Oxford Medicine February 2007

Oxford medicine THE NEWSLETTER OF THE OXFORD MEDICAL ALUMNI OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Professor David Warrell Retires David Warrell, Professor of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, retired earlier this year, a milestone in his career that appears to have had no effect whatever on his enormous work rate and continued contributions to improving the health of the poorer countries of the world.

snakes. He became the leading world authority on snakebite and its sequelae, an obsession that nearly led to his early demise on at least two occasions; apparently in the heat of the moment even David became confused about which is the business end of a snake.

When David was appointed Consultant Physician in General Medicine and Infectious Disease at the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1975 he brought with him a growing international reputation in the field of tropical medicine. In 1978 the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine had discussions with the Wellcome Trust about how best to apply the all round clinical and research expertise of a British medical school for the benefit of the developing countries. After visits to several of them the Wellcome-Mahidol University, Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Programme was established in Bangkok; David became the founding Director in 1979. Its remarkable progress under his leadership led to the development of further overseas centres of this type, first in Kilifi, Kenya, later in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and in several other countries. Each of these developments has been a major success story, both in research and local capacity building. In short, this remarkable example of the value of sustained North/South partnerships has provided an excellent model for other universities to follow, and is one that Oxford should be very proud of.

Since his retirement as Director of the Bangkok Unit David’s contributions to the field of tropical medicine have continued unabated, and have been widely recognised by awards and titles from countries all over the world and by regular requests for help by the World Health Organization and related bodies.

Through his writing and organisation of teaching of tropical medicine, both in Oxford and other medical schools in the UK and overseas, and by his excellence as a teacher, he has done much to popularise this field for future generations of doctors. But above all, the success of the Oxford overseas programme has spawned a new generation of younger clinicians, many of whom have now become major international leaders in the field. It is good to hear therefore, that although David has retired, his expertise will still be available to the Clinical School. Equally important, Oxford will not lose one of its most unusual characters; who else could transform the dislocation of a cobra’s jaws and the milking of its venom gland into an art form while, at the same time, carry the title of Knight Commander of the Most Exulted Order of the White Elephant with such great aplomb?

Soon after arriving in Bangkok David’s team started to produce a series of seminal research papers on the pathogenesis and management of severe malaria. The first, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1982, demonstrated that current approaches to the management of cerebral malaria were positively harmful. Further studies, which typified David’s excellence as a clinical researcher at the bedside, dissected many different aspects of severe malaria and resulted in further major advances in its treatment. His team also established a centre for the control and management of rabies and he continued to pursue his lifelong fascination with the more unpleasant habits of

Recently, I was invited to give a lecture to a meeting of doctors in Sri Lanka. The doctor who introduced me started by saying that it was an enormous honour to be able to introduce Professor David Warrell to the audience; the disappointment on their faces when they realised that they were not set for an hour of increasingly gruesome slides of the sequelae of attacks by Warrell’s snakes was clear to see; as far as they were concerned, and I am sure that they were not unique, there is only one name that matters in British tropical medicine.

D.J. Weatherall

Contents Professor David Warrell Retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Letter from the President .2 MSD Newsletter

. . . . . . . . .3

Teaching Excellence Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Achievements and Awards6 The Frith Photography Awards Ceremony . . . . . . .8 The medical school archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Student Scholarships, Prizes and Awards . . . . .9 Development News . . . . .10 The Oxford Alumni Weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Obituaries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

OMA Events Diary 2007–2008 . . . . . . . . . . . .16

2 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Letter from the President The story goes that a College Governing Body was having a lengthy discussion about changing light bulbs that were no longer functioning which stirred a Fellow from a semi-comatose state to ask the question – change? This was the theme developed by the Dean, Dr Ken Fleming, at the annual meeting in April of this year. Indeed the pace of change within the Medical School, the University and the Oxford Radcliffe Trust is hard to keep up with.

Dorothy L. Sayers’ description of Oxford as ‘the still centre in a worldly whirlpool ‘is no longer even remotely true.

The Medical Alumni change just as rapidly. This is my first news letter since taking over the Presidency from Dr Jim Holt in April and I am very conscious of the enormous responsibility of following in the footsteps of a highly distinguished line of Presidents – Terence Ryan, John Ledingham and Jim Holt. Tributes in recognition of the considerable contribution that Jim has made to OMA were made to him in April and I would like to add my own thanks. He has left us with a thriving and highly successful organisation and the even better news is that he continues to come to executive committee meetings so that we continue to benefit from his wisdom and helpful advice.

The next change to affect OMA is the change in its meetings. As Dr Holt mentioned in his letter in the last edition of Oxford Medicine, we shall be having only one meeting a year as from 2008. As he explained, this is due to the big University Re-union that has been organised by the Oxford University Society. The event in September 2007 was hugely successful and it is to become an annual fixture in the University Calendar. Clearly, it is difficult for us to have our usual meeting within the same month which is why we have decided to move it to April. The Osler lecture will be given on Friday evening April 11th

by Professor John Reid (Regius Professor of Medicine, Glasgow) and the Oxford Medical Society lecture will be given by Professor Nick Wright (Warden, St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine) on Saturday morning, April 12th. This lecture will be followed by a symposium on cancer which has been chosen because we expect the new cancer hospital and research centre on the Churchill site to be opening in the spring of 2008. More precise details of the meeting are given elsewhere in this issue but it will also incorporate the Photography Prize, open to all medical students, teaching staff and alumni, recently established by the generosity of Dr Peggy Frith. An exhibition of the photographs submitted will be available for all of us to see. As usual, Saturday afternoon will offer some medical history by Dr Mark Harrison (Director of the Wellcome History of Medicine in Oxford) and the usual tea parties at Osler House. Perhaps one of the best indicators of the growing success of OMA is the great demand for re-union dinners and in 2008 we will be fill three College halls for dinner. This is a fantastic response

but it is such a shame that there is no venue big enough in Oxford to accommodate us altogether.

Looking back over the past year, there have been other major changes taking place. The Radcliffe Infirmary was finally vacated by the Oxford Radcliffe Trust in early February which meant that the building is now sealed apart from a single entrance from the Woodstock Rd, adjacent to Green College, which is manned by a security guard 24 hours a day. Rather ugly boards/corrugated iron now seal the building from the Woodstock Rd and Walton St and have only been slightly improved by being painted in dark blue. Having first walked the long corridor in the Infirmary as a medical student and knowing it to have been a wonderful means of communication because everybody inevitably met each other as they traversed its length, it is distinctly odd to now walk along it in total silence and without anybody else in sight. I should perhaps explain that my research base is still in the Infirmary alongside clinical pharmacology, anaesthetics, Optima and the stroke prevention unit. We have been joined by mathematicians and much of the Ashmolean staff who are both waiting for new buildings to be built. Mentioning Green College reminds me to let you know that that is also changing.

Plans are in an advanced stage for a merger between Templeton and Green College and, subject to the approval of Privy Council, the new Green-Templeton College should open on 1st October next year on the Green College site.

The importance of its medical connections will in no way diminish and, indeed, there is already excitement about new ventures in collaboration with Templeton Fellows who have an interest in health economics and biodiversity to name just two areas of mutual interest.

In April of this year, we were privileged to hear the Osler lecture given by Peter Ratcliffe, The Nuffield Professor of Medicine. His subject concerned the ways in which the body senses oxygen and he steered us through a set of complex mechanisms with great clarity and scholarship.

A large audience clearly appreciated his ability to communicate and the science that underlaid it, and there was a buzz of discussion as we made our way along South Parks Rd to Rhodes House where dinner was enjoyed.

As well as the Oxford meeting in 2008, the University has an Alumnus meeting in New York over the weekend prior to the Oxford meeting. This occurs biennially and OMA traditionally has a brunch on the Sunday. That tradition will continue and will probably take place in the Princeton Club. I am most grateful to Drs Don Chambers and Phil Schein for helping us to organise this occasion. There is tremendous goodwill in the United States towards OMA and I very much hope that we can build on that in the coming few years – more of that in the next issue of Oxford Medicine.

