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EspañolNotice: We are saddened to announce Kawaldip Sehmi, IAPO CEO, passing
The IAPO Board and staff team are deeply saddened to announce that our dear Kawaldip Sehmi passed away on Tuesday 1st August 2023. He will be greatly missed.
Our hearts are broken by this sad news as he had so much enthusiasm and excitement for life and his work in promoting patient-centred healthcare. He was the pillar and symbol of IAPO this past decade, bringing everyone together and taking care that every patient’s voice is heard.
Before joining IAPO, he held the position of CEO at Richmond Psychosocial Foundation International and worked as Managing Director of Coram Children’s Legal Centre. He was also the Director of the Global Health Inequalities Programme and Chairman of the European Network of Quitlines during the successful negotiations and ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Kawaldip had been the IAPO CEO since 2015. Being a cancer survivor himself, he was a passionate patient advocate committed to championing patients’ rights globally.
His qualifications included an MSc in the Public Health International Programme from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master’s in Business Administration and an LLB (Hons).
Kawaldip had extensive public health experience at national, regional and international levels. At IAPO, he triggered the discussion on so many forward thinking topics including meaningful patient partnerships to build back better health systems, regulatory affairs in Africa, personalised cancer care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, amongst others. He was part of several boards, working groups and initiatives, and supported the development of multiple coalitions and partnerships, ensuring the patient perspective was heard.
He was so full of life and a brilliant ideas guy - one step ahead of us all, a trait that anyone who interacted with him could testify to. He was an avid learner, very knowledgeable about diverse topics, and always had a valuable thought to share in any discussion he participated in.
Kawaldip was a keen bird watcher, proud cat lover, and the biggest rugby and cricket fan, with a story to share on his many world travels and life experiences.
We will remember him for his kindness and readiness to extend a hand to those in need, whether in his professional or personal life. He was patient and resilient, and would maintain his composure even in the most challenging situations.
On behalf of the IAPO Board and staff team, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the global patient community. Kawaldip will always be a champion, a mentor, a colleague, and a dear friend to us all. May we all honour his memory by carrying on his legacy of advocating patient-centred healthcare globally.
Kawaldip's Online Memorial Page
