Walter Somerville was born on 2 October 1913 in Clontarf, a seaside suburb of Dublin.[2] He received his early education at the Jesuit Belvedere College in Dublin. Aged 23, he qualified in medicine, surgery and obstetrics from the city's University College in 1937. He was appointed house physician at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital where he gained a degree as Doctor of Medicine.[3]
Military serviceEdit
Somerville applied to join the RAF, but was instead enlisted in the army and sent to India. Indicating that he had no wish to become an army doctor, he was instead returned to Britain and seconded to the government's Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down.[4] In 1943, he was seconded to the US War Department, where he helped with preparations for the invasion of Japan, during which he was badly burned, and left with scars on his face, feet and legs. On leaving the army, a friend with connections in the pharmaceutical industry suggested Somerville might find a job there, but he turned the offer down, just as he did the MGM talent scout who offered him a screen test because of his English accent and good looks.[5]
Medical careerEdit
After being demobbed and returning to Britain, Somerville took a refresher course at Hammersmith Hospital, led by renowned cardiologist Paul Wood. Wood was impressed by Somerville and offered him the post of registrar at the hospital. In 1948 Somerville assisted Paul Wood with Britain's first cardiac catheterization.
Somerville was editor of the British Heart Journal for twenty years from 1973. The journal was the official publication of the British Cardiac Society, of which he was president from 1976 to 1981. He was responsible for encouraging greater links with cardiac experts in the US and Europe. After negotiating a better publishing deal with BMA Publications, he used the money towards the purchase of a house in London's Fitzroy Square, which was to become home to the British Cardiac Society.
Personal life and deathEdit
In 1957 Somerville married Jane Platnauer. The couple had four children, and Jane Somerville became a world-renowned cardiologist in her own right. She now lives in London and lectures internationally.
Somerville died on 17 September 2005.
HonoursEdit
In 1982 Dr. Somerville was appointed a CBE. The following year he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth as a consultant to the King Edward VII Convalescent Home in Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.[6] He was also given the Legion of Merit for his wartime work for the US Army.
ReferencesEdit
^Richmond, Caroline (17 September 2005). "Obituary: Walter Somerville". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
^Society, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular (1 January 1981). "A tribute to Walter Somerville". Heart. 45 (1): 519–521. doi:10.1136/hrt.45.1.1. ISSN 1355-6037. PMID 28850992.
^Weinberg, Sylvan Lee (2003). Hurst, J. Willis; Fye, W. Bruce (eds.). "Walter Somerville". Clinical Cardiology. 26 (4): 205–207. doi:10.1002/clc.4960260413. ISSN 1932-8737. PMC6654337. PMID 12708631.
^Towers, M.; Emanuel, R. (2006). "Walter Somerville CBE 1913–2005". Heart. 92 (1): 519–521. doi:10.1136/hrt.2005.083725. ISSN 1355-6037. PMC1860973. PMID 28850992.
^Group, British Medical Journal Publishing (2005). "Walter Somerville". BMJ. 331 (7517): 519–521. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7517.639. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC1215572. PMID 28850992.
^"The London Gazette". No. 49453. 19 August 1983. p. 11020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
August 28, 2023
walter, somerville, 1913, 2005, irish, cardiologist, played, leading, role, heart, surgery, london, middlesex, harefield, hospitals, born, 1913, october, 1913dublin, irelanddied20, july, 2005, 2005, aged, nationalityirisheducationuniversity, college, dublinmed. Walter Somerville CBE 1913 2005 was an Irish cardiologist who played a leading role in heart surgery at London s Middlesex and Harefield hospitals 1 Walter SomervilleBorn 1913 10 02 2 October 1913Dublin IrelandDied20 July 2005 2005 07 20 aged 91 NationalityIrishEducationUniversity College DublinMedical careerProfessionCardiologistFieldCardiologyInstitutionsMiddlesex HarefieldSub specialtiesCardiologyFor twenty years Somerville was editor of the British Heart Journal Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military service 3 Medical career 4 Personal life and death 5 Honours 6 ReferencesEarly life and education EditWalter Somerville was born on 2 October 1913 in Clontarf a seaside suburb of Dublin 2 He received his early education at the Jesuit Belvedere College in Dublin Aged 23 he qualified in medicine surgery and obstetrics from the city s University College in 1937 He was appointed house physician at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital where he gained a degree as Doctor of Medicine 3 Military service EditSomerville applied to join the RAF but was instead enlisted in the army and sent to India Indicating that he had no wish to become an army doctor he was instead returned to Britain and seconded to the government s Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down 4 In 1943 he was seconded to the US War Department where he helped with preparations for the invasion of Japan during which he was badly burned and left with scars on his face feet and legs On leaving the army a friend with connections in the pharmaceutical industry suggested Somerville might find a job there but he turned the offer down just as he did the MGM talent scout who offered him a screen test because of his English accent and good looks 5 Medical career EditAfter being demobbed and returning to Britain Somerville took a refresher course at Hammersmith Hospital led by renowned cardiologist Paul Wood Wood was impressed by Somerville and offered him the post of registrar at the hospital In 1948 Somerville assisted Paul Wood with Britain s first cardiac catheterization In 1952 Somerville was appointed as a consultant at Harefield Hospital and two years later assumed a similar role at the Middlesex Hospital Somerville was editor of the British Heart Journal for twenty years from 1973 The journal was the official publication of the British Cardiac Society of which he was president from 1976 to 1981 He was responsible for encouraging greater links with cardiac experts in the US and Europe After negotiating a better publishing deal with BMA Publications he used the money towards the purchase of a house in London s Fitzroy Square which was to become home to the British Cardiac Society Personal life and death EditIn 1957 Somerville married Jane Platnauer The couple had four children and Jane Somerville became a world renowned cardiologist in her own right She now lives in London and lectures internationally Somerville died on 17 September 2005 Honours EditIn 1982 Dr Somerville was appointed a CBE The following year he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth as a consultant to the King Edward VII Convalescent Home in Osborne House on the Isle of Wight 6 He was also given the Legion of Merit for his wartime work for the US Army References Edit Richmond Caroline 17 September 2005 Obituary Walter Somerville The Guardian Retrieved 14 June 2020 Society BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular 1 January 1981 A tribute to Walter Somerville Heart 45 1 519 521 doi 10 1136 hrt 45 1 1 ISSN 1355 6037 PMID 28850992 Weinberg Sylvan Lee 2003 Hurst J Willis Fye W Bruce eds Walter Somerville Clinical Cardiology 26 4 205 207 doi 10 1002 clc 4960260413 ISSN 1932 8737 PMC 6654337 PMID 12708631 Towers M Emanuel R 2006 Walter Somerville CBE 1913 2005 Heart 92 1 519 521 doi 10 1136 hrt 2005 083725 ISSN 1355 6037 PMC 1860973 PMID 28850992 Group British Medical Journal Publishing 2005 Walter Somerville BMJ 331 7517 519 521 doi 10 1136 bmj 331 7517 639 ISSN 0959 8138 PMC 1215572 PMID 28850992 The London Gazette No 49453 19 August 1983 p 11020 Retrieved 14 June 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Somerville amp oldid 1092658359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
