Abraham Goldberg
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg (1923–2007) was Regius Professor
of the Practice of Medicine
at the University of Glasgow
. He was educated at George Heriot's School
in Edinburgh and Edinburgh University.
and Ukraine
.
with the Royal Army Medical Corps
in Egypt, Abe obtained a Nuffield fellowship
in the Department of Chemical Pathology at University College Hospital
, London. Here he worked with the Professor of Chemical Pathology, Claude Rimmington, in learning the techniques which were to underpin his future research studies on the blood pigment haem and its relation to the disease porphyria
. After a year and a half spent on an Eli Lilly
travelling fellowship in Salt Lake City with the haematologist Max Wintrobe, Goldberg returned to Scotland in 1956 as lecturer in medicine in the Department of Medicine of the University of Glasgow, where he was to spend the remainder of his professional career.
The mid-1960s saw him being awarded DSc
and securing a Personal Chair in the Department of Medicine, Western Infirmary
, University of Glasgow. As editor of the Scottish Medical Journal
in 1962-63, he presided over the initiation of a special series on Scottish medical education which was published in book form in April 1963. Subsequent to this, over the next 20 years, he made contributions to the development of medical education through, for example, the production of a bedside teaching manual for medical students (known as "the green book"), the production of a clinical examination slide-tape series (with Albert Yeung), and a major paper on the future of Scottish medical education in the Health Bulletin, in addition to his bedside teaching, lectures and supervision of students undertaking postgraduate degrees.
He became a world authority on porphyria, and a leading expert on lead poisoning
, being influential in improving the safety of the water supply to Glasgow. He was appointed to the Regius Chair of Materia Medica
, Stobhill Hospital
in 1970, succeeding Stanley Alstead. He built up the Department of Materia Medica and supervised Brian Whiting, later to be Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, in the development of a drug interaction disc which ultimately was distributed to all practising doctors in the UK. This activity, together with other work on pharmacodynamics
, laid the foundation for later achievements including the Chairmanship of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines
and the Founding Presidency of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. His work on lead poisoning, an interest of his in the 1960s, continued while at Stobhill Hospital and he was an influential figure in promoting a safer, lead-free water supply to the people of Glasgow. In 1974, he was responsible for establishing the West of Scotland Alcohol Research Group; he was interested in research associated with alcohol and, indeed, he was also a former member of the Scottish Council on Alcoholism.
In 1978, following the death of Graeme Wilson, he was appointed to the Regius Chair of the Practice of Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow. A year later he was invited to Chair the UK Government’s Committee on the Safety of Medicines. In 1982 he was knighted
for services to medicine.
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
of the Practice of Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He was educated at George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. It was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital, by bequest of the royal goldsmith George...
in Edinburgh and Edinburgh University.
Early life
Abraham (Abe) was born in Edinburgh on 7 December 1923, the youngest of five children of immigrant parents from LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Career
After junior hospital medical posts and national serviceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
in Egypt, Abe obtained a Nuffield fellowship
Nuffield Trust
The Nuffield Trust is a charitable trust based in London, whose aim is to produce independent analysis and debate on UK healthcare policy.Its principal activities include:*Holding meetings, workshops and seminars for people interested in UK healthcare...
in the Department of Chemical Pathology at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
, London. Here he worked with the Professor of Chemical Pathology, Claude Rimmington, in learning the techniques which were to underpin his future research studies on the blood pigment haem and its relation to the disease porphyria
Porphyria
Porphyrias are a group of inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes in the heme bio-synthetic pathway . They are broadly classified as acute porphyrias and cutaneous porphyrias, based on the site of the overproduction and accumulation of the porphyrins...
. After a year and a half spent on an Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly was the founder of Eli Lilly and Company.Eli Lilly may also refer to:* Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical company...
travelling fellowship in Salt Lake City with the haematologist Max Wintrobe, Goldberg returned to Scotland in 1956 as lecturer in medicine in the Department of Medicine of the University of Glasgow, where he was to spend the remainder of his professional career.
The mid-1960s saw him being awarded DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
and securing a Personal Chair in the Department of Medicine, Western Infirmary
Western Infirmary
The Western Infirmary is a teaching hospital situated in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. There is also a Maggie's centre at the hospital to help cancer patients, as well as the Glasgow Clinical Research Facility....
, University of Glasgow. As editor of the Scottish Medical Journal
Scottish Medical Journal
The Scottish Medical Journal is a general medical journal, which publishes original research in all branches of medicine, review articles, history of medicine articles, and clinical memoranda...
in 1962-63, he presided over the initiation of a special series on Scottish medical education which was published in book form in April 1963. Subsequent to this, over the next 20 years, he made contributions to the development of medical education through, for example, the production of a bedside teaching manual for medical students (known as "the green book"), the production of a clinical examination slide-tape series (with Albert Yeung), and a major paper on the future of Scottish medical education in the Health Bulletin, in addition to his bedside teaching, lectures and supervision of students undertaking postgraduate degrees.
He became a world authority on porphyria, and a leading expert on lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
, being influential in improving the safety of the water supply to Glasgow. He was appointed to the Regius Chair of Materia Medica
Materia medica
Materia medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing . The term 'materia medica' derived from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica libre...
, Stobhill Hospital
Stobhill Hospital
Stobhill Hospital is an Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Hospital, located in the district of Springburn in the north of Glasgow, Scotland. It serves the population of North Glasgow and part of East Dunbartonshire.-History:...
in 1970, succeeding Stanley Alstead. He built up the Department of Materia Medica and supervised Brian Whiting, later to be Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, in the development of a drug interaction disc which ultimately was distributed to all practising doctors in the UK. This activity, together with other work on pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body or on microorganisms or parasites within or on the body and the mechanisms of drug action and the relationship between drug concentration and effect...
, laid the foundation for later achievements including the Chairmanship of the Committee on the Safety of Medicines
Committee on the Safety of Medicines
The Committee on the Safety of Medicines was an independent advisory committee that for 40 years advised the UK Licensing Authority on the quality, efficacy and safety of medicines....
and the Founding Presidency of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
The Faculty of Pharmacutical Medicine is a Faculty of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK...
of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. His work on lead poisoning, an interest of his in the 1960s, continued while at Stobhill Hospital and he was an influential figure in promoting a safer, lead-free water supply to the people of Glasgow. In 1974, he was responsible for establishing the West of Scotland Alcohol Research Group; he was interested in research associated with alcohol and, indeed, he was also a former member of the Scottish Council on Alcoholism.
In 1978, following the death of Graeme Wilson, he was appointed to the Regius Chair of the Practice of Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow. A year later he was invited to Chair the UK Government’s Committee on the Safety of Medicines. In 1982 he was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
for services to medicine.
External links
- Biography of Sir Abraham Goldberg, University of Glasgow Story