[A nation can only survive and keep its identity through its traditions. This is why the initiative to launch this series coming from professor János Radó is worthy of attention. Gyula Petrányi is an outstanding personality in 20th century internal medicine, to be more precise in nephrology and immunology, his activity being wide-ranging. The first part of the current summary of his work deals with a tribute to his personality, and his role in immunomodularity treatment in glomerulonephritis. The second part shall cover his role in spreading renal biopsy, screening and caring kidney patients, dialysis, in developing kidney patients’ care, furthermore in clinicopharmacology and renal transplantation.]