 annual meeting of the society, he became an honorary member of the Norwegian Society of Hypertension.
Professor Iversen received his medical degree from the University of Bergen in 1968 and finished his residency to become consultant in nephrology in 1980. He completed his PhD in nephrology in 1981 under the supervision of Professor Jarle Ofstad, MD, PhD. In 1988, he became professor of nephrology at the University of Bergen. During his prolific career, he authored and co-authored over 170 scientific articles in the fields of kidney physiology, clinical nephrology and the epidemiology of kidney disease.
The Norwegian Renal Biopsy Registry was founded on Professor Iversen's initiative as the secretary for the Norwegian Society of Nephrology, and he has been instrumental in maintaining and developing the registry as its leader for many years. After over 20 years of activity, it is now one of the largest registries of renal biopsies in the world with over 11000 patients.
Professor Iversen worked for many years to establish nephrology in Tanzania. To honour his commitment, the United Republic of Tanzania sent a delegation to his funeral, and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Tanzania has recommended that the renal unit Professor Iversen founded at the Muhimbili National Hospital be dedicated in his name.
During his career, professor Iversen received several awards and honours, culminating in 2009 when Harald, King of Norway, made Professor Iversen Knight 1st class of the Order of St. Olav for services to medicine in Norway.