Patrick D. Wall (scientist)
Pat Wall | |
---|---|
Born | Patrick David Wall 25 April 1925 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
Died | 8 August 2001 | (aged 76)
Nationality | British |
Education | St Paul's School, London |
Alma mater | University of Oxford |
Known for | Gate control theory of pain |
Awards | Royal Medal (1999) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Neuroscience |
Institutions | Yale School of Medicine University of Chicago Hebrew University of Jerusalem Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology University College London |
Doctoral students | Maria Fitzgerald[1] |
Patrick David Wall (25 April 1925 – 8 August 2001)[2] FRS was a British neuroscientist described as 'the world's leading expert on pain'[3] and best known for the gate control theory of pain.[4]
Early life and education
Wall was born in Nottingham on 25 April 1925 to Thomas Wall, the director of education for Middlesex, and his wife Ruth Cresswell.[5] He was educated at St Paul's School, London and the University of Oxford, studying medicine at Christ Church, Oxford,[6] where he became interested in pain. He published his first two papers, in the prominent science journals Brain and Nature, at the age of 21.[7] While at Oxford he had also helped found the British Medical Students' Journal, partially to help campaign for the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS).[8] He graduated in 1948, by which time he had published three papers in prominent science journals.[9]
Career and research
After graduating, he spent a short time treating holocaust survivors and refugees in mainland Europe,
Wall remained as an instructor until 1950, when he was offered a position as an assistant professor at the
Return to UK
In 1967 he returned to Britain due to threats from the
In 1982 he published The Challenge of Pain with Melzack followed by a second collaboration a year later with
Personal life
Wall was married three times; first to Betty Tucker on 10 August 1950,[5] an artist and poet whom he divorced in 1973,[3] second to Vera Ronnen on 26 August 1976,[5] an artist from Jerusalem whom he also divorced and finally to Mary McLellan on 6 May 1999.[3] Wall was a chain-smoker, and enjoyed bird-watching outside of his work, although he preferred not to talk about his personal life. An exception to this was politics; Wall was fervently left-wing, and had set up various student and other organisations to support various causes.[7]
In 1996 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer after collapsing while on holiday in Cork. After treatment he went into remission, which held for five years; the cancer returned in 2001, and after a kidney operation on 2 August he discharged himself on 8 August so he could die at home.[3] While suffering from cancer he had published the book Pain: The Science of Suffering. His body was left for medical dissection.[3]
References
- OCLC 926251169.
- ^ Wikidata Q115731769.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Professor Patrick Wall - Obituaries, News - The Independent". London. 18 August 2001. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ISBN 1-85315-512-8.
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/76148. Retrieved 17 November 2008. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Maltby (2002) p. 136
- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Patrick Wall". The Guardian. London. 16 August 2001. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "Professor Patrick Wall - Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London. 23 August 2001. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/76148. Retrieved 17 November 2008.required.)
[B]y the time he graduated BM BCh in 1948 he had already published three important scientific papers.
(Subscription or UK public library membership - ^ a b c d "Center for Research on Pain". Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ^ S2CID 68667595.
- ^ "Pat Wall". Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ^ Maltby (2002) p. 137
- ^ "THE LIFE AND SCIENCE OF PATRICK DAVID WALL 1925–2001". Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- ^ "Royal Medal recent winners". Retrieved 17 November 2008.