Gilbert Stead
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Stead was a professor of physics
and pioneer in the development of radiology
as a recognized medical specialty.
Stead worked at the Cavendish Laboratory
and graduated from Cambridge
in 1913. During WWI
he was at HM Signals School in Portsmouth
. After the war, he returned to Cavendish Laboratory
and taught. Beginning in 1923 he also taught classes at Guy's Hospital
where he brought his knowledge of radiology
to the practice of medicine. He relinquished his Cambridge professorship in 1938 when he became a governor at Guy's Hospital. He retired from Guy's Hospital in 1953.
Stead wrote the text Elementary Physics, which, when it was published in 1924, was "hailed as a superb source of help to struggling radiology and medical students." This text was continuously in print, published in updated editions, for over 50 years. In 1939, he wrote the book Notes in Practical Physics which was widely used in British schools.
, and Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
, President of the British Institute of Radiology from 1947-1948, Chair of Physics at Guy's Hospital 1938-1953.
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and pioneer in the development of radiology
Radiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
as a recognized medical specialty.
Stead worked at the Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
and graduated from Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1913. During WWI
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was at HM Signals School in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. After the war, he returned to Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
and taught. Beginning in 1923 he also taught classes at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
where he brought his knowledge of radiology
Radiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
to the practice of medicine. He relinquished his Cambridge professorship in 1938 when he became a governor at Guy's Hospital. He retired from Guy's Hospital in 1953.
Stead wrote the text Elementary Physics, which, when it was published in 1924, was "hailed as a superb source of help to struggling radiology and medical students." This text was continuously in print, published in updated editions, for over 50 years. In 1939, he wrote the book Notes in Practical Physics which was widely used in British schools.
Degrees, awards, honors
M.A., D.Sc. (Doctor of Science), Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & CommerceRoyal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, and Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
Cambridge Philosophical Society
The Cambridge Philosophical Society is a scientific society at University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1819. The name derives from the medieval use of the word philosophy to denote any research undertaken outside the fields of theology and medicine...
, President of the British Institute of Radiology from 1947-1948, Chair of Physics at Guy's Hospital 1938-1953.
Selected publications
- Stead, Gilbert (1924) Elementary Physics, and subsequent editions through 1975;
- Stead, Gilbert (1939) Notes in Practical Physics;
- Stead, Gilbert (1956) “Sixty Years of Radiology; Physics” British Journal of Radiology, 29 (342), 234-8;