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 3

It remains for me to thank all the members of the executive that meets every 6-8 weeks and to the Council of OMA for their help, suggestions and criticisms but, above all, to thank Jayne Todd who works tirelessly for the organisation. She has steered me through the sensitivities and political minefields that I am blissfully

MSD Newsletter

unaware of and has been a power of strength – she has even persuaded me to get this piece in on time! I very much hope that I shall have the pleasure of meeting many of you during 2008.

Professor Derek Jewell

Since my last Newsletter, much has happened in both the University and the Division.

involved in the general University debate as it is vital to ensure that their views are fully registered.

G o v e r n a nc e For the collegiate university, undoubtedly the biggest issue of the past year (and past couple of years) has been the proposed Governance Reform. The recent debates and votes have rejected the White Paper by a clear majority. Council is going to consider the implications carefully before any further action.

However, one of the positive features of the debates was that significant numbers of speakers agreed that aspects of the White Paper have general support. In my estimation, the major points of contention appeared to be the balance of “internal/external” members of Council and, to a lesser extent, the recreation of a bicameral structure, with a Council and Academic Board, rather than a single Council, as at present.

There are undoubtedly other aspects of contention, but they seemed to be less critical. Accordingly, it may be that there will be re-consideration of some of the more generally acceptable proposals in the not too distant future, but this is something for Council to decide in due course.

S tu d e n t Nu m b e r s Another major issue of the last year, which has been discussed for some time past and which will undoubtedly continue to be important in the future, is that of student numbers. The Corporate Plan of the University envisages an eventual limit to the overall numbers of full-time students (around 18,000), with any growth to reach that number being in post-graduate students – currently there are around 17,600 full-time students. This potentially has very significant impact on the division since we plan to increase both our post-graduate research and taught students over the next couple of years by around 300. Given that both of the Social Sciences and Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Divisions also plan significant increases in postgraduates, it is clear that not all of this expansion can be accommodated within the overall University target.

Potentially this will have two obvious effects. First, we (MSD) may not be able to attain our planned expansion and second, we may have to decide whether to constrain growth (or reduce numbers) in one type of student (taught or research) to allow greater growth in the other. It is likely that these decisions may have to be taken this year. My personal view is that if there is to be any constraint, then it should be the number of taught students which are constrained and that the only divisional constraints on research students should be the requirement for appropriate quality.

One of the positive aspects of the process was that members of the Medical Sciences Division (MSD) were much more involved than traditionally has been the case in previous Congregation debates. It will be important to ensure that this involvement is maintained in debate of any future proposals – this Division is as affected by changes to University Governance and policy as any other, and indeed, some changes may have greater effects on us than on others. For example, the proposals for a JRAM (joint resource allocation model) will have a significant impact on the funding of teaching and research. While the Divisional Board welcomed the general principles of the JRAM, it has considerable reservations about the detailed estimations of the relative contributions and effort of departments and colleges. It is also strongly opposed to a transition period of five years which is proposed to allow the various components of the University time to adjust, preferring an immediate implementation. It now looks increasingly that JRAM will be adopted, but this issue serves to emphasise that members of the MSD need to continue to be

Te a c h i n g Turning to under-graduate teaching, the Braddick Report on our non-medical under-graduate physiology course was adopted by the MSD Board this year. Essentially this recommended a restructuring of non-medical Physiology to produce a broader, more flexible course with more emphasis on molecular and cellular science.

In addition, there should be a number of specialised FHS pathways, starting with Neuroscience. An interesting possibility which the Report raises is to create a broader biomedical programme, incorporating the current Physiological Sciences course, the Philosophy, Psychology and Physiology course and the Biochemistry course into a common biological sciences course. This is an exciting

…we may have to decide whether to constrain g ro w t h ( o r

r e du ce nu m be r s) i n o ne t y pe o f

st ud e nt ( t a ug h t o r r e se a rc h) t o a l l o w g re a t er

gr o wt h i n t h e o t he r.

4 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

possibility which would need much careful planning and discussion. Indeed, the possibility of incorporating elements of Experimental Psychology and Medicine into this common course, with resultant cross-fertilisation between students, is personally particularly intriguing.

Lastly, on teaching, the admissions process for undergraduates has once again been successfully completed (see Table 1). As before, this whole process is extremely demanding on all the staff involved, even with the streamlining of medical admissions we instituted several years ago. However, given the great importance of selecting the students best able to benefit from our teaching, we are all indebted to those who undertake this task.

As can be seen from Table 1, all our courses had an increase in applications in 2007. This is in contrast to a nation-wide decrease of around 3.5% for Medicine.

Ensuring the

Foundation Trusts

properly incorporate the role of the MSD will be crucial and

discussions on this

topic will be a major priority for the next few months.

Re s e arch On the research front, a major focus for some months has been our preparation for the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Professor Rodney Phillips and Mrs. Margareta Rorsman have been leading this. Last year, a “co-ordinator” for each Unit of Assessment (U of A) was appointed and the names of all those individuals eligible for submission were identified. These individuals have supplied up to eight pieces of work for consideration to allow selection of the four strongest pieces for submission to HEFCE. We have now undertaken a preliminary assignment of individuals to U of A’s, and asked the co-ordinators to prepare a draft of the RA5 section – the part which describes the Esteem and Environment of the activity in the Division. Most of this work is now close to finalisation, although changes can be made up until September. In addition to Professor Phillips and Mrs. Rorsman, this work has been undertaken by the co-ordinators, Heads of Departments and others and the Division is much indebted to them. As we all recognise, our RAE return is crucial and we are extremely grateful of the commitment and effort of our colleagues. The recent debate on metrics will have little impact on the 2007 return, and the major impact will be some years in the future.

An important metric for future RAE’s will be external research grant income. In 2005/6, this income increased by 12%, compared to the previous year.

Indeed, our external grant income now totals £125m and has averaged 11% increase each year since 1999.

It now forms around 60% of the whole University’s external research grant income, which in 2005/6 became the largest in the UK. Full Economic Costing (FEC) is now starting to have an impact and the latest figures (2006/7) show that the Division is receiving around 65 – 70% of FEC, which while good, is less than other Divisions (MPLS 75%). This probably reflects our greater dependency on charity income

which does not pay overheads. The success rates for the Division’s applications are now over 65%, which is a tribute to the quality of our science, at a time when MRC is funding less than 20% of applications.

N HS In the NHS, there have been also several issues of major significance in the last few months. The most significant, in the short-term, was the need for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust to save £33m in 2006/07, while at the same time maintaining (or improving) its performance against the various NHS targets. The Trust achieved both its savings and delivered its performance targets. This has required the closure of around 150 beds and loss of around 600 posts and has been a remarkable achievement which many (including myself) thought was probably impossible. The long-term effect on the ORHT (and the Division) is that this re-organisation will result in the ORHT being one of the most efficient acute Trusts in the country, making it extremely competitive in the “market-driven” NHS and resulting in it being able to attract patients from across the UK (and beyond).

This financial health is of vital important to the possible application for Foundation Hospital status which the ORHT has pencilled in for late 2007. Such a move will be of great significance for the MSD as the greater competition of the new NHS means that education and research will become an even more important part of Trust activities than before. This applies not only to the ORHT, but also the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Mental Health Trust, both of which are also planning to apply for Foundation Trust status in the near future. Ensuring the Foundation Trusts properly incorporate the role of the MSD will be crucial and discussions on this topic will be a major priority for the next few months.

Indeed, the recent success of the ORHT and MSD in the national competition for Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) of Excellence (only five in England) has highlighted the need for close alignment of strategy and integration of governance.

The competition is one of the many changes resulting from the current radical overhaul of NHS R&D, with replacement of the Culyer and other funding streams (which were largely historical in origin) by multiple competitive processes. The BRC will bring around £11.5m a year to the ORHT for the next five years and replaces the £7m a year current Culyer funding.

