Recollecting Oxford Medicine: Oral Histories

Derek Hockaday interviews Peter Sleight, research cardiologist and consultant physician, 22 September 2013. Topics discussed include: (00:00:09) time at St Georges Hospital, London and time in San Francisco, work on receptors for the Bezold reflex; (00:07:40) coming to Oxford Physiology lab in 1964; (00:09:14) return to Oxford for senior Medical Research Council 3 year fellowship based in physiology; (00:11:45) balancing fibre picking with clinical work at Oxford; (00:12:55) sabbatical in Sydney, Australia, interest in carotid baroreceptor; (00:16:16) British Heart Foundation supported Chair in Cardiology, Sleight's application; (00:20:12) work as an on-take physician alongside consultancy, time with Dr Buzzard; (00:23:26) introducing pacemaker service in Oxford; (00:26:26) the development of the coronary care unit; (00:28:35) working with Salim Yusuf, Richard Peto and beginning of ISIS-1 trial - International Study of Infarct Survival; (00:35:03) cardiac radiology and catheterisation; (00:36:40) thrombolysis; (00:39:55) firm C, move to the John Radcliffe; (00:44:29) national and international groups; (00:48:02) funding; (00:52:33) involvement with students; (00:55:08) Russia; (01:09:09) comparison of standards of Oxford Medical School (clinical and nursing) and other places; (01:10:59) effect of ultrasound on cardiology; (01:13:59) research papers, sabbatical to Pavia; (01:22:07) change in hypertension interest and chairing clinical trials; (01:24:44) Barbara Casadei; (01:27:54) Rashkind procedure in New Delhi 1966. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:39:37-00:39:54; 01:12:34-01:12:41; 01:13:38-01:13:47 and 01:25:28-01:26:16.

Derek Hockaday interviews Chris Redman, obstetric consultant and clinical professor, 13 November 2016. Topics discussed include: (00:00:18) BA at Cambridge and clinical studies at Oxford Medical school; (00:02:54) John Ledingham and Alec Cook; (00:04:37) clinical years and pathology; (00:05:46) service internship in the United States; (00:09:20) house jobs; (00:10:22) neonatal experience in Jessop Hospital, Sheffield; (00:12:17) accepting lectureship in general medicine at Oxford; (00:15:13) thesis on management of hypertension; (00:19:57) John Bonnar and reorganisation of department of obstretics, data collection, (00:20:49) developing technique to manage severe pre-eclampsia; (00:24:42) return to thesis; (00:27:36) NHS job leading to consultant job; (00:29:46) working with obstetricians and research midwives; (00:31:11) full time academic position in obstetric medicine; (00:33:48) maternal deaths; (00:37:04) Anne Anderson and menopause clinic; (00:39:38) original trial and publication; (00:41:02) development of approach to pre-eclampsia, medical help within the obstetric service; (00:44:39) lecturing nationally and internationally in the early 1980s, Marshall Lindheimer; (00:46:09) work in later part of career including 1991 paper on pre-eclampsia being a placental condition, pioneering contribution to factors connecting clinical features of pre-eclampsia; (00:54:38) leaving clinical work; (00:56:45) the NHS; (00:57:25) university work since retirement, work with Ian Sargeant including on trophoblast microvesicles; (01:04:37) teaching of medical students; (01:08:40) final thoughts including changing attitude to research throughout career and NHS compared with health care in other countries, nursing and midwives. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:12:00-00:12:15; 00:16:43-00:16:48; 00:19:02-00:19:34; 00:25:16-00:25:21; 00:38:10-00:38:35 and 00:58:55-00:58:59.

