Dr Michael A. McDonald (Westminster Hospital Medical School 1953)

Provided by Anne McDonald

Michael McDonald, former specialist in Occupational Medicine, born in 1927 qualified at Westminster Hospital, London in 1953.

Michael grew up in Hertfordshire and attended St Albans School. At Westminster, he pursued his love of rowing and was Captain of Boats. In the Royal Air Force (1955-58) he was Squadron Leader Pathologist to RAF Hospital, Akrotiri where he studied the biggest epidemic of food borne tonsillitis ever recorded. He enjoyed 17 years in General Practice and the Harlow Industrial Health Service. In 1965 he was awarded a Council of Europe Fellowship to study the provision of Occupational Health Services to small industries in Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In 1972, after full time study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, he obtained the DIH and entered full time Occupational Medicine ending his career as Chief Medical Officer at the Post Office (1981-87). Whilst in the Post Office, he produced a highly successful education programme on the early detection and management of alcoholism in industry which was widely used throughout industry. He was a member of the RCP working party on alcohol (1986-87) and was awarded the FFOM/RCP London in November 1983.

He and his wife Anne retired to their much loved North Yorkshire where he indulged in his favourite interest of York Minster where he was a Voluntary Guide for 16 years.

Michael died on 17 March 2007 of complications following Nephroureterectomy and radical cystoprostatectomy.