However, there will be (and have already been) other competitive opportunities for additional funding (Oxford is part of the Diabetes and Stroke National Networks) and it would be reasonable to expect Oxford NHS Trusts (both hospital and Primary Care Trusts) to be successful in a proportion of these competitions, probably resulting in a very substantial

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 5

Ap p l ic a t io n s 2 00 6 2 00 5 Bi o c he m is t ry E x p e r im e nt a l Ps y c ho l o g y M e d icin e Ph y si o lo g ic a l S cie n ce s PP P Un i v e r si t y

Of f e r s 2 00 6

O f f e r s /A p p l i c a t i o n s % 2 00 6 2 00 5

2 00 5

2 38 2 42

2 13 2 08

1 13 57

1 14 59

4 7 .5 2 3 .6

5 3 .5 2 8 .4

1 0 85 61

1 0 57 43

1 59 26

1 59 21

1 4 .7 4 2 .6

1 5 .0 4 8 .8

1 87 1 3 ,6 3 9

1 56 1 2 ,6 1 4

43 3 ,5 2 3

34 3 ,6 0 1

2 3 .0 2 5 .8

2 1 .8 2 8 .5

increase in annual NHS R&D to Oxford Medicine.

In parallel with the changes in NHS R&D, 2006 saw the first implementation of the Walport Report on increasing the number of trainee clinical academics.

Being a centre of choice for training for clinical academics is one of our strategic priorities and we have been successful in obtaining a large number of posts, from F1 through to the clinical lecturer position – twelve F1/F2, 30 academic clinical fellowships and twenty clinical lecturerships, in total the fourth highest in the country. The big challenge will be recruiting high quality individuals to this large number of positions over the next five years. However, the long-tem effect will be to increase substantially the number of trainee clinical academics, a cadre which has diminished by around 50% nationally since 2000.

In another change to post-graduate medical education, Oxford NHS Deanery has been combined with the Southampton Deanery, into a new organisation – NHS Education South Central (NESC). This has resulted in significant organisational and personnel change. This, taken with the stresses caused by the disaster of the new trainee scheme (MMC/MTAS) has put post-graduate medical education under unprecedented stress. The staff have just managed to cope, but at the expense of enormous commitments of time and energy, for which we are all very grateful.

E st a t e s On estates matters, the most important issues have been preparing for the opening of the “Cancer/ Biomedical Engineering” building on the Old Road Campus (due to be finished October 2007) and the re-location of the University departments from the Radcliffe Infirmary to the West Wing of the JR2 site. The former building (£50m) will accommodate: the department of Clinical Pharmacology; the Nuffield Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery); the Radiation and Biology of Oncology section (incorporating the MRC Unit of Radiation and

Genetic Stability and the CRUK Gray Laboratory for Cancer Research – the MRC Unit is moving from Harwell, the CRUK Unit is moving from London); the UK base of the Ludwig Institute (moving from London), the Jenner Institute (human and animal vaccinology); a Knowledge Centre; the Institute of Biomedical Engineering; the Structural Genomics Consortium. The West Wing will provide laboratory and office space for the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, the Department of Clinical Neurology, the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. It is intended that these departments will be in place by February 2008, alongside NHS colleagues in the Head and Neck services. Extensive refurbishment of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics is also taking place and, just across the road, phase one, of the re-development of the Biochemistry site, is proceeding apace. This latter will provide 12,000m2 new space and is due to open in summer of 2008.

R e cr u it m e nt s As usual, there have been a number of new recruitments in the last couple of terms (ahead of the RAE, 16 Chairs have been filled), but one of the more significant ones has been that of Professor Gero Miesenboeck from Yale to the Waynflete Professorship of Physiology. Professor Miesenboeck’s interest is in analysing how networks of cells interact to produce certain behaviours. He arrived in Oxford in July.

Separately and of particular note, the Regius Professor of Medicine was appointed as interim chairman of the Office of Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research. This new position has strategic responsibility for much of health and biomedical research in the UK, having oversight of both the MRC and the NHS R&D directorates.

Professor Bell, who has been on sabbatical this year, is returning to Oxford for Michaelmas Term 2007.

Dr. Kenneth Fleming

M S D T e a c h i n g E x ce l l e n c e A w a r d s

The quality of applications and nominations received was extremely high and made for truly inspiring reading.

It was no easy task for the panel to determine which of these was the most deserving, our congratulations go to the following people who all received the Medical Sciences Division Teaching Excellence Awards, which recognise their contribution to medical education, both

within their department and their college.

• D r G ar r y B r o w n , Lady Margaret Hall, University Lecturer in Biochemistry (Department of Biochemistry) • D r S t uar t Cla re, University Research Lecturer and Chief Physicist (FMRIB, Department of Clinical Neurology) • D r Pa u l D e n n i s, Brasenose College, Director of the Graduate-entry Medical Course

Ta b l e 1

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The Teaching

Excellence Awards Scheme was

introduced in 20 0 6 by the Medical

Sciences Division to recognise

and encourage

attainment of a high order in teaching

• D r D a v i d G r e a v e s, Hertford College, University Lecturer in Cellular Pathology (Sir William Dunn School of Pathology) • M r A s h o k H a n d a , St Catherine’s College, Clinical Tutor in Surgery (Nuffield Department of Surgery) • D r P i e r s N y e, Balliol College, University Lecturer in Physiology (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics) • P r o f e s s o r E d i t h S i m , St Peter’s College, University Lecturer in Pharmacology (Department of Pharmacology) • D r B e e We e , Harris Manchester College, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Palliative Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Studies • D r M a t t h e w Wo o d , Somerville College, University Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics)

The Division made these awards in person at a ceremony in October held in the George Pickering Post Graduate Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, where some of the recipients made presentations on an aspect of their work. The Teaching Excellence Awards Scheme was introduced in 2006 by the Medical Sciences Division to recognise and encourage attainment of a high order in teaching. Previous winners include • Dr Stephen Goss, • Professor Tony Hope, • Dr Jeremy Hull • Dr William James • Professor John Morris, • Dr Jonathan Price.

• Green College Medical Teaching Programme, the Richard and Joan Doll Fellows • Musculo-Medicine and Emergency Course Teaching Team

A ca d e m y o f M e d ic a l S c ie n ce s Fe ll o w s Professor Alastair Buchan, Professor of Clinical Geratology at Oxford Professor Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Oxford Clinical Research Unit based in Vietnam Dr Richard Gibbons, Reader in Clinical Genetics at Oxford Professor Stefan Neubauer, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Oxford

H e a d o f D e p a r t m e n t o f Pa e d i a t r i c s Dr Peter B. Sullivan, has been appointed Head of the Department of Paediatrics. Fellow of Magdalen and University Lecturer in Paediatrics.

Achievements and Awards

E u r o p e a n S o c i e t y o f Cl i n i c a l M i c r o b i o l o g y & I n f e ct io u s D is e a se s : Professor Richard Moxon Fe ll o w o f t h e B r it is h A ca d e m y Professor Dorothy Bishop, she joins Professor Miles Hewstone in this distinction.

Fe ll o w s o f t h e R o y a l S o ci e t y Professor Siamon Gordon, GlaxoWellcome Professor of Cellular Pathology.

Professor Richard Moxon, Action Research Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics.

T h e F r e d G r i f f i t h R e v i e w, S o c i e t y f o r G e n e r a l M i cro b io lo g y Professor Richard Moxon T h e G a i r d n e r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Aw a r d : Professor Kim Nasmyth (This is particularly noteworthy as this is one of the prices where a significant number of recipients subsequently receive the Nobel Prize.)

H e a d o f D e p a r t m e n t , Cl i n i c a l N e u r o l o g y.

Professor Angela Vincent has been appointed Head of Department, Clinical Neurology. Fellow of Somerville College.

H e a d o f D e p a r t m e n t o f P h y s i o l o g y, A n a t o m y, an d Ge n e ti cs Professor Sir George Radda has been appointed head of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology. Emeritus Fellow of Merton College.

H EF CE-N HS Cl in ic a l S e n i o r L e c t u r e rs h i p Aw ar d s : Dr. Kevin Talbot Dr. Jaideep Jagdeesh Pandit Dr. Lucy Dorrell J a p a n S o c i e t y o f D i a b e t i c Co m p l i c a t i o n s , O u t s t a n d i n g F o r e i g n I n v e s t i g a t o r Aw a r d : Professor Rury Holman M ich a e l D a v y s P r o f e ss o r sh ip o f N e ur o s cie n ce Dr Jonathan Flint Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow, Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Professor of Molecular Psychiatry, and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, has been appointed to the Michael Davys Professorship of Neuroscience with effect from 1 August 2007. Professor Flint will be a Fellow of Merton College.

