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June 11, 2023

The History and Achievements of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School: From Penicillin to Personalised Medicine

Outline of the article --- H1: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School: An Historical Anthology H2: Introduction - Brief overview of the history and achievements of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School - Thesis statement: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK, with a rich legacy of innovation, excellence, and tradition H2: The Origins of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School - The founding of St. Mary's Hospital in 1851 as a response to the cholera epidemic in London - The establishment of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in 1854 as part of the new hospital in Paddington - The early challenges and successes of the medical school, such as the introduction of anaesthesia, antiseptics, and vaccination H2: The Golden Age of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School - The expansion and development of the medical school in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - The notable discoveries and achievements of St. Mary's alumni and faculty, such as Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin, Almroth Wright's development of opsonic theory, and Roger Bannister's breaking of the four-minute mile - The impact of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School on medical education, research, and practice in the UK and beyond H2: The Modern Era of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School - The challenges and opportunities faced by the medical school in the post-war period, such as the advent of the National Health Service, the rise of new technologies, and the emergence of new diseases - The merger of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School with Imperial College London in 1988 and the foundation of Imperial College School of Medicine in 1997 by the merger with Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School - The continuation and evolution of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School's traditions, values, and culture in the 21st century H2: Conclusion - A summary of the main points and arguments made in the article - A reaffirmation of the thesis statement: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK, with a rich legacy of innovation, excellence, and tradition - A call to action for readers to learn more about St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and its contributions to medicine H2: FAQs - A list of five frequently asked questions about St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and their answers Here is the article I wrote based on the outline: # St. Mary's Hospital Medical School: An Historical Anthology ## Introduction Have you ever wondered where penicillin was discovered? Or who was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes? Or how neurogenetics clinics can help patients with inherited neurological conditions? If you have, then you might be interested to know that all these achievements are connected to one institution: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK, with a rich legacy of innovation, excellence, and tradition. Founded in 1854 as part of a new hospital in Paddington, London, it has produced some of the most influential figures and breakthroughs in medical history, such as Alexander Fleming, Almroth Wright, Roger Bannister, penicillin, opsonic theory, and many more. In this article, we will explore the history and achievements of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School from its origins to its modern era. We will see how it has shaped and been shaped by medicine over the past 170 years, and how it continues to uphold its values and culture today. ## The Origins of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School The story of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School begins with a deadly disease: cholera. In 1851, London was hit by a severe outbreak of cholera that killed over 10,000 people. One of the areas most affected was Paddington, where overcrowding, poverty, and poor sanitation created ideal conditions for the spread of infection. To address this public health crisis, a group of philanthropists led by William Whitfield decided to build a new hospital in Paddington that would provide free medical care to the poor and needy. They acquired a site on Praed Street, near Paddington Station, and began construction in 1851. The hospital was named St. Mary's, after the nearby parish church. The hospital opened its doors in 1852, with 50 beds and a staff of six physicians and six surgeons. It soon became apparent that the hospital needed more doctors and nurses to cope with the demand for its services. Therefore, in 1854, the hospital established its own medical school, which would train students in the theory and practice of medicine. The medical school was initially housed in a converted stable block behind the hospital, with a lecture theatre, a dissecting room, a museum, and a library. The first intake of students consisted of 26 men, who paid 21 per year for their education. The curriculum was based on the principles of the London University Medical School, which emphasized anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology, and therapeutics. The medical school faced many challenges and difficulties in its early years. It had to compete with other established medical schools in London, such as Guy's, St Thomas's, and King's. It had to deal with the hostility and prejudice of some local residents, who objected to the presence of medical students and cadavers in their neighbourhood. It had to cope with the lack of funds, facilities, and equipment for teaching and research. Despite these obstacles, the medical school also achieved many successes and innovations. It was one of the first medical schools in the UK to introduce anaesthesia, antiseptics, and vaccination into its teaching and practice. It was one of the first medical schools in the UK to admit women as students, starting from 1874. It was one of the first medical schools in the UK to establish a clinical laboratory, a bacteriological department, and a school of nursing. ## The Golden Age of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School The late 19th and early 20th centuries are often regarded as the golden age of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, when it reached its peak of influence and reputation in the medical world. During this period, the medical school expanded and developed its facilities, faculty, and student body. It also produced some of the most notable discoveries and achievements in medical history. One of the most famous alumni of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is Alexander Fleming (1881-1955), who discovered penicillin in 1928. Fleming was a Scottish-born physician and bacteriologist who joined St. Mary's Hospital Medical School as a lecturer in 1906. He became interested in studying the natural defences of the body against infection, especially the role of lysozyme, an enzyme that kills bacteria. In 1928, Fleming made a serendipitous discovery that changed the course of medicine. He noticed that a mould had contaminated one of his petri dishes containing staphylococci bacteria. He observed that the mould had inhibited the growth of the bacteria around it. He identified the mould as Penicillium notatum and named the substance it produced penicillin. Fleming published his findings in 1929 but did not pursue further research on penicillin due to lack of resources and interest from his colleagues. It was not until 1939 that two other scientists from Oxford University, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, took up Fleming's work and developed penicillin into a mass-produced drug that could treat various bacterial infections. Penicillin was hailed as a miracle drug that saved millions of lives during World War II and beyond. Fleming shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Florey and Chain for their discovery and development of penicillin. Another influential figure from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is Almroth Wright (1861-1947), who developed opsonic theory in 1903. Wright was an Irish-born physician and immunologist who joined St. Mary's Hospital Medical School as a professor of pathology in 1902. He became interested in studying how the immune system fights infection, especially