Cover image for
Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E004621 - Nicholson, Oliver Ross (1922 - 2013)
Title:
Nicholson, Oliver Ross (1922 - 2013)
Author:
Peter Robertson
Identifier:
RCS: E004621
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2013-11-08

2014-06-06
Description:
Obituary for Nicholson, Oliver Ross (1922 - 2013), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Nicholson, Oliver Ross
Date of Birth:
12 October 1922
Place of Birth:
Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Death:
13 July 2013
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
OBE 1976

MB ChB NZ 1947

FRCS 1950

FRACS 1954
Details:
Ross Nicholson was the formative figure in New Zealand orthopaedic surgery through the second half of the 20th century. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 October 1922, Ross was educated at Auckland Grammar School, received his medical degree from the University of Otago, and trained in orthopaedic surgery in Auckland (from 1950 to 1951) and in Britain, primarily at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London (from 1955 to 1956) under the guidance of Sir Herbert Seddon. Upon his return to New Zealand, Ross took up a consultant position at Middlemore Hospital in 1957, where he remained in public practice until 1987. In parallel, he operated a very busy and successful private practice based at Mercy Hospital in central Auckland. Ross led the explosion in specialised surgical techniques that charaterised his era. He was at the forefront of Charnley hip replacement surgery in New Zealand, opening this option for reconstruction and disability relief to a whole generation of grateful patients. The national scoliosis service was both established and lead by Ross, and he was at the forefront of the management of spine trauma. Despite these special interests, Ross was a generalist, and no area of orthopaedic care was outside his sphere of expertise. In 1956 Ross was appointed as an ABC (American-British-Canadian) travelling fellow, the first New Zealander to receive this honour. He travelled extensively and interacted with the international orthopaedic community, and without doubt he was the face of New Zealand orthopaedics, being recognised and admired globally. He became president of the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association in 1982, having held every position of significance within the association before that point! This extended his international profile, and he became associated with many orthopaedic societies around the world, travelling and lecturing through the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ross was committed to academic orthopaedics, lecturing within the University of Auckland, developing the orthopaedic academic unit within the department of surgery at the university, and then establishing the chair in orthopaedic surgery. Without doubt the major contribution Ross gave New Zealand orthopaedics was his rigorous commitment to clinical excellence. He established the New Zealand orthopaedic training program and was lead examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. His clinical method focused on excellence in the practice of history, examination and patient evaluation. Ross demanded very high standards, demands that some of his juniors feared, yet later were immensely grateful for during clinical practice. This commitment to clinical excellence continued throughout his career, and Ross remained a willing invitee to the final fellowship exam preparation courses through into his 80s. Outside clinical medicine, Ross was involved in almost every aspect of medical life conceivable. His participation was too great to itemise, yet ranged from hospital management to committees for government advice, from teaching appointments for medical and related students, to board memberships of multiple patient support societies and foundations, and from journal editorial board memberships through to multiple trustee and expert advisory positions. As a result of this influence upon the community, Ross received the OBE in 1976. Despite this extensive commitment to the profession, Ross was very active in the outside world. He was a passionate about New Zealand rugby, as a player in his youth and then surgeon to the Auckland Rugby Union. He was a keen participant in squash and sailing, and a devotee of the Auckland Racing Club, where he became a life member. To mark Ross' 90th birthday he was the guest at a large gathering of colleagues and friends. His own humorous and detailed review of aspects of his life was matched by many contributions that were laced with reflections of excellence, commitment, humour and candor! All of his colleagues present were able to reflect on an outstanding career focused upon the betterment of patient care and the relentless pursuit of excellence in clinical standards. Ross Nicholson died on 13 July 2013, aged 90, after a brief illness. His wife Pauline passed away in 2011; his daughter Caroline Thorburn and his two grandsons survived him.
Rights:
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Collection:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format:
Obituary
Format:
Asset
Asset Path:
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E004000-E004999/E004600-E004699
Media Type:
Unknown