N uf f i e ld Pr o f e s so r s hi p o f A n a e st h e t i c S ci e n ce Professor Irene Tracey Director of Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) Centre, Professor of Pain Research. In July 2007 was appointed to the Nuffield Professorship of Anaesthetic Science. Professor Tracey is a Fellow of Pembroke College.

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 7

N u f f i e l d P r o f e s s o r s h i p o f Cl i n i c a l A n a e s t h e t i c s Professor Henry Mcquay Professorial Fellow, Balliol College, and Professor of Pain Relief, Oxford Pain Relief Unit, Head of the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, has been appointed to the Nuffield Professorship of Clinical Anaesthetics with effect from 1 May 2007.

N uf f i e ld D e p a r t m e n t o f Ob st e t r i cs a n d G y n a e co lo g y Professor Stephen Kennedy has been appointed Head of the Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Fellow of Green College and Reader and Honorary NHS consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

P r o f e ss o r s h ip o f B e h a v i o u r a l Ne u r o s ci e nc e Professor Nicholas Rawlins, Sir Jules Thorne Tutorial Fellow of University College has been appointed to the Watts Professorship of Psychology and will be a Fellow of Wolfson College.

P r o f e ss o r s h ip o f N e ur o im m u n o lo g y Professor Lars Fugger Professor of Clinical Immunology and Senior Research Fellow, MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and Honorary Consultant, Department of Clinical Immunology, John Radcliffe Hospital, and Professor of Clinical

The Oxford Alumni Weekend

On the 14th September 2007, a new Oxford tradition was started. The first annual Oxford Alumni Weekend witnessed over 700 alumni and their guests return to the city for 3 days of lectures, talks, tours, special visits, demonstrations and dinners in a number of locations, from the 500-year old Divinity School to the state-of-the-art Chemistry Research Laboratory. Some of the most popular events were the behind-thescenes tours to parts of the University not seen by students, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, the Bodleian Library tunnels, or the Gardens of Trinity College (unseen unless one attended Trinity, that is!)

Fun activities were mixed with informative sessions led by some of Oxford’s leading academics. The 2007 keynote lecture was given by John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine, on the issue of Global Health and particularly how Oxford is contributing to advances against some of the world’s most devastating illnesses. If you missed the Weekend, you can view a short overview on the website at www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk.

Immunology, Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, has been appointed to the Professorship of Neuroimmunology. He took up his duties on 1 August 2007. Professor Fugger will be a Fellow of Oriel College.

Pr o f e s so r s hi p o f P ha r m a co lo g y Professor Antony Galione has been appointed to the statutory Professorship of Pharmacology. Professor Galione will be a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall.

T h o m a s E S t a r zi P r i ze Professor Herman Waldmann, Head of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology T he D e g r e e o f D o c t o r o f M e d i c i n e w a s a w a r d e d t o : Dr John P Lee Dr Tariq M Aslam .

Dr Stuart J Mercer Dr Simon JC Davies Dr Simon M Phillips Dr Mark S Duxbury Dr Mark Shapley Dr Peggy A Frith Dr Anthony S Wierzbicki.

Dr Gavin IW Galasko Dr Kenneth Y-K Wong Dr Vassilis G Hadjianastassiou Dr Claire L Hopkins

Preparations for the 2008 Weekend (19 – 21 September) are well under way, with the emphasis this time on Oxford from a global perspective. The programme will also include sessions covering all types of issues, from globalisation to climate change. As with the 2007 programme, there will be more opportunities to explore the hidden gems of the University’s buildings and collections as well as the introduction of some family-friendly sessions for an all-inclusive occasion.

everyone thoroughly enjoyed the weekend

Information will be available from the alumni website (www.alumni.ox.ac.uk) over the next couple of months, or sign-up for an email alert at www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk.

Membership subscription categories and rates 20 0 7

Membership includes a subscription to the Oxford Medical School Gazette and to a range of other University benefits

A N N U A L M E M B E R S H I P i s £30

Pay i n g y o u r s u b s cr ip t i o n — We encourage members who have a UK bank account to pay their subscription by bankers’ standing order as this is an efficient and cost-effective way for us to collect your subscription. Those who choose not to pay their subscription by standing order incur higher administrative costs for OMA. Credit card and standing order forms are available from OMA or downloadable from the website. Both should be returned to OMA for processing – NOT sent direct to your bank.

If paying by cheque or banker's draft, please write your name on the reverse and make it payable to "Oxford University". Members who are paying by credit / debit card should do so by completing the credit card form available from OMA or downloadable from the website w w w . m e d s c i . o x . a c . u k / o m a G i f t A i d — Please note that the membership subscription is fully allowable under the gift aid scheme. By ticking the box you will enable us to add a further 28p in every pound (or 40p in every pound if a higher rate tax payer) to your subscription.

8 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

The Frith Photography Awards Ceremony

…the Frith

Photography Prize looks set to

become an annual affair, so get your entries in now

with the theme ‘The Face of

Oxford Medicine’

“And the winner is…” – Dr. Peggy Frith, reading out the top three entries at the very first inaugural Frith Photography Prize Event. The idea for the competition came up in October 2006 at a Gazette committee meeting with the editors wanting a front cover image reinforcing the theme of their next issue: a commemoration of the Radcliffe Infirmary. Dr. Frith was approached by the team to help find someone interested in sponsoring a prize that would encourage people to take such a shot. However, after much deliberation, Dr. Frith decided to take on the role herself; given her interest in the visual arts and her close affiliation with the hospital, both as a medical student and clinician, she was the perfect sponsor! So, with the name of the award established, medical students, clinicians and staff of the ORH, alumni and all University members were invited to submit entries under the topic, “Life at the Radcliffe Infirmary”.

Oxford Medical Alumni were also very enthusiastic and readily became involved. Plans snowballed and soon the competition was to culminate in an extensively publicised exhibition, judging and Awards Ceremony, all to be held on 2nd March 2007 in the modern foyer of the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre.

The evening was marked by a constant downpour but this did not deter the 180 guests coming to see over thirty exceptional entries. An intermingling mix of students, staff and alumni attended and enjoyed the French wine and canapes as they perused the exhibition, book stalls and displays. One of these included a table dedicated to Sir William Osler, exhibiting samples from the extensive collection of manuscripts, books and biographies of this champion of medicine that is currently kept at his once residence, 13 Norham Gardens.

Finally the time came to determine which entry would be bestowed the honour of being the Gazette’s front cover!

The six judges, including Dr. Frith and a professional photographer, had made their decision an hour before guests arrived, using the criteria of creative vision, technical skill and relevance to guide their choices. Guests were invited into the MSTC lecture theatre to firstly be entertained and educated by a talk on “Art and Medicine”

by Professor Meakins. The accompanying slideshow of classical art demonstrated to the audience that such portraits — aside from their aesthetic value — are an interesting record of medical disease. Following this talk was the announcement of the winning photographs. A common theme in many of the submitted photographs, noted Dr. Frith, was the Statue of Triton, the Greek God, which sits in the forecourt of the Radcliffe Infirmary. Indeed, this fountain featured prominently in both the 3rd placed effort taken by David McKean and Chris Turnbull, and in the winning photograph, taken by Iain Macleod. The 2nd placed entry by David Welchew took a more surreal approach and was taken by a camera directed at a convex ceiling mirror. The final result is a stretched representation of a cross road of corridors situated at the heart of the old hospital. After the excitement of the prize giving the Gazette editors, Justin Loke and Georgina Osborne, rounded off the evening. Given the huge success of this year’s event, the Frith Photography Prize looks set to become an annual affair, so get your entries in now with the theme ‘The Face of Oxford Medicine’!

