Edward McCombie McGirr
Encyclopedia
Professor Dr. Edward McCombie McGirr CBE
was Muirhead professor of medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
, a former President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
and Dean of Faculties at the University of Glasgow
.
, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 15 June 1916 and educated at the prestigious Hamilton Academy
school from which he won a bursary to attend the University of Glasgow
which he entered in 1934, McGirr graduated BSc in 1937 and MB ChB with honours in 1940.
Following house posts in medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
and in surgery at Glasgow Western Infirmary McGirr entered the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps
) (1941–46) largely serving overseas, in India, Burma, Siam and Indochina. Brigadier Max Rosenheim (Max Rosenheim, Baron Rosenheim
) noted his potential which led to McGirr's promotion to specialist rank (honorary major.) Demobilised in 1947, McGirr returned to the Department of Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he was highly instrumental in the change of the department from a teaching department to one involved in clinical research, this leading to the award of MD with honours and the Bellahouston Medal by Glasgow University.
McGirr then served as President from 1970 to 1972. In 1974 Professor McGirr was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Glasgow, a post held until his retirement in 1981.
McGirr was to serve on a wide range of advisory bodies, including the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, the medical sub-committee of the Universities' Grants Committee, the medical committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, the General Nursing Council for Scotland, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Intercollegiate Committee on Nuclear Medicine. Other appointments included honorary consultant physician to the army in Scotland, and membership of Greater Glasgow Health Board.
In recognition of his work, McGirr was awarded the CBE
in 1978, an honorary DSc
in 1995, and fellowships of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
and the American College of Physicians
. He was also appointed to the post of Dean of Faculties at Glasgow University (1992-94.)
In retirement Professor McGirr published an account of the life of the celebrated 18th. century physician William Cullen
who almost 200 hundred years before had, like himself, been educated at the Hamilton Academy
school and Glasgow University.
Professor Dr. McGirr died on 12 May 2003.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
was Muirhead professor of medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
The Glasgow Royal Infirmary is a large teaching hospital, operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,. With a capacity of around 1000 beds, the hospital campus covers an area of around 20 acres, situated on the north-eastern edge of the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:Designed by Robert...
, a former President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
and Dean of Faculties 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...
.
Early life and career
Born in HamiltonHamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 15 June 1916 and educated at the prestigious Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
school from which he won a bursary to attend 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...
which he entered in 1934, McGirr graduated BSc in 1937 and MB ChB with honours in 1940.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
The Glasgow Royal Infirmary is a large teaching hospital, operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,. With a capacity of around 1000 beds, the hospital campus covers an area of around 20 acres, situated on the north-eastern edge of the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:Designed by Robert...
and in surgery at Glasgow Western Infirmary McGirr entered the RAMC (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...
) (1941–46) largely serving overseas, in India, Burma, Siam and Indochina. Brigadier Max Rosenheim (Max Rosenheim, Baron Rosenheim
Max Rosenheim, Baron Rosenheim
Max Leonard Rosenheim, Baron Rosenheim KBE FRCP FRS was a British physician and academic.He was born in London and educated at Shrewsbury School. He then went up to St John's College, Cambridge and University College Hospital Medical School...
) noted his potential which led to McGirr's promotion to specialist rank (honorary major.) Demobilised in 1947, McGirr returned to the Department of Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he was highly instrumental in the change of the department from a teaching department to one involved in clinical research, this leading to the award of MD with honours and the Bellahouston Medal by Glasgow University.
Mid career
In 1961 McGirr was appointed Muirhead Professor of Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and over the next fifteen years his department emerged as one of the best in the UK for clinical research. In 1968 appointed vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
McGirr then served as President from 1970 to 1972. In 1974 Professor McGirr was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Glasgow, a post held until his retirement in 1981.
Later career and retirement
In recognition of his work, McGirr was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1978, an honorary 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...
in 1995, and fellowships of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
and the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is a national organization of doctors of internal medicine —physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illnesses in adults. With 130,000 members, ACP is the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in...
. He was also appointed to the post of Dean of Faculties at Glasgow University (1992-94.)
In retirement Professor McGirr published an account of the life of the celebrated 18th. century physician William Cullen
William Cullen
William Cullen FRS FRSE FRCPE FPSG was a Scottish physician, chemist and agriculturalist, and one of the most important professors at the Edinburgh Medical School, during its heyday as the leading center of medical education in the English-speaking world.Cullen was also a central figure in the...
who almost 200 hundred years before had, like himself, been educated at the Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
school and Glasgow University.
Professor Dr. McGirr died on 12 May 2003.