Neil Gordon (paediatrician)
| Neil Gordon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
28 May 1918 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 9 November 2010 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Edinburgh University |
| Awards | FRCP Edin, FRCP |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Pediatrics, Neurology |
| Institutions | Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, University of California |
| Influences | Charles McNeil[1],Ronald MacKeith[1], Thomas Stapleton[1][2] |
Neil Simson Gordon, FRCP, FRCPE (born 28 May 1918 in Edinburgh, died 9 November 2010) was a paediatric neurologist, who conducted research into eponymic diseases including chronic handicaps, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, disorders of languages and learning difficulties (Learning disability). Gordon was one of the first to initiate comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment centres for children.[3][4] Gordon has been described as the "wise grand old man of UK paediatric neurology" and first specialist paediatric neurologist to be appointed outside London.[4]
Life
Gordon was the son of Ronald Grey Gordon, a distinguished doctor like himself, and Agnes Theodora née Henderson, who was a farmers daughter. Gordon's brother was the notable Ian Gordon, who was a paediatric radiologist.[5] Gordon received his early education at Charterhouse School, before going on to study Medicine at Edinburgh University and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.[4] At the start of World War II and after applying and failing to achieve a position at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Gordon joined the RAF Medical Service in 1941.[1] Gordon worked in a mobile field hospital, in various locations, including North Africa, Italy and France.[1]
In 1942, Gordon married Valerie Margaret née Gray. They had a son and daughter. Valerie predeceased him and Gordon was survived by their children.[4]
Career
After World War II, in 1946, Gordon was demobilised and upon returning to civilian life, became a supernumery registrar at the Royal Infirmary.[1] After two years, Gordon left the position, to take a number of increasingly senior positions at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, moving through the medical ranks,[4] becoming house physician, then assistant registrar then registrar.[1] During this period, Gordon spent a year, working as a lecturer at the University of California in San Francisco.[1]
In 1955, Gordon moved to St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, as a Senior registrar in neurology, under the notable neurologist Denis Briton.[1] In 1958 he was appointed as Consultant paediatric neurologist at both Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Booth Hall Children’s Hospital.[4]
Membership
In the 1970's Gordon was focused on the pathology of speech and attended a committee that was enquiring into the work of speech therapists, who had the time seemed to work exclusively only on adult speech problems. Through this work he was made an honorary fellow of the College of Speech Therapists, later called the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.[1]
Gordon was a founding member of the British Paediatric Neurology Association in 1975[1] From 1958, Gordon attended meetings of the UK Paediatric Neurology group in St Edmund Hall, Oxford and the group slowly formed the idea of establishing the fist association of that type in the UK. Gordon work was fundamental in establishing the Association, and for his efforts was elected to be the first President of the Association, a position he held for 6 years.[1] Through work to establish the association, other European countries took notice and established similar associations. These were brought together, starting in 1971, in a federal structure by 1980, to become the European Federation of European societies of paediatric neurology in 1980, that would later become the European Paediatric Neurology Society.[1][4] Gordon became president of the organisation in 1980 for a two year term.[4] Gordon was also on the board of the International Child Neurology Association.[4]
Contributions
Gordon was interested in rare diseases, and this was reflected in his publications, and eventually became a consultant in rare diseases both within the UK and abroad.[1] His most important field however, was paediatric neurology, a field in which he excelled. What concerned him most was the topics of chronic disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Language disorder, learning disability, Accident-proneness, emotional and behavioral disorders, all medical disorder's that are within the field of paediatric neurology.[4][1] Gordon in conducting research and writing publications examined in detail, those who had suffered from learning disabilities and low self-esteem could later lead to clumsiness and failure at school. Out of this research he published a book in 1976 called Neurological problems in childhood and later republished by Butterworth-Heinemann 1993.
Awards
Gordon was the awarded the prestigious James Spence Medal in 1985.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Tizard, Peter (1985). "James Spence Medallist, 1985. Neil Simson Gordon". Archives of Disease in Childhood. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 60 (7): 603–604. doi:10.1136/adc.60.7.603. ISSN 0003-9888. PMC 1777278.
- ↑ "Professor Thomas Stapleton". Times Newspapers Limited. The Times. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ↑ "Dr Neil Simson Gordon". The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Neil Simson Gordon". Munks Roll - Lives of the fellows. XII. 1985. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ↑ Wolstenholme, Sir Gordon; Luniewska, Valérie (1979). "Ian Ronald Simson Gordon". Lives of the fellows. VII: 217. Retrieved 14 May 2018.