Richard Scott (doctor)

Richard Scott FRCGP (1914 – 28 November 1983), also known as Dick Scott, was a Scottish medical doctor who was the first professor of general practice. He worked as an academic general practitioner (GP) in Edinburgh. He was involved with setting up the first ever university general practice in 1948, developed the University of Edinburgh's general practice teaching unit and in 1963 was appointed to the first academic chair in general practice.

Richard Scott
Born1914
Died28 November 1983 (aged 68–69)
NationalityScottish
EducationUniversity of Edinburgh
Years active1936–1979
Known forfirst professor of general practice
Medical career
Professiondoctor
FieldGeneral Practitioner

Early life

Richard Scott was born in 1914. He was educated at Beath High School in Fife.[1] He studied at the University of Edinburgh and graduated with an MB ChB in 1936. While working in general practice, he completed a research for an MD degree.[2] He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps 1939 to 1945 during which time he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. During this time he was posted to locations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and India.[1]

Academic GP

After demobilisation he studied for a Diploma in Public Health and having performed the best was awarded the gold medal.[2] In 1946 Scott was appointed as a lecturer in the department of public health and social medicine at the University of Edinburgh. With the introduction of the National Health Service, dispensaries were no longer needed.[3] In Edinburgh, the premises of Royal Public Dispensary of Edinburgh in West Richmond Street was converted into the first ever university general practice. On 5 July 1948, Scott's general medical practice opened to serve the health needs of a local community while also having academic links to the University of Edinburgh.[4][5]

In 1952, the University received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.[6] A second practice was acquired by the university, and Scott was appointed director of the general practice teaching unit.[1] During that decade the University of Edinburgh's general practice teaching unit was developed.

In 1963, the General Practice Teaching Unit became the Department of General Practice, the world's first independent department of General Practice.[7] Scott was appointed as the James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice, the first person to be a professor in that clinical specialty.[1][7]:10–11 He gave his inaugural lecture on 19 February 1964.[8] He gave the eleventh James MacKenzie lecture in the Great Hall of Tavistock House on 21 November 1964.[9]

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) formed in 1952 and Scott was honorary secretary of the RCGP's Scottish Council 1953–1969.[1] He retired from medicine in 1979.[2] He died on 28 November 1983, at the age of 69, after a long illness.[2]

Awards and honours

In 1979, he received the Baron Dr ver Heyden de Lancey Memorial Award.[10]

Personal life

He married Ella and they had two daughters and three sons.[11]

Memorials

A lecture is held annually by the University of Edinburgh, which is named in his honour.[12] A blue plaque was unveiled on Mackenzie House in June 2017.[13]

References
  1. "Obituary. Richard Scott". The Lancet. 323 (8367): 58. 7 January 1984. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(84)90232-0.
  2. "Obituary. R Scott". British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Edition). 287: 1890. 17 December 1983. doi:10.1136/bmj.287.6408.1890.
  3. Scott, Richard (September 1956). "Edinburgh University General Practice Teaching Unit". Journal of Medical Education. 31 (9): 621–634. doi:10.1097/00001888-195609000-00005. PMID 13367717.
  4. Jones, Roger (12 May 2012). "Obituaries. Primary care pioneer and former BMA president. David Morrell" (PDF). BMJ. 344: 36.
  5. "World's first chair of general practice". www.ournhsscotland.com. NHS Scotland. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  6. "£25,000 Grant to University. Medical Teaching Unit". The Glasgow Herald. 10 October 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  7. Thomson, Donald M. (January 1984). "General practice and the Edinburgh Medical School: 200 years of teaching, care and research". British Journal of General Practice. 34 (258): 9–12. PMC 1959640. PMID 6363687.
  8. "Frustrations Facing the General Practitioner". The Glasgow Herald. 20 February 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  9. Scott, Richard (January 1965). "Lectures and Addresses. Medicine in Society" (PDF). Journal of the College of General Practitioners. 9 (1): 4–16.
  10. "Annual General Meeting 1979" (PDF). Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners: 119. February 1980.
  11. "obituary" (PDF). Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners (4): 110–111. February 1984. PMC 1959578.
  12. "Richard Scott lecture 2017". University of Edinburgh. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  13. "Blue plaque honours GP's legacy" (Press release). University of Edinburgh. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
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