First Title value, for Searching Kirk, John (1922 - 2011)

2024-04-28T14:01:36Z

by Brian Morgan
Publication Date 2012-01-10 2015-05-22
Unknown
Asset Path Root/Lives of the Fellows/E001000-E001999/E001800-E001899
URL for Files https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/search/asset/374015374015
Occupation Plastic surgeon Plastic and reconstructive surgeon
Details John Kirk was a consultant plastic surgeon at the Tayside Regional Plastic Surgery Unit. He was born in Edinburgh on 23 June 1922, but spent most of the first six years of his life in China, where his mother and father, also John Kirk, were medical missionaries. The family returned to the UK in 1928 and his father went on to become professor of anatomy at the Middlesex Hospital, London. John Kirk trained at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School and qualified in 1945. After posts at the Middlesex, he joined the Royal Navy as a surgeon and saw active service in the West Indies. He trained and qualified as a general surgeon, gaining his FRCS in 1954. He then moved on to plastic and reconstructive surgery, working with Rainsford Mowlem at Northwood. In 1955 he moved back to Scotland, to Bangour Hospital in West Lothian, where the regional plastic surgery unit serving Edinburgh and the east of Scotland was based. Here he worked with Alexander 'Alister' Burns Wallace. In 1956 the Tayside Plastic Surgery Service was started at the Dundee Royal Infirmary and Bridge of Earn Hospital, near Perth, as an off-shoot of the unit headed by Wallace. John Kirk joined this service, and in 1960 was made a full-time consultant in plastic surgery to the Eastern Regional Hospital Board. He took a leading role in the design of the new burns and plastic surgery ward at the Bridge of Earn Hospital and also 10 beds at the Dundee Royal Infirmary. John worked single-handed for 10 years until 1970. In 1973 he was made a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He retired in 1983. John was a highly-respected, tireless and meticulous surgeon. He was an inspiring teacher for his trainees, but a strict disciplinarian. He was impeccably mannered and modest. He played cricket, rugby and squash, and, in later life, took up hill walking, fishing and golf (he was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews). He was also a bird watcher and watercolour artist, but above all he was a family man. He died on 5 May 2011, aged 88, and was survived by his wife Elaine and three children - Rose, Susan and John.
Resource Identifier RCS: E001832
Collection Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format Obituary
Format Asset

First Title value, for Searching Kirk, John (1881 - 1959)

2024-04-28T14:01:36Z

by Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date 2014-03-07
Unknown
Asset Path Root/Lives of the Fellows/E005000-E005999/E005000-E005099
URL for Files https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/search/asset/377276377276
Occupation Anatomist
Details Born on 27 November 1881 son of the Rev John Kirk and Eliza Walker Lewis of Edinburgh, he was educated at George Watson's College and at Edinburgh University, where he graduated MB ChB in 1904. After graduation he held the post of house-surgeon at the Mildmay Mission Hospital, Bethnal Green before going to New Zealand in 1906. A deeply religious man, Kirk spent the years 1907 to 1928 in medical missionary work in China under the New Zealand Presbyterian Mission. He became lecturer in human anatomy at the Kung Yee Medical College, Canton and in 1924 was placed in charge of the new department of anatomy the first of its kind in South China. His leaves were spent profitably: in 1914 he took the FRCS, and in 1921-22 he was full-time demonstrator of anatomy at Birmingham University. Kirk was one of a small group of doctors who realised that it was their duty to establish modern medical education in China at a few well-equipped centres, and in 1920 he visited Canada and the USA as a member of the delegation financed by the Rockefeller Foundation to seek support for medical education and research in South China. In the result they founded three university medical schools. For six years Kirk was a member of the council on medical education of the Chinese Medical Association and was president from 1923 to 1925. In 1928 Kirk returned to England and joined the staff of University College London as a demonstrator of anatomy; in 1930 he became senior demonstrator and was made responsible for the anatomy class for the primary FRCS students. Kirk made the dry bones of anatomy live, and his classes drew students from all over the world; he took a personal interest in his students. He became sub-dean of the Faculty of Medicine and was senior tutor in the Faculties of medicine, science, and engineering, and lecturer in anatomy to the Slade School of Fine Art. In 1937 Kirk was appointed to the SA Courtauld chair of anatomy at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School and retained this post until retirement in 1949. His superb knowledge of anatomy, vast experience, lucid delivery, and sincere interest in his students brought him much affection and respect. He was honorary treasurer of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 1937 to 1947 and a vice-president from 1947 to 1949, and examined for the Primary FRCS. On retirement he received the title of Professor Emeritus, and in 1952 he was elected FRCS. Kirk who was a tall, handsome man, combined natural dignity with deep humanity. In 1908 he married Norah Elizabeth Hughes; they had two sons and one daughter. Kirk died on 26 September 1959 at his home Hopefield, Winscombe Way, Stanmore at the age of 77.
Resource Identifier RCS: E005093
Collection Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format Obituary
Format Asset

Search Results for Medical Obituaries - Narrowed by: Kirk, John

First Title value, for Searching Kirk, John (1922 - 2011)

First Title value, for Searching Kirk, John (1881 - 1959)