Matthew Sims Yr 5 Medical student

The medical school archive

The medical school archive of photographs starts in October 1948. We are anxious to obtain originals, or copies, of the entry photographs from before that time, do let Jayne Todd know if you have anything which might help us.

Clinical Students: New Entry October 1948

Back Row: B.R.S. Mainwaring; R.M. Acheson; A.W. Beard. Front Row: G.R. Webster; A.D. Gardner (Regius Professor of Medicine); G.B. Batchelor.

Clinical Students: New Entry March 1949

Back Row: P.R. Walker; E.T.C. Tewson; R.M. Murray-Leslie; W.F.C. Kennedy; I.S.L. L.oudon. Front Row: A.M. Stobie; R.T.H. Shepherd; M.A. Fenton; A.D. Gardner (Regius Professor of Medicine); R.T. Hewitt (Secretary of the Medical School); M.J.A. Menage; P.D. Grant.

Clinical Students: New Entry October 1949

Back Row: G.L. Feinstein; E.H. Jellinek; P.J.R. Phizackerley; A.J.C. Balfour. Front Row: N. Ward; J.C. Maclarnon; A.D. Gardner (Regius Professor of Medicine); R.T. Hewitt (Secretary of the Medical School); R.C. Curry.

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 9

Since 1942, the medical students of Oxford have been distracting themselves from the arduous slog of exams and ward rounds by creating the annual comic, raucous, musical spectacular that is the Tingewick Society Christmas pantomime.

This year the Christmas pantomime The Man with the Stolen Drugs or PFI another day or Percussion with Love will run from 28th November to 1st December.

With a cast of over a hundred actors, singers and dancers, and a team of twenty writers, choreographers, producers and musicians, all from among the body of Oxford medical students, Tingewick represents the largest dramatic undertaking at the University of Oxford.

The Tingewick Society’s main functions are amusing audiences of 450 people per night, by terrifying and embarrassing those who are their targets from amongst the medical clinical and teaching staff. In 2005 the Tingewick Society managed to raise over £13,000 for charity, from a four-night run. This is achieved solely through the profits made during the run of the show.

Tingewick 2006 — Pirates of the Perineum

Tickets are available online at www.tingewick.org.

S t u d e n t S ch o l a r s h i p s , P r i z e s a n d A w a r d s

O M A c o n g r a t u la t e s t h e f o llo w i ng s t ud e nt s o n t h e ir s uc ce s s in 2 0 07 .

Faisal R. Ali, (Christ Church), . . . . . . .RI Essay Prize in Pathology 2007 and the Sidney Truelove Prize in Gastroenterology 2007 Reuben J.S. Arasaratnam, (New), .RI Essay Prize in Medicine 2006 (joint winner), Gargi Banerjee, (New), . . . . . . . . . . .Proxime Accessit RI Essay Prize in Surgery 2007 and the Brian Johnson Prize 2007 Sam Behjati, (St Cross), . . . . . . . . . . .RI Essay Prize in Pathology 2006 (joint winner) Michael J. Carter, (Green), . . . . . . . . .Geoffrey Hill Spray Prize in Clinical Biochemistry 2006 Christine Chen, (Christ Church), . . . .RI Essay Prize in Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2006 Sandy D. Douglas, (New), . . . . . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 Katherine R. Emary, (Pembroke), . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Benjamin P. Fairfax, (Green), . . . . . . .L.J Witts Prize in Haematology or Gastroenterology 2006 Kezia L. Gaitskell, (Somerville), . . . . .RI Essay Prize in Surgery 2006 Catherine R. Garnett, (Somerville), . .Lovel Prize 2007 Kate A. Gascoyne, (New), . . . . . . . . .George Pickering Prize 2007 Lucy J. Hanington, (St Catherine’s), . .George Pickering Prize 2007 Rory E.M. Honney, (Wadham), . . . . .Patrick Mallam Memorial Prize 2007 Christopher S. Hourigan, (Worcester), Sidney Truelove Prize in Gastroenterology 2006 Varothayasingham Kirthi, (Balliol), . .John Pearce Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) and Runner-up: General Practice Essay Prize 2006 Rebecca G. Inglis, (New), . . . . . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Antonia Lloyd- Lavery, (Hertford), . . .Renwick Vickers Prize in Dermatology 2007 Justin C.T. Loke, (Green), . . . . . . . . . .L.J Witts Prize in Haematology or Gastroenterology 2007

Mark A. Lumb, (Worcester), . . . . . . .John Pearce Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) David McKean, (St John’s), . . . . . . . .John Friend Prize in Medical History 2006 Suhanthini Mahadevan, (Christ Church), University of Iowa Exchange Scholarship 2007 and Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 Philip E. Mosley, (Green), . . . . . . . . .Peter Tizard Prize in Paediatrics 2005/6 Isabel Mawson, (Magdalen), . . . . . .John Pearce Memorial Prize 2007 Ali Murad, (Green), . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Renwick Vickers Prize in Dermatology 2006 Kathryn E. Newell, (Trinity), . . . . . . . .2nd Prize: Laboratory Medicine Course Assessment Prize 2006 Timothy E. Platt, (St John’s), . . . . . . .General Practice Essay Prize 2006 Charles M. Sharpe, (Worcester), . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Rebecca F. Slack, (Merton), . . . . . . . .RI Essay Prize in Surgery 2007 R. Jane Southgate, (St John’s), . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Jignesh Tailor, (New), . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Friend Prize in Medical History 2006 (proxime accessit) Katherine N. Talbot, (Keble), . . . . . . .John Potter Essay Prize 2006/7 Nicholas P. Talbot, (Magdalen), . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Helen E. Turnbull, (St Edmund Hall), .RI Essay Prize in Pathology 2006 (joint winner) Niten K. Vig, (St Anne’s), . . . . . . . . . .Bristol Myers Squibb Prize in Cardiology 2006 James Warbrick-Smith, (LMH), . . . . .Laboratory Medicine Course Assessment Prize 2006 Douglas G.H.W.J Wardrop, (Brasenose), RI Essay Prize in Medicine 2006 (joint winner) David E. Welchew, (Wadham), . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 (proxime accessit) Caroline Whitwood, (Green), . . . . . .Margaret Harris Memorial Prize 2007 Rasheed Zakaria, (Queen’s), . . . . . . .Geoffrey Hill Spray Prize in Clinical Biochemistry 2007

10 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Development News

Fundraising continues for the new Institute of Cancer Medicine. On Tuesday 15th January, the University will be hosting an evening at our North American office in New York to showcase Oxford’s groundbreaking cancer programme.

Ever since

Richard Doll joined the

University in

1969, Oxford has been a byword for cancer

epidemiology.

Ever since Richard Doll joined the University in 1969, Oxford has been a byword for cancer epidemiology.

And now that research into diagnosis and treatment has reached a critical mass, Oxford is well on its way to being a byword for cancer research generally. The new Institute for Cancer Medicine is the final piece of the jigsaw that brings together more than 250 of the world’s leading specialists to form a centre for cancer research with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of people who are diagnosed with, or die from, cancer.

The occasion also provides an opportunity to celebrate Oxford’s exciting new partnership with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, which has nine centres in seven countries. Presentations will highlight our

cancer strategy and research focus, and confirmed speakers during the evening’s programme will include Professor John Bell and Edward A. McDermott, Jr (President and CEO of the Ludwig Institute).

If you would like to know more about this event or cancer research at Oxford, please contact Louise Angelou, Senior Development Officer, Medical Sciences (email louise.angelou@devoff.ox.ac.uk or telephone 01865 611537).

Oxford Transplant Campaign A project aimed at establishing a new integrated transplant centre and research institute in Oxford has been launched in order to bring together all the scientific and clinical aspects of transplantation on one site. What initially began as a £5 million expansion has evolved into a £15 million combined Transplant Centre and new Institute of Transplantation at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. The Campaign is jointly supported by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and the Oxford University Medical Sciences Division and has been formulated to build on the opportunities which will come from the Trust and the University’s recent success in securing Oxford’s position as one of the UK’s five national Biomedical Research Centres.

