Sunitha Wickramasinghe
Encyclopedia
Sunitha Wickramasinghe, FRCP was a Sri Lanka
n born British
academic and haematologist. A Professor of Haematology, he was the former Deputy Dean of the Imperial College School of Medicine
and one of the world’s leading authorities on congenital dyserythropoietic anaemias
Born to a family of scientists, his father was a cambridge educated mathematician. Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
, he went on to study medicine at the Colombo Medical College, University of Ceylon
graduating with an MBBS
degree in 1964. Moving to the United Kingdom, he specialized in haematology and carried out research at the University of Cambridge
where he was elected to a Gulbenkian Research Studentship. He gained his PhD
in 1968 and was elected to the John Lucas Walker Senior (post-doctoral) Studentship in 1968 along with receiving a ScD in 1984. He was elected to Fellowships of the Royal College of Pathologists
, the Institute of Biology
and received Honorary Membership, later Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
as well as being made a Honorary Fellow of the Sri Lanka College of Haematology.
Prof Wickramasinghe carried out research at the University of Leeds
, thereafter he joined the St Mary's Hospital Medical School
in 1970, serving until his retirement in 2000. During this time he was appointed Professor of Haematology and was Deputy Dean at Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary’s. He introduced the BSc
course in haematology at St Mary’s.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic and haematologist. A Professor of Haematology, he was the former Deputy Dean of the Imperial College School of Medicine
Imperial College School of Medicine
The Imperial College School of Medicine is the medical school of Imperial College London in England, and one of the United Hospitals....
and one of the world’s leading authorities on congenital dyserythropoietic anaemias
Born to a family of scientists, his father was a cambridge educated mathematician. Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, he went on to study medicine at the Colombo Medical College, University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
graduating with an MBBS
MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
degree in 1964. Moving to the United Kingdom, he specialized in haematology and carried out research at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where he was elected to a Gulbenkian Research Studentship. He gained his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1968 and was elected to the John Lucas Walker Senior (post-doctoral) Studentship in 1968 along with receiving a ScD in 1984. He was elected to Fellowships of the Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
, the Institute of Biology
Institute of Biology
The Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
and received Honorary Membership, later Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
as well as being made a Honorary Fellow of the Sri Lanka College of Haematology.
Prof Wickramasinghe carried out research at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, thereafter he joined the St Mary's Hospital Medical School
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
St Mary's is the youngest of the constituent schools of Imperial College, London, founded in 1854 as part of the new hospital in Paddington. During its existence in the 1980s and 90s, it was the most popular medical school in the country, with an application to place ratio of 27:1 in 1996.St Mary's...
in 1970, serving until his retirement in 2000. During this time he was appointed Professor of Haematology and was Deputy Dean at Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary’s. He introduced the BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
course in haematology at St Mary’s.