University of Glasgow Chancellor, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman has been nominated as the nation’s top unsung medical hero in a new award run by Blackwell booksellers.

Nominated for his contributions to the treatment and care of cancer patients, and his support of the role of nursing in this area, Professor Calman was nominated by Maura Buchanan, President and Chair of Council, Royal College of Nursing.

The award, launched by leading academic bookseller, Blackwell, aims to recognise individuals whose discoveries or pioneering methods have helped change the face of medicine.

Maura Buchanan said of Professor Calman: “Before becoming Chief Medical Officer, Sir Kenneth worked at the Gartnavel Teaching Hospital where I was a student nurse. It was his human approach to the care of cancer patients which I found inspirational and I still remember today. Sir Kenneth is a prominent clinical Professor and is an author on the treatment and care of cancer patients, he supported nursing and gave a lot of time to teach and work with the cancer nursing network, this served as an early example of effective multi disciplinary work. He is someone who respected the input of the nursing contribution to patient care and is someone who is genuinely interested in spending time talking and engaging with nurses at all levels.”

Other nominees include Dr Ignaz Semmelweis for his promotion of hand washing to prevent infection, Michael Balint, a psycho-analyst who revolutionised thinking around the doctor-patient consultation, and Dr Charles Drew for his work on methods for storing blood plasma.

The new award marks the opening of the Blackwell medical flagship store, an academic centre of excellence in Wellcome Collection – a new £30 million visitor attraction from the Wellcome Trust that draws upon the connections between medically-related disciplines.

The winner of the award will be announced at the end of the month. More information on the nominees, and information on how to nominate additional unsung heroes can be found at www.blackwell.co.uk/heroes

Notes for editors

For more information please contact Kate Richardson at the University of Glasgow’s Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

About Blackwell
Blackwell is the leading academic bookseller in the UK with over 60