The new combined Centre and Institute will include a variety of leading research programmes, clinical laboratory services and teaching space. The new building, adjacent to the existing transplant facilities at the Churchill Hospital, will include additional, research laboratories, teaching facilities, a post-graduate education centre and a clinical trials unit. The Oxford Transplant Campaign aims to raise £5million to help establish these facilities and has already attracted the support of well known figures such as Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Terry Wogan, Sir Stirling Moss, Lucinda Green and Angela Rippon.

For more information please contact Shirley Clark, Development Director, Nuffield Department of Surgery Shirley.clark@nds.ox.ac.uk 01865 221270

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 11

The Oxford University Society Travel Programme The new 2008 brochure for the Oxford University Society Travel Programme is now available. The trips combine stimulating company, fascinating destinations and the opportunity to explore other cultures and landscapes. Each trip is accompanied by an expert trip scholar, who will give you a unique insight into the places you visit.

For those who like the cruising life, the 2008 programme includes luxury cruises to Alaska and the Mediterranean. There is also a relaxing barge cruise

along the Moselle, and gulet cruises in Turkey. If you are looking for adventure, you could join an exclusive safari to Namibia. There are also cultural trips to Libya, St Petersburg, China and more.

Visit our website to see the full range of trips: http://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/alumni_benefits/travel_pr ogramme/index.html If you would prefer a paper copy of the brochure, please email travel@ousoc.ox.ac.uk or phone 01865 611613.

1896 Medical School Dinner This delightful cartoon, reproduced from the menu of the 1896 Oxford University Medical School Dinner, is not only a pictorially skilled depiction of its subjects but it also manages to catch something of their characters.

The dominant figure is the 81 year old rather wearylooking Acland, who had only recently handed over

the Regius Professorship of Medicine to the 68 year old rather gloomy-looking Burdon Sanderson standing beside him. Below are caricatures of the young ‘upstarts’, both recent graduates of Edinburgh medical School; the 32 year old pathologist, James Ritchie, who far from being a Professor had not yet even been appointed to a University Lecturership and Arthur Thompson, 38 year old Professor of anatomy, who was to remain in post until 1933 when he was 75.

The kindly depiction of Ritchie and Thomson suggests that they were respected teachers.

Drawn by Cecil W Pilcher, this charming cartoon has been made available as an A6 notelet card (blank inside). Sets of 6, including envelopes, can be purchased for £5 per set plus £2.95 post and packing.

Please contact the alumni officer.

Students run for Cairns!

(HCSF). Although it was an early start on a cool, drizzly Sunday morning, Hyde Park Corner was filled with festivity at the start of the race. A great sense of satisfaction and achievement was felt by all runners at the finish. The funds raised will go towards sponsoring a developing world medical student to spend a surgical elective at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital.

On the 1st July 2007, five medical students and a junior doctor took part in the British 10 km run in the heart of London in aid of the Hugh Cairns Surgical Foundation

The participants were: Jamie Wilson, David McKean, Alex Cairns, Louise Southern, Tim Platt and Jignesh Tailor. The HCSF and all the runners were very grateful to Carolyn Cook from the Medical Sciences Office for her support.

Jignesh Tailor, Vice-Chairman, HCSF, jktailor@gmail.com

Visit the Medical

Sciences Division website at

w ww .m ed sci .o x.

a c .u k/ for further news updates

throughout the year.

12 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Obituaries

ROGER BRYCE-SMITH It is difficult to think of a more affable, self-effacing, and yet as remarkable a person as Dr Roger BryceSmith, who, at times, had a wicked sense of humour.

His interest in people made him decide for a medical career. Born in 1918, he qualified in Oxford in 1943 and immediately found himself tending people in the battlefields of World War II in the Royal Army Medical Corps. In 1947 he returned to civilian life with the rank of major. Like so many who were involved in wars he did not talk much about it, but it influenced his career as he realised that better and simpler anaesthesia was desperately needed: he then joined the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics.

After a year as House Anaesthetist under Professor (later Sir) Robert Macintosh, the first Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetics, he became his First Assistant. In 1951, a visitor to Oxford, Dr Robert Hingson was so impressed by Roger Bryce-Smyth that he asked Professor Macintosh to release him from his Oxford post so that he could become Associate Professor at Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio and help him to set up of an Academic Department. Eventually he was seconded to Cleveland but only for 18 months.

The priorities of the time were to improve the training of Anaesthetists, to improve all the equipment needed for anaesthesia, and to contribute to the introduction of safer anaesthetic agents. Roger Bryce-Smith was highly successful in all three fields. He taught and developed anaesthetic courses. He contributed many technical improvements including an infant laryngoscope blade, and two types of double-lumen endotracheal tubes (named after him as Bryce-Smith).

These tubes made it possible to ventilate the lungs independently making a major contribution to anaesthesia for lung surgery and more generally intra-thoracic surgery. He also contributed to perfecting a standard vaporiser for inhalation anaesthetics, the EMO (Epstein, Macintosh, Oxford).

The introduction of halothane, the first of a new generation of inhalational anaesthetic owes much to Roger Bryce-Smith. He carried out clinical trails both in volunteers and in patients. His presentation to the Royal Society of Medicine in 1957 marked the beginning of the use of halothane in clinical practice in the UK. He described the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of this new agent and concluded, rather reservedly, “that this agent merits a place in the anaesthetist’s armamentarium”, and it did.

Roger Bryce-Smith’s interests were wide ranging from dental anaesthesia to intensive care. Indeed, he wrote on the management of tetanus suggesting that patients could be paralysed by muscle relaxants and then artificially ventilated as was done since 1952 with polio patients.

Roger Bryce-Smith was very productive of original ideas. In 1949, he reported in the Lancet the use of continual spinal anaesthesia in a patient with puerpueral hypertensive encephalopathy, a long time before continuous spinal anaesthesia was rediscovered in the 1980s. His interest in regional anaesthesia is exemplified by papers on stellate ganglion blockade with local anaesthetics and later with 6% phenol.

Over fifty years later, solutions of phenol are still used for sympathetic blockade. He influenced his colleagues by his research and his teaching of techniques of regional anaesthesia and by writing superb reviews.

He saw his role as a teacher of regional anaesthetic blocks and spent much time in the dissection room to learn more about landmarks and their relationships with the nerves to be anaesthetised.

Professor Ritchie Russell (Professor of Neurology) asked him to help with the management of chronic pain, as regional anaesthesia had much to offer.

However, Roger Bryce-Smith was rather disheartened by the limited success of regional blocks. Yet, he was the person who carried out the first trials of continuous spinal anaesthesia and extradural anaesthesia in Europe.

In 1976, with John Alfred Lee, he wrote a monograph entitled Practical Regional Anaesthesia. With Gordon Ostlere he wrote Anaesthetics for Medical Students, a book much appreciated by generations of medical students. In 1957 he became co-author of Essential in General Anaesthesia with Sir Robert Macintosh.

In 1957 he resigned his academic post to become a Consultant in the United Oxford Hospitals. However, his academic career was not coming to an end. RogerBryce-Smith continued to be involved in research, especially the physiology of profound experimental hypothermia at a time deep hypothermia was thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of some mental conditions.

From 1966 until 1975, Roger Bryce-Smith was Editor in Chief of “Anaesthesia” and later Chairman of its Editorial Board. He presided over a considerable expansion of the Journal. Efficient, quiet and kindly

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 13

administration combined with his knowledge of scientific methods made him an excellent Editor-inChief. He was also President of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of Medicine. Within the Oxford Department he stimulated the academic interests of trainees.

Britain and Ireland by the award of a Pask Certificate of Honour in 1977.

He took early retirement in 1978 to spend more time with his family and to tend his garden, much to the chagrin of his colleagues and the trainees. He leaves a wife, Peggy, and three children.

When the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons established Fellowship Examinations, Roger Bryce-Smith was elected as Examiner. As he took early retirement, he was honoured by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great

Professor Pierre Foex

CAROLINE MILES 1929–2006 Caroline Miles was Chairman of Oxfordshire Health Authority from 1984 to 1992, when the funding restrictions of RAWP and the turbulent NHS reorganisations from Health Authorities to Trusts had to be managed without extra resources or detriment to services. She brought many skills to this hard task, and it is a tribute to her leadership and to the staff involved that Oxford medicine continued to thrive.

