Michael Peckham
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Peckham is a British oncologist and artist. As a cancer physician he is best known for his contribution to the treatment of testicular cancer
. His paintings were first exhibited in 1962 and he has since shown in numerous mixed and solo exhibitions .
He was born in Panteg,Gwent, read Natural Sciences at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
and qualified as a doctor from UCL Medical School. He was called up for military service and spent two years as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps
.
He is married to Catherine Stevenson Peckham , daughter of Alexander King
.
After working with Maurice Tubiana at the Institut Gustave Roussy
in Paris on the cell biology of lymphoma, he joined the Institute of Cancer Research
and Royal Marsden Hospital in London. He was appointed to a Chair in 1973 and built up a team that specialised in testicular cancer
and Hodgkin’s lymphoma .
He founded the British Oncological Association in 1985 , co-founded the European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in 1981 and was a founder and first Chairman of the Federation of the European Cancer Societies (FECS) which has since evolved into ECCO
– the European CanCer Organisation. He was Vice-Chair of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) from 1986 to 1991.
In 1986 he became Director of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation , a school of the University of London comprising seven postgraduate medical institutes. In 1991 he became the first Director of Research and Development for the National Health Service (NHS) and Department of Health , . Through the new programme the Cochrane Collaboration
was launched and the basis laid for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence , .
From 1997 to 2000 he was Director of the School of Public Policy at University College London
.
In 2000 he was appointed by the then Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett
, to chair the new National Educational Research Forum .
In 2000 he chaired the Foresight Panel “Healthcare in 2020” for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Office of Science and Technology .
in Edinburgh and showed work in 2001 in the Traveling Exhibition “70 over 2000: the Road to Meikle Seggie”. He worked with Richard Demarco to develop an artistic event at the centre of the European Conference on Clinical Oncology (ECCO
) at the South Bank in London in 1989. “Death, Life, Regeneration” included work by Helen Chadwick
, Joseph Beuys
and Paul Neagu
. The Cantata “Bavarian Gentians” commissioned for the occasion from Hugh Wood
received its first performance conducted by Richard Hickox
at this event.
The two aspects of his career came together when thirty five small drawings made in the clinical notes of his patients were shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2004 under the title “Treatments” .
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
. His paintings were first exhibited in 1962 and he has since shown in numerous mixed and solo exhibitions .
He was born in Panteg,Gwent, read Natural Sciences at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
and qualified as a doctor from UCL Medical School. He was called up for military service and spent two years as a captain in the 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...
.
He is married to Catherine Stevenson Peckham , daughter of Alexander King
Alexander King (scientist)
Alexander King CMG, CBE was a scientist and pioneer of the sustainable development movement who co-founded the Club of Rome in 1968 with the Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei....
.
Medicine and Science
After working with Maurice Tubiana at the Institut Gustave Roussy
Institut Gustave Roussy
The Institut Gustave-Roussy is one of the world’s leading cancer-research institutes and the biggest health center dedicated to oncology in Europe. It is located in Villejuif, South Paris, France...
in Paris on the cell biology of lymphoma, he joined the Institute of Cancer Research
Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is a cancer research institute located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The ICR was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Marsden Hospital and joined the University of London in 2003...
and Royal Marsden Hospital in London. He was appointed to a Chair in 1973 and built up a team that specialised in testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
and Hodgkin’s lymphoma .
He founded the British Oncological Association in 1985 , co-founded the European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in 1981 and was a founder and first Chairman of the Federation of the European Cancer Societies (FECS) which has since evolved into ECCO
ECCO
ECCO Sko A/S is a Danish shoe manufacturer and retailer founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy in Bredebro, Denmark. Originally established as a footwear manufacturer, the company has since expanded into leather production and leather accessories....
– the European CanCer Organisation. He was Vice-Chair of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) from 1986 to 1991.
In 1986 he became Director of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation , a school of the University of London comprising seven postgraduate medical institutes. In 1991 he became the first Director of Research and Development for the National Health Service (NHS) and Department of Health , . Through the new programme the Cochrane Collaboration
Cochrane Collaboration
The Cochrane Collaboration is a group of over 28,000 volunteers in more than 100 countries who review the effects of health care interventions tested in biomedical randomized controlled trials. A few more recent reviews have also studied the results of non-randomized, observational studies...
was launched and the basis laid for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence , .
From 1997 to 2000 he was Director of the School of Public Policy at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
In 2000 he was appointed by the then Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett
David Blunkett
David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2010...
, to chair the new National Educational Research Forum .
In 2000 he chaired the Foresight Panel “Healthcare in 2020” for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Office of Science and Technology .
Art
Michael Peckham's paintings were first shown at Bangor University in 1962. This was followed by an exhibition with William Gear in 1964 at the Bear Lane Gallery, Oxford. During the 1980s and 1990s he exhibited his work at the Christopher Hull Gallery . His solo exhibition at the Millinery Works Gallery opened on September 11 2001 . He exhibited with Richard DemarcoRichard Demarco
Richard Demarco, CBE is an Italian Scottish artist and promoter of the visual and performing arts.-Richard Demarco Gallery:...
in Edinburgh and showed work in 2001 in the Traveling Exhibition “70 over 2000: the Road to Meikle Seggie”. He worked with Richard Demarco to develop an artistic event at the centre of the European Conference on Clinical Oncology (ECCO
ECCO
ECCO Sko A/S is a Danish shoe manufacturer and retailer founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy in Bredebro, Denmark. Originally established as a footwear manufacturer, the company has since expanded into leather production and leather accessories....
) at the South Bank in London in 1989. “Death, Life, Regeneration” included work by Helen Chadwick
Helen Chadwick
Helen Chadwick was a British conceptual artist.-Life and work:Chadwick studied at Croydon College of Art, The Faculty of Arts and Architecture Brighton Polytechnic and then at the Chelsea School of Art....
, Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys was a German performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue of art.His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social...
and Paul Neagu
Paul Neagu
Paul Neagu was an internationally important British-Romanian artist, working in diverse media such as drawing, sculpture, performance art and watercolor...
. The Cantata “Bavarian Gentians” commissioned for the occasion from Hugh Wood
Hugh Wood
Hugh Wood is a British composer.- Biography :While Wood was brought up in a musical family, it was only after graduating in History from Oxford that he decided to dedicate his energies to composition; and he moved to London in 1954 to study with William Lloyd Webber, Anthony Milner, Iain Hamilton,...
received its first performance conducted by Richard Hickox
Richard Hickox
Richard Sidney Hickox CBE was an English conductor of choral, orchestral and operatic music.-Early life:Hickox was born in Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire into a musical family...
at this event.
The two aspects of his career came together when thirty five small drawings made in the clinical notes of his patients were shown in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2004 under the title “Treatments” .
Honours
- Knighted for services to medicine, 1995
- Doctor honoris causa, Université de Franche-Compté Besançon, 1991
- Hon DSc, Loughborough University of Technology, 1992
- Doctor honoris causa, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 1993
- Foreign associate member, National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine Washington USA 1994
- Honorary Fellow, University College London, 1995
- Hon DSc, University of Exeter, 1996
- Honorary Fellow St Catharine’s College Cambridge, 1998
- Founding Fellow Academy of Medical Sciences, 1998
- Hon DSc (Medicine), University of London (Institute of Cancer Research), 2007
External Links
- http://www.michaelpeckham.co.uk/
- http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/p/6631/Michael%20John+PECKHAM.aspx