ABN MEDAL AWARD 2003

David Aitken Shaw. NEF Cartlidge

Like most Englishmen who have held high office, David Shaw is a Scot. In common with many of his generation he was late into medicine, having served in the Navy in the latter part of the war. His seafaring career was cut short when his landing craft was sunk by a torpedo and he moved to train in medicine. The Navy’s loss has definitely been neurology’s gain.

His early training in Edinburgh with J K Slater excited his interest in neurology and he subsequently became Lecturer at The National Hospital with John Marshall and was one of the earliest neurologists to develop an interest in cerebrovascular disease and stroke.

Henry Miller recognised his talents and brought him to Newcastle to expand research activities into cerebrovascular disease, but David’s interests soon turned to undergraduate education and he rapidly progressed up the medical school hierarchy, becoming Clinical Sub-Dean, and Dean.

His manifest experience and enthusiasm in this area became recognised when as a member of the GMC, he became Chairman of the Education Subcommittee and was largely responsible for the production of the document “Tomorrow’s doctors”.

The statutory recommendations of this document have transformed medical education, resulting in—among other things—a shift of emphasis from factual information to clinical skills. Tomorrow’s doctors are indebted to David Shaw.

He has made considerable contributions to the JCHMT, the University Hospitals Association, the Association of the Study of Medical Education and of course, our own Association, serving as Council member, being Treasurer for many years, and becoming President in 1988.

The Association has chosen wisely to honour David Shaw with the award of its medal for his contributions to neurology, to the Association itself, and to medical education in general. Professor Shaw, we look forward with interest to your presentation on …