Peggy Frith interviews Sir Christopher Paine, consultant clinical oncologist and former Director of Clinical Studies, 25 Jul 2012. Topics discussed include: (00:01:30) time in Oxford as Director of Clinical studies; (00:04:17) first stepping into the role as DCS, number of student admissions; (00:08:57) Alastair Lang, reorganising clinical work around role; (00.12:40) colleagues in the medical school office; (00.13:48) balancing university, academic and pastoral duties in the medical school; (00:16:15) Peter Morris; (00:18:44) students electives, student questionnaire; (00:23:01) helpful colleagues with the medical curriculum during the role, Tim Till; (00:25:46) committee work; (00:27:59) leaving Director of Clinical Studies, role as district NHS General Manager; (00:36:13) change of medical school, and life in general, due to electronic communication and computers; importance of diplomatic skills in medicine; (00:38:59) continuing clinical practice and keeping up medicine whilst undertaking other roles; (00:43:09) Frank Ellis, development of radiotherapy; (00:58:02) Manny Lee and his caricatures; (01:02:27) summary of career, activities after resigning from Oxford consultant post; (01:06:13) changes in the NHS. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:00:00-00:00:05; 00:14:23-00:15:13; 00:16:57-00:17:50; 00:18:05-00:18:43; 00:30:13-00:31:19; 00:33:19-00:34:50 and 00:56:15-00:56:58.

Derek Hockaday interviews John Oxbury, neurologist, 20 November 2013. Topics discussed include: (00:00:29) reasons for coming Oxford neurology department; (00:04:19) the London system and clinical training in London; (00:07:50) comparing nursing between Oxford and London hospitals; (00:09:15) development of interest in epilepsy; (00:12:35) working with John Spalding and Alex Crampton Smith doing general neurology on the Respiratory Unit; (00:15:40) professors of neurology including William Ritchie Russell and Brian Matthews; (00:22:35) John Spalding; (00:25:15) the Oxford Respiration Unit Flying Squad; (00:28:42) patient based research papers in the late 1960s; (00:33:44) membership; (00:35:14) writing with Charles Witty; (00:36:59) work as Professor Brian Matthews' first assistant on stroke treatment; (00:43:15) organisation of neurology department and becoming honorary consultant; (00:46:35) differences between honorary consultant and NHS consultant on working practices; (00:49:00) epilepsy surgery, Chris Adams developing hemispherectomy and effect of improved medical imaging; (00:56:40) development of drug therapy on treating epilepsy; (00:58:39) petit mal and treatment; (01:00:20) national and international meetings on epilepsy and neuropsychology; (01:03:03) work load of medics past and present; (01:09:05) working with his wife Sue Oxbury, (01:13:13) clinical psychologists and treatment of epilepsy; (01:15:00) influences including Oliver Zangwill and Joe Pennybacker, Ritchie Russell, Charles Witty and John Spalding.

Derek Hockaday interviews Richard Moxon, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics and former Chairman of Paediatrics, 21 July 2016. Topics discussed include: (00:00:12) coming to Oxford from Johns Hopkins University; (00:02:23) balance of clinical, teaching and research work in the United States, as head role in Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases; (00:04:17) meeting and interview for position in Oxford; (00:05:56) the inception of the Institute of Molecular Medicine; (00:07:13) reaction to Oxford hospitals compared to Johns Hopkins; (00:10:55) difference between Oxford and Johns Hopkins in terms of clinical care; (00.14:49) differences in nursing and physiotherapy between Oxford and Johns Hopkins, (00.15:51) centralisation of paediatrics and making a case for children's hospital in Oxford; (00.19:44) teaching clinical medicine students in Oxford; (00.20:56) general practice and child health care, paediatric teaching; (00.24:24) research in incidents of Haemophilus Influenzae type B; (00.28:48) vaccinology research unit and staff; (00:32:26) continuing bench work after interest in epidemiology and summary of the first seven years working in Oxford; (00:35:26) David Weatherall; (00:36:21) laboratory space before the Institute of Molecular Medicine; (00.36:49) basic research work in the United States continued in Oxford with the vaccine, leading to the Oxford Vaccine Group; (00:39:29) moving on to research in meningococcus, deep involvement in whole genome sequencing; (00.41:27) the Stroud strain of meningococcus and complete sequence of the strain, 1997-2000; (00:42:55) process of producing a vaccine; (00:44:54) significance of sabbatical, repetitive DNA in bacterial genomes; (00:46:45) changing interactions with the NHS post sabbatical; (00:49:39) fund for the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine; (00:51:01) travelling to represent the Oxford paediatric department, writing articles; (00:51:55) retirement; (00:58:08) working in Siena and other tasks during retirement; (00:57:35) thoughts on research as a head of department compared to approach of George Pickering; (01:02:00) final thoughts on Oxford. The following sections of audio are redacted: 00:05:20-00:05:30; 00:50:31-00:50:39 and 01:05:16-01:05:58.