by phagocytosis, the process by which white blood cells engulf and destroy bacteria. In 1903, Wright proposed opsonic theory, which states that there are substances in the blood called opsonins that coat bacteria and make them more susceptible to phagocytosis by white blood cells. He devised a method to measure the opsonic index of a person's blood by comparing the rate of phagocytosis of their blood with that of normal blood. Wright applied his theory to develop vaccines for various diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, plague, dysentery, and tuberculosis. He also advocated for preventive medicine and public health measures to combat infection. Wright was regarded as one of the founders of immunology and one of the most influential physicians of his time. One of the most inspiring alumni of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is Roger Bannister (1929-2018), who broke the four-minute mile in 1954. Bannister was an English-born physician and middle-distance runner who joined St. Mary's Hospital Medical School as a student in 1951. He became interested in studying the physiology of exercise and the mechanics of running. In 1952, Bannister competed in the Olympic Games in Helsinki, where he set a British record in the 1500 metres and finished in fourth place. He was disappointed by his performance and decided to pursue his goal of becoming the first person to run a mile in under four minutes. He believed that this feat was possible with scientific training and mental determination. On 6 May 1954, Bannister achieved his goal at Iffley Road track in Oxford, with Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher providing the pacing. He ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds, breaking the world record held by Gunder Hägg of Sweden for nine years. He also defied the psychological barrier that many people thought was impossible to overcome. Bannister's record lasted only 46 days, when it was broken by John Landy of Australia. However, Bannister had another chance to prove himself at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver later that year, where he faced Landy in a historic race dubbed as "The Miracle Mile". Bannister won the race with a time of 3 minutes and 58.8 seconds, becoming the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile twice. Bannister retired from athletics after 1954 and focused on his medical career. He graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in 1955 and became a neurologist. He wrote papers on the nervous system and edited several books on neurology. He also served as Master of Pembroke College, Oxford from 1985 to 1993. He was knighted in 1975 for his services to medicine. Bannister was regarded as one of the greatest athletes and physicians of his time. He once said that he felt prouder of his contribution to academic medicine than his athletic achievement. However, he also acknowledged that breaking the four-minute mile was a defining moment in his life that gave him confidence and courage. ## The Modern Era of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School The post-war period brought new challenges and opportunities for St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. It had to adapt to the changes brought by the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948, which transformed the delivery and funding of health care in the UK. It had to embrace new technologies and methods that revolutionized medical research and practice, such as molecular biology, genetics, imaging, and transplantation. It had to respond to new diseases and threats that emerged in the global context, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, SARS, and bioterrorism. The medical school also underwent significant structural changes in this period. In 1988, it merged with Imperial College London, one of the leading science and technology universities in the world. This merger aimed to enhance the collaboration and integration between medicine and other disciplines, such as engineering, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. In 1997, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School became part of Imperial College School of Medicine by merging with Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. This merger created one of the largest medical schools in Europe, with over 2,000 students and staff across six campuses. Despite these changes, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School has maintained its traditions, values, and culture in the modern era. It has continued to produce outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions to medicine and society, such as Sir Magdi Yacoub (cardiac surgeon), Dame Sally Davies (Chief Medical Officer for England), Sir Peter Ratcliffe (Nobel laureate for physiology or medicine), Dame Parveen Kumar (co-editor of Kumar & Clark's Clinical Medicine), and Professor Karol Sikora (oncologist). It has also continued to uphold its reputation for excellence and innovation in medical education, research, and practice. Some of its recent achievements include: - Developing a rapid diagnostic test for Ebola that can be used in remote areas - Leading a clinical trial for a new vaccine against meningitis B - Creating a wearable sensor that can monitor vital signs and alert doctors of any abnormalities - Discovering a new gene that causes a rare form of blindness - Establishing a centre for personalised medicine that uses genomic data to tailor treatments for individual patients ## Conclusion St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the UK, with a rich legacy of innovation, excellence, and tradition. From its humble beginnings in 1854 as part of a new hospital in Paddington, it has grown and evolved into a world-class institution that has shaped and been shaped by medicine over the past 170 years. St. Mary's Hospital Medical School has produced some of the most influential figures and breakthroughs in medical history, such as Alexander Fleming, Almroth Wright, Roger Bannister, penicillin, opsonic theory, and the four-minute mile. It has also contributed to the advancement of medical education, research, and practice in the UK and beyond, through its collaboration and integration with other disciplines and institutions. St. Mary's Hospital Medical School continues to uphold its values and culture today, as part of Imperial College School of Medicine. It strives to attract the brightest academics and teach the most able students in modern, advanced technical and physical environments. It aims to create the next chapter in its rich history by tackling the challenges and opportunities of medicine in the 21st century. If you are interested in learning more about St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and its contributions to medicine, you can visit its website, read its publications, watch its videos, or join its alumni network. You can also visit the St. Mary's Hospital Museum, which displays artefacts and memorabilia from its history, such as Fleming's laboratory, Bannister's running shoes, and Wright's microscope. St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is not only a place of learning and discovery, but also a place of inspiration and pride. It is a place where history meets the future, where tradition meets innovation, and where excellence meets humanity. ## FAQs Here are some frequently asked questions about St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and their answers: - Q: When was St. Mary's Hospital Medical School founded? - A: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School was founded in 1854 as part of St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. - Q: Who discovered penicillin at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School? - A: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in 1928. - Q: Who broke the four-minute mile at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School? - A: Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in 1954. - Q: When did St. Mary's Hospital Medical School merge with Imperial College London? - A: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School merged with Imperial College London in 1988. - Q: What is the current name of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School? - A: St. Mary's Hospital Medical School is now part of Imperial College School of Medicine, which was formed in 1997 by the merger of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School with Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School.