The daughter of a Brigadier, Caroline had a peripatetic childhood and education as wartime army life required.

She read PPE at Somerville and went on to the National Institute of Economics & Social Research, followed by eight years at the UN Secretariat in New York. Later she was a member of the National Enterprise Board.

She was an Associate Member of Nuffield College, then Ian Ramsey Fellow at St. Cross College.

In the 1970’s she was Chairman of St Luke’s Home, which she saved from bankruptcy, and I was privileged to work with her then and when she was OHA Chairman. Caroline was an inspiring leader. She had a profound interest in people, whether professional or lay, sick or healthy, rich or poor. She made it her business to know how the medical services worked – she went to A & E at night, she visited almost all the local general practices and was constantly out and about the 5 acute, 5 psychiatric, and 12 community hospitals for which we were responsible. So she knew the pressure points at first hand. She was a brilliant communicator, always ready to meet people and listen to them, and to inform staff and the public concisely on important issues; she answered personally almost every letter she received as Chairman. She worked closely with the Medical School towards its own objectives.

Caroline encouraged those around her to think laterally, and she had the skills to help them to see new ideas

through. Some were organisational, like the opening of a private ward (5D) in the JRH to increase NHS income; others simply improved people’s surroundings – like the fresco paintings in the Eye Hospital.

Perhaps the most important however was the initial planning of the major site redevelopments. Indeed the real possibility for a children’s hospital and the move of the Radcliffe Infirmary departments ‘up the hill’, first supported by the Medical Staff in the 1940’s, owe much to Caroline’s ideas and encouragement.

Our last project together was the Radcliffe Medical Foundation. We started it about 1987 as a charity to raise £5 million for four new developments that neither the DHA nor the Clinical Medical Board could fund, but which were desired by both. The resulting developments especially at the Churchill must have encouraged her successors who have had the new advantages of PFI capital and the increased NHS funding of recent years.

After she was Chairman, Caroline established, with Professor Tony Hope, what later became the Ethox Foundation, an important legacy to society. She was also active in many other charities, including the Nuffield Dominion Trust, and the Ditchley Foundation.

Caroline’s life was guided by her strong religious belief in which she moved from an Anglican upbringing to the Roman Catholic faith. She loved company, good food and wine and could not live without music: her unfulfilled passion at the time of her death was the restoration of the Holywell Music Room to its former glory as the world’s first small purpose built concert hall. The Caroline Miles Memorial Fund, a charity held

by Wadham College welcomes support for this worthy cause.

Sir Christopher Paine

14 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Obituaries

VAUGHAN SMITH Former General Practitioner Taunton, Somerset (b 1951; Wadham College, Oxford 1975; MA, BM BCh, FRCGP, MSc, MLCOM, DCH, DM-SMed, MRO), died from cancer of the pancreas and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on 8 June 2007 aged 55.

Vaughan was an enthusiastic NHS Family Doctor and a committed generalist. He obtained a first class honours in physiology at Oxford and stayed at Oxford to do his clinical training.

that computers have had on the consultation, feeling that the computer was a distraction from the key task of the consultation, which is to listen to the patient.

He spent most of his career working in Taunton, initially taking over a single-handed practice which grew in size over the years to four partners. For six years he fitted in a clinical assistant’s job in psychiatry, and in 1990 he began doing some medico-legal work, which started when he was asked to analyse the records of some haemophiliacs who had contracted HIV following blood transfusions.

Among other academic interests he enjoyed learning languages — which included Ancient Greek, Latin, Catalan, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Polish. He took the trouble to learn colloquial Polish in order to help better look after Polish patients, and make them feel more at home here.

He had an interest in musculoskeletal medicine, combining orthodox and complementary techniques. He practised acupuncture for twenty years. In 1993 he took a year’s sabbatical in order to train as an osteopath, later completing an MSc, with distinction, on the hazards of manipulation of the Cervical spine.

For a number of years he was able to combine his legal and musculoskeletal skills by preparing medico-legal reports on people who had suffered injuries, mainly in car crashes; and later on he was to be a professional assessor for the Health Service Ombudsman.

He was one of the first doctors to be awarded the Fellowship by Assessment of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

An enthusiastic teacher, as well as being a GP trainer, he was on the teaching faculty of the London College of Osteopathic Medicine, and in 2001 he became a lecturer in medicine at the School of Osteopathy at Oxford Brookes University. Had his time not been cut short, he was going to turn his lecture notes into a textbook of medicine for osteopaths.

He resigned in 2004 from his practice, unhappy with the new GP contract, initially to work for the emergency GP out-of-hours service and latterly to take up another partnership in Bridgwater.

Vaughan was immensely knowledgeable, wise, and diligent. His conscientiousness was underwritten by his feeling that he was highly privileged — to have been given the talents he had, and to have had the opportunity of going to Oxford — and felt that he should use his knowledge and skills to the best advantage of his patients. He was no technophobe — as long ago as the early 80’s he used a Sinclair to compare the consulting behaviour of longstanding patients with that of people who had recently transferred in. But he didn’t like the effect

Vaughan became ill in May 2006. After radiotherapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, he returned to work in November, but only for two months. Halfway through a morning surgery, his patient commented, “Dr Smith, it’s nice to have you back and nice to see you looking so much better”. A few moments later Vaughan realised he was starting a rigor, and he had to cut short the consultation, which turned out to be his last.

He leaves a wife, Christine, and four children.

Christine Smith

OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007 / 15

Lives remembered Rich ard Hu g h Balm e 1923 – 2006. Qualified 1947. DM, FRCP. Former consultant physician in geriatric medicine for East Berkshire Health District, initially with sole responsibility for 300 beds, his interest in rehabilitation led to a doubling of the admission rate for the same number of beds.

Ch a r l e s A l a n B l a k e Cl e m e t s o n 1923 – 2006. Qualified 1948. FRCOG, FRCSC, FACOG. Professor emeritus, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1991. His legacy to medicine is the condition, known as the Clemetson/Kalokerios syndrome.

Ch r i s t o p h e r Ch a r l e s D r a p e r 1921 – 2006. Qualified 1946. MD, DPH, DTM&H Former consultant and senior lecturer London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine worked there until retirement, researching rabies, schistomomiasis, Burkitt's syndrome, and leprosy. He ran the Pare-Taveta scheme in Tanzania to control malaria and demonstrated that the worst effects of malaria could be dramatically reduced — notably, a halving of all cause infant mortality.

R i c h a r d Wo l f f E m a n u e l 1923 – 2007. Qualified 1948. DM, FRCP, FACC Former consultant cardiologist. He created a pioneering database on the genetic aspects of heart disease and Marfan's syndrome in the early days of the National Heart and Lung Institute.

I a n C Ga d sb y 1938 – 2007. BM BCh 1972. Ian died peacefully at home on 18th March 2007. Ian joined the Cinderford general practice as a partner in 1978. His special interest was in psychiatry as well as being the practice’s Clinical Lead, a QOF Assessor and their IT Development lead. Ian was an inspiration to his colleagues and had a calming influence in an often stressed environment.

S t e p he n Jo hn Fo r sd ick 1954 – 2006. Qualified 1978. MRCGP General Practitioner in Cornwall, general practice trainer, member of the vocational training scheme.

A n n e G a l l (n é e K i r k b y ) 1922 – 2007. Qualified 1947 BM BCh, Lived in Nigeria where she established a number of child health clinics before returning to the UK where she became a general practitioner.

E d w a r d Jo s e p h L is t e r L o w b u r y 1913 – 2007. Qualified 1939. OBE, MA, DM, FRCPath, FRCP, FRCS. Expert on hospital infection, founder Birmingham Hospital Infection Research Laboratory. Major achievements include a controlled clinical trial confirming that closed ventilated burns dressing rooms reduced airborne infection. In addition he reported the emergence of a new plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that made it resistant to carbenicillin and other antibiotics. Parallel career as distinguished poet publishing 14 books.