Derek Hockaday interviews Neil Mortensen, consultant colorectal surgeon, 10 November 2014. Topics discussed include: (00:00:20) moving to Oxford from senior lecturer role in Bristol; (00:02:39) Sidney Truelove and gastroenterology surgery; (00:03:39) general surgery; (00:06:33) introduction of specialisation in Oxford medicine; (00:08:11) the effect of specialisation on undergraduate and clinical teaching; (00:10:06) the national matching scheme; (00:11.32) effect of imaging on examining patients, importance of physical signs; (00.13:04) rectal cancer and imaging; (00.14:00) nursing in Oxford compared to Bristol, anaesthetists; (00:16:35) anal rectal physiology; (00:19:03) intraluminal ultrasound; (00.19:59) development of colitis treatment; (00.22:13) the Association of Colorectal Surgeons; (00.23:39) introduction of national bowel cancer screening program; (00.25:16) change in junior staffing during Mortensen's career; (00.28:05) the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust; (00.31:15) assisting other surgeons with surgery; (00.33:12) time outside Oxford for meetings and commitments including director of general, vascular, trauma surgery and gastroenterology role; (00.37:35) rise of the managerial class and rise of the administrator in medicine; (00.43:12) three session lists in surgery at the Churchill Hospital; (00.44:21) post-operative care; (00.46:33) publications; (00.48:35) private practice; (00.51:27) moving gastrointestinal surgery to the Churchill site near to Oncology ward; (00.56:37) work with Walter Bodmer; (00.57:46) genetic analysis. Note the following section of audio is redacted: 00:00:00-00:00:05.

Derek Hockaday interviews Brian Longworth, former mechanical technician and engineer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, 31 July 2015. Topics discussed include: (00:00:09) initial time at Radcliffe Infirmary engineering department in 1954; (00:04:28) leaving school, steel press apprenticeship; (00:05:49) early work as a turner; (00:08:51) arc eye; (00:09:46) reasons for going to the Radcliffe Infirmary and work there (00:12:48) statutory engineers working week change of hours; (00:16:23) interviewing for technician assistant to Alfie Lord; (00:19:01) Robot Royal camera to take photographs of operating theatre; (00:23:13) transferring to x-ray department – work and colleagues; (00:28:02) job coming up with Professor Allison as a technician in surgery, memories of Dr Fred Wright, 1957-8; (00:32:35) details of mechanical technician job in surgery; (00:37:57) changes when Professor Allison arrived at the Radcliffe, ward sisters; (00:44:20) new theatres, machinery; (00:45:52) using a cine camera for surgery photography; (00:48:13) early heart surgery; (00:54:01) Mr Kerr and Charlie Webster at the Radcliffe; (00:56:44) leaving the Radcliffe to work at Letcombe as laboratory steward; (01:00:11) applying for job with Grant de Jersey Lee; (01:04:13) Terry Denton; (01:07:38) working with other surgeons and colleagues; (01:11:30) the Mayo-Gibbon machine; (01:15:19) the Women's Institute; (01:19:34) working with anaesthetists, experience of anaesthetic; (01:25:28) engineers location at Radcliffe Infirmary; (01:34:09) working with animals; (01:37:57) growing into technician job, interactions at nurses lectures; (01:43:40) George Pickering; (01:48:48) Harold Ellis. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:07:33-07:07:47; 00:35:32-00:36:17; 00:50:34-00:50:50; 00:51:31-00:54:00; 00:57:35-00:57:55; 00:59:12-00:59:40; 01:23:32-01:23:47; 01:27:43-01:28:06; 01:30:40-01:31:16; 01:45:26-01:46:34; 01:49:58-01:50:29 and 01:51:02-01:51:34.

