Peter Howie, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee and one of Scotland's most distinguished and highly respected clinicians has retired after 20 years at the University of Dundee.
Colleagues from all over Scotland gathered at the Bonar Hall on Friday 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 over his career.
Sir Alan Langlands. Principal of the University of Dundee, describes his contribution as "enormous" and refers to his "rare combination of compassion and empiricism".
"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.
Sir Alan pays tribute to Professor Howie's distinction as an academic, clinician and researcher, for his professional integrity and for his "key role" in the development of the university over the last 20 years:
"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."
His research has contributed to knowledge on breast feeding and infant health, the effects of obstetric complications on long-term neurological disability and the development of sulpiride/progestogen contraception.
At Friday's dinner in Professor Howie's honour, tributes were led by Professor Andrew Calder of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Reproductive Biology. Professor Calder referred to Peter Howie's "fine human qualities": "He has been a clear thinking and caring clinician - a guide and mentor to countless medical students who have been infected by his enthusiasm for obstetrics and gynaecology. He is blessed with a delightful sense of humour which is reflected in his qualities as a raconteur."
Professor Calder: "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."/ends
Notes for editors
Biography Professor Peter Howie
Born in Aberdeen
Father appointed to Chair of Bacteriology in University of Glasgow in
1951 entailing a move to Glasgow
Attended High School of Glasgow then University of Glasgow Medical
School, graduating MBChB in 1963
Trained in obstetrics and gynaecology at Western Infirmary and Queen
Mother's Hospital, Glasgow 1970 awarded Astor Foundation Research Fellowship of the Royal College
of Pathologists to pursue v important work on blood coagulation
disturbances in context of obstetric complications.
Lecturer then senior lecturer at Royal Infirmary and Royal Maternity
Hospital of Glasgow.
1978 clinical consultant in MRC Reproductive Biology unit at University
of Edinburgh 1981 Professor Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Dundee
1990-93 Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Currently chairman of Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and
Dental Education.
Other appointments include chairman of WHO task force, member of General
Medical Council, member of MRC Systems Board and Chairmanship of
Scottish Cancer Co-ordinating Advisory Committee.