J o h n M i c h a e l N e w s o m -D a v i s 1932 – 2007. CBE, FRS. Qualified 1960. Lecturer, University Department of Clinical Neurology, National Hospital for Diseases of the Nervous System 1967–69, Consultant Neurologist 1970–80; Neurological Research Fellow, Cornell Medical Center, New York Hospital 1969–70; MRC Clinical Research Professor of Neurology, Royal Free Hospital Medical School and Institute of Neurology 1980–87. At Oxford not only did he build up clinical neuroscience in his own field of immune-mediated and genetic diseases, he also established a Centre for the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, which was recognised as a world leader. Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurology, Oxford University 1987–98; editor, Brain 1997-2004. (A full obituary is being prepared) Ro be r t Roaf 1913 – 2007. Qualified 1934.

One of the world's leading spinal surgeons and one of the last of the British pre-war Himalayan climbers. Roaf, after much detailed research with colleagues, developed a new method of operating through the chest to correct abnormal curvature of the spine from the front. After much resistance, his method became accepted worldwide as standard procedure. Roaf successfully started a post-graduate training programme in Delhi before being appointed director of clinical studies and research at Oswestry. He was appointed to the chair of orthopaedic surgery at Liverpool University.

F r a n ci s Jo h n Ca ld w e ll R o e 1924 – 2007. Qualified 1948. MA, DM, DSc, FRCPath. Former independent consultant in toxicology, experimental pathology, and cancer research.

M i l e s We a t h e r a l l 1920 – 2007. Qualified 1943. BSc, MA, DM, DSc, FI Biol.

Professor of pharmacology, London University, and director of establishment, Wellcome Research Laboratories.

M i c h a e l K Wi l l i a m s 1929-2007. Qualified 1955. MA, DM. Former Consultant Occupational Health physician.

O M A r e c o r d s w i t h s ad n e s s t h e n a m e s o f o t h e r c o l l e a g u e s an d alu m n i w h o h av e r e ce n t ly d ie d : D r H F i d l e r d. 2007

If you would like to contribute an obituary or to write a tribute then please contact Jayne Todd

16 / OXFORD MEDICINE . NOVEMBER 2007

Contacting OMA A d d r e ss : Oxford Medical Alumni Medical Sciences Office John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford OX3 9DU Em ail : jayne.todd@medsci.ox.ac.uk We b s i t e : www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/oma En q u ir ie s : 01865 221690 Fa x : 01865 750750 More information on all these events can be found at www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/ get_involved/ events

Oxford Medical Alumni 20 0 8 events • 16 & 1 7, 2 3 & 24 F e b r u a r y Va r s i t y G a m e s We e k e n d s After the Boat Race, the Varsity Games is the largest elite sporting event at both universities and dates back to the first Varsity in 1827. The Games will be held at Iffley Road, our historic sporting venue.

The programme includes a showpiece Swimming Gala and more esoteric sports such as Kendo, with all competitors training their sights on Varsity glory.

Oxford’s competitors will be looking to emulate their success in previous Games and will be galvanised by the presence of many partisan supporters.

• 29 M a r c h 1 5 4t h O x f o r d v.

Ca m b r i d g e B o a t R a c e Cambridge won the 153rd Boat Race by one and a quarter lengths in 17 minutes and 49 seconds. Last year’s victory for Oxford brings the total score since 1829 to Cambridge 78, Oxford 72, and one dead heat.

• M a r c h (T B C) To u r o f t h e F i r s t E m p e r o r E x h ib i t io n , t he B r i t is h M u s e um

The 2008 North American Reunion will be held on 4 April and 5 April at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The weekend includes drinks parties, academic sessions with Oxford academics and alumni and college gatherings.

• 11 & 12 A p r i l O x f o r d M e d i c al A lu m n i We e k e n d , O x f o r d OMA annual programme of scientific lectures, research presentations, several reunion dinners and awards the Frith Photography Prize. Full details at the bottom of this page.

• 2 6 A p r i l S t u d y D a y a t Ch a w t o n Ho u s e Chawton House, an Elizabethan manor house that once belonged to Jane Austen's brother, together with 275 acres of land, has been restored as part of a major international project to establish a new Centre for the Study of Early English Women's Writing, 1600 – 1830. The library houses a collection of over 9,000 volumes, and related manuscripts, and visitors can see the relationships between the library, the house, the estate and a working farm of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

• 4-6 A p r i l N o r t h A m e r ic an R e u n io n Oxford’s North American alumni are invited to gather and celebrate their Oxford • M a y ( T B C) Ox f o r d A l u m n i v i s i t experience at a biennial reunion weekend. Pa r l i a m e n t

• 5 J u l y Pe r f o r m a n c e b y t h e N e w Ch a m b e r O p e r a Michael Burden and Gary Cooper founded the New Chamber Opera in 1990 to focus on chamber opera and music theatre. The NCO has its own Baroque orchestra, The Band of Instruments, and has staged over thirty productions including Handel's Orlando and Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, as well as producing a wide range of recordings. Appearances outside Oxford include concerts and productions at the Tudeley and Southwark Festivals, London's South Bank, and the National Gallery. The NCO has a particular commitment to young singers through the NCO Studio, and stages two student productions and a recital series of twenty-four concerts.

• J u l y Va r s i t y Cr i c k e t M a t c h (T B C) • 1 9 -21 S e p t e m b e r O x f o r d A l u m n i We e k e n d The University is delighted to invite you back once again for a weekend on the theme of Global Oxford. The programme celebrates the part played by the University in the international community of the 21st century.

• D e c e m b e r (TB C) O x f o r d G r ad u at e s' Chr ist m as Par t y, Lo nd o n

Oxford in North America: Past, Present, Future. New York 6th April 20 0 8

2008 is the fourth biennial reunion for those who have studied, taught or worked in medicine at Oxford University.

All alumni working or living in North America are most welcome to attend.

There will be a significant presence by members of the Oxford medical team both past and present.

The OMA meeting will be held at the Princeton Club of New York and booking can be made online via the OMA website w w w .m e d s c i .o x .a c .u k / o m a .

This year R e g i u s P r o f e s s o r J o h n B e l l Alternatively postal bookings can be will give a special insight into Health made using the form included in this Research at Oxford. D r K e n n e t h issue of Oxford medicine. This meeting F l e m i n g , who retires this year from his forms part of the University biennial position as Head of Medical Sciences at reunion which will take place at the Oxford, will reflect upon ‘How it looks Waldorf Hotel on 4th and 5th April 2008. from here’ and there will be opportunity to Full details of the University event can be meet his successor. found at w w w.o x f o r d n a .o r g

Oxford Medical Alumni Symposium April 2008 11th April 2008 Oxford Osler Lecture 4.30pm Private viewing of Frith Photography Prize entries 5.30pm Fourth Oxford Osler Lecture Professor John Reid “awaiting title”

Frith Photography Prize 6.30pm Award of Frith Photography Prize 2008 The Face of Oxford medicine 7pm Grand Drinks Reception and private viewing of Frith Photography Prize winners

Professor Vincenzo Cerundolo Cancer vaccines — the hope and the hype Professor David Kerr Cancer care in the 21st Century Professor Michael Richardson Cancer — can we afford it?

Lunch (Posters by DPhil students) Professor Mark Harrison Oxford Osler Seminar — Science comes to Oxford: Medical Education and Research in the Late-Victorian University.

Family Tea Parties, 12th April 2008 Oxford Medical Alumni Symposium

A Family Tea Party for graduates and their children will take place at Osler House, John Radcliffe Hospital.

Professor Sir Nicholas Wright Third Oxford Medical Society Lecture Professor Gilles McKenna The Use of Radiation in Cancer Treatments: Back to the Future Dr Katherine Vallis Prospects for Molecularly Targeted Therapy in Oncology

Reunion Dinners at St Edmund Hall, The Queen’s College and Wolfson College for graduates before 1968 and for 1977, 1978, 1988, 1998, 2002 and 2003.

Anyone else is most welcome

Oxford Reunion Banquets

Oxford Medicine is produced by the Medical Informatics Unit, NDCLS, University of Oxford. Telephone +44 (0)1865 222746.

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