Derek Hockaday interviews Grant de Jersey Lee, physician and cardiologist, 13 June 2013. Topics discussed include: (00:01:40) experiences in the Second World War and learning on the job after medical school; (00:03:43) St. Thomas' Hospital to train; (00:06:02) coming to Oxford to work for George Pickering; (00:09:01) comparing Oxford hospitals to St. Thomas' in terms of medicine; (00:12:54) balancing cardiology with general medicine; (00.13:53) Plethysmograph and research interests, non-invasive cardiac surgery; (00:17:53) beginning of the Cardiac Lab in Oxford; (00:22:21) research in microcirculation of the lung and the plethysmograph; (00:25:27) working with Julius Comroe and Arthur DuBois in Philadelphia on microcirculation; (00:28:32) applying learnings from Philadelphia and making technical equipment back in Oxford; (00:34:27) on-take medicine; (00:35:27) John Ledingham and his firm; (00:37:04) the yield of the plethysmograph; (00:48:48) colleagues, including Bheeshma Rajagopalan; (00:41:25) evolution of medical duties and opening of the John Radcliffe; relationships between general practitioners and the hospital; (00:45:29) changes to the training of nurses; (00:59:10) reflecting on time and changes at John Radcliffe and the NHS and medicine in general (01:05:02) views about committees; (01:06:52) administration, communication and information in medicine. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:10:24-00:10:35; 00:20:37-00:21:46; 00:40:07-00:40:25; 00:50:26-59:09.

Peggy Frith interviews Jim Holt, former Director of Clinical studies for Oxford Medical School, 1 June 2012. Topics discussed include: (00:00:41) university days at St. Andrews; (00:01:53) going to Canada to work at Kingston General Hospital; (00:03:31) returning to Oxford, Nuffield Professors of Medicine, overview of Oxford career; (00:06:43) interest in lymphoma; (00:08:17) differences between Canadian and British medicine in the 1960s; (00:09:22) experience of arriving and working in Oxford; (00:12:07) time as Director of Clinical studies, challenges and enjoyment; (00:18:36) success of Oxford clinical medical school, Green Templeton college, the Nuffield Foundation; (00:29:00) growth of Oxford Medical School; (00:36:45) Tingewick Society; (00:40:34) Holt family labrador trips to the medical wards in Oxford. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:00:00-00:00:13; 00:18:04-00:18:33; 00:34:07-00:35:30.

Derek Hockaday interviews John Ledingham, professor of Clinical Medicine and former Director of Clinical Studies, 2013. Topics discussed include: (00:00:04) entrance to Oxford; (00:00:51) national service in Hong Kong; (00:01:41) changing Oxford course to medicine, tutors for first three years at Oxford; (00:05:00) experience of first three years and schools years; (00:07:12) inspiration from Path and Bac course and Rob Smith; (00:09:25) Oxford compared to London in terms of medical education; (00:11:45) travelling scholarship to New York; (00:13:08) functioning of the Radcliffe Infirmary compared to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; (00:16:20) comparisons of standard of nursing care across hospitals; (00:17:26) appointment in Oxford as physician; (00:19:38) interest in nephrology; (00:22:32) anecdote illustrating medicine now and then, the renal unit; (00:26:33) Nuffield Department of Medicine readership; (00:28:39) research on kidney, hypertension and supervision of Dphil students; (00:30:55) George Alberti; (00:32:41) involvement in committees and the Medical Research Society; (00:34:15) publishing research; (00:37:39) consultants on firms for the NHS and Nuffield Department of Medicine; (00:40:52) introducing case discussions at the NDM; (00:53:41) ward takes changing through career; (00:45:34) National Renal Association, reading in nephrology; (00:46:42) Paul Beeson's role in Oxford medicine; (00:50:09) surgery at Oxford hospitals; (00:56:10) evolution of drugs to treat hypertension; (00:59:05) interaction with New College; (01:01:55) influence of Emergency Bed Service on London medicine; (01:03:50) unification, George Pickering's vision of Oxford Medicine team; (01:06:08) medical administration. Note the following sections of audio are redacted: 00:24:08-00:24:15; 00:51:09-00:51:40.