Professor Peter Howie retires

A celebratory dinner to mark the retiral of Professor Peter Howie was held in the Bonar hall last month hosting a full house of colleagues and friends from his long and distinguished career. Colleagues from all over Scotland gathered to honour a man who has not only made his own mark as an academic, clinician and researcher but has also been a mentor to countless younger colleagues and medical students.

Professor Howie joined the University of Dundee in 1981 when he said that it was still possible to get a parking space at Ninewells. Serving the University as Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, dean and deputy principal under four University principals, he has seen and often been the catalyst of major developments in medical education.

He played a part in the establishment of the biomedical research centre, the first of the cancer appeals and the recruitment of capable scientists to pioneer the research that Dundee has since become renowned for. The famous cancer appeal slogan - Help Dennis beat the Menace - came from Howie's own pen with a skill for words and humour honed in his early days as a junior doctor writing pantomimes for patients in Edinburgh. His fellow writer and long time colleague Professor Andrew Calder of the University of Edinburgh said of him at the retiral dinner: "He has been a clear thinking and caring clinician with a keen interest in the advancement of obstetrics and gynaecology both by clinical and laboratory research and by high quality clinical training and practice. He has been a guide and mentor to a large number of younger colleagues as well as to countless medical students who have been infected by his enthusiasm for obstetrics and gynaecology."

Professor Calder also paid tribute to Peter Howie's "fine human qualities". He is blessed with a delightful sense of humour which is reflected in his qualities as a raconteur…"

Sir Alan Langlands described Professor Howie's remarkable contribution to the University of Dundee. "He developed true excellence in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology and then as dean and deputy principal he worked with others to raise standards in the medical school to new heights. He created a new faculty of medicine, dentistry and nursing and also achieved true integration with the school of life sciences, unleashing the world ranking research which is now recognised in Dundee."

Sir Alan referred to his "rare combination of compassion and empiricism." He continued: "I think it would be fair to say that he has contributed more to the development of effective young clinicians in Scotland over the past few years than any single other person. His "inspired chairmanship" of the Scottish Council for postgraduate medical and dental education has driven partnership across institutional and professional boundaries.

Peter Howie has given his life to his profession and to public service. He and his wife Dr Anne Howie have contributed an enormous amount to the life and work of the University and we wish them well for the future."

Professor Andrew Calder ended by saying "His retirement will leave a very considerable void as he will be sorely missed by his clinical and academic colleagues, trainees and by a very large number of patients who have benefited from his care and expertise."

Professor Howie will be carrying on his work with the Scottish Council after retirement and as chairman of Tenovus Tayside.

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