Hilary Owen Meredith King
Authors: Ronald Laporte, Martin Slink, Jean Claude Mbanya
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Hilary King, who died suddenly aged 58, was an internationally renowned epidemiologist specialising in diabetes. He was born in Leeds, England, on 31 July 1949, the son of an English father and a Welsh mother.

From a very early age, Hilary showed a passion for science and nature. Even while still a schoolboy, he had already experimented with quite complex photographic techniques to document his discoveries in the natural world and learnt the Latin names for the animals that he found. During his teens he became an accomplished ornithologist and studied falconry, and his independent spirit led him to spend long periods of time in remote places such as the island of St Kilda, and to trek across Africa and South America as a member of various scientific and adventurous expeditions. He was self sufficient and not afraid of his own company. Later, his artistic talent for photography enabled him to produce a beautiful, personal archive of the exotic places, peoples, and ancient temples that he visited over the years during the course of his work. His interests were far-reaching, including an extensive knowledge of cultural artefacts and handicrafts, hand-woven rugs from Central Asia, and the world of antiques, especially chronometers, of which he made a special study.

Hilary commenced his medical training at King’s College Hospital, London, but half way through in 1974, he decided to take a break. Always attracted to unusual settings and challenging research, he spent 18 months in remote parts of Papua New Guinea, carrying out field research on a rather unusual neurological disease—kuru—which brought him international recognition. Indeed, he published an article on kuru in the Lancet before he had even qualified!

Hilary then went on to complete his medical degree at Adelaide, Australia, in 1978, and soon afterwards acquired Australian nationality. In 1981 Dr Paul Zimmet, who was developing diabetes “island” epidemiology in the Pacific, decided to hire a bright young scientist, Hilary King. It proved to be a remarkably productive relationship as, together, they mapped the rise of diabetes in the region. Hilary eventually moved on to work for the Antarctic Division of the Department of Science in Tasmania, overseeing health in the Australian Antarctic Territory and applying epidemiological methods for health surveillance of isolated population settlements.

Hilary’s experience in studying diabetes found him a niche as the responsible officer for diabetes at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva. Although, for most of the time, the only professional working on this disease, Hilary succeeded in increasing awareness of diabetes world wide and made a considerable impact on the knowledge of its epidemiology and its significance in public health. He was a member of many professional and scientific organisations, was author of more than 100 papers and other publications, and edited a number of books. In 1995 he received the Harold Rifkin award for distinguished international service in the cause of diabetes in recognition of his global work. He supported the WHO/IDF (International Diabetes Federation) courses on diabetes epidemiology, where many epidemiologists specialising in diabetes started their careers. As a result of these courses, the number of health professionals interested in public health aspects of diabetes grew from fewer than five in the early 1980s to over 500. Hilary taught, shared his knowledge and experiences, and became a role model to both students and faculty. He was particularly admired for his capacity to help and advise local health workers in organising and conducting surveys in developing countries.

His Herculean efforts helped to launch the WHO’s multinational project for childhood diabetes. He coined the name “DiaMond” (Diabetes Mondiale), and aided the project’s growth to 155 centres in 70 countries. With few resources, Hilary brilliantly selected targets for study and gained international support for the development of national diabetes programmes, spreading the DiaMond word world wide. To quote just one example, thanks to Hilary, Cambodia won international support in diabetes; with Cambodian and French colleagues, Hilary started the first diabetes prevalence study at a remote community in Siemreap province, which after five years has resulted in the foundation of the seventh diabetes clinic to be established in Cambodia.

Hilary’s appearance was distinctive: long curly hair and a beard to match. Behind the hair and the beard there was a Renaissance intellectual, a gentleman, and friend. He will be missed by his family and by his many friends and admirers.