John Bruce (surgeon)
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Sir John Bruce | |
|---|---|
 Sir John Bruce. Detail of painting by Alan Sutherland | |
| Born | 6 March 1905 Dalkeith, Scotland |
| Died | 30 December 1975 (aged 70) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Known for | Foundation of the Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,
Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery at the University of Edinburgh President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1957 to 1962 |
| Predecessor | Sir James Learmonth |
| Spouse | Mary Whyte Craig |
Sir John Bruce, CBE FRSE (6 March 1905 – 30 December 1975) was a Scottish surgeon who was Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh and President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
John Bruce was born in Dalkeith, Midlothian on 6 March 1905.[1] He graduated MB ChB with honours from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1928. After resident appointments at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, he worked in general practice in Grimsby while studying for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd), which he obtained in 1932.[2][3] He was then appointed clinical tutor to Professor Sir John Fraser, Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery and in 1935 was appointed assistant surgeon to the Royal Infirmary with charge of the surgical outpatient department. During this time he ran, in partnership with his surgical colleague Ian Aird, a highly acclaimed lecture and tutorial course to prepare candidates for the Fellowship examination.[3] His MD thesis on congenital dislocation of the hip was awarded the Syme medal.[4]
Service in Second World War
Bruce had joined the Territorial Army as an officer in 11th(2nd Scottish) General Hospital(TA).[5] On the outbreak of war this was mobilised as 23 (Scottish) General Hospital (RAMC) with Bruce serving as a surgical specialist in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). The hospital unit joined the Norwegian Expeditionary Force in 1940. For his actions in the evacuation of the field hospital during the Allied retreat he was mentioned in despatches. After promotion he was posted as Surgeon to the 14th Army in South East Asia with the rank of Brigadier, serving first in South East Asia Command, and subsequently in Burma. During this campaign he was befriended by Field Marshall Sir William Slim, a friendship which they continued after the war. On demobilisation in 1945 he was appointed a CBE (Mil) and received the Territorial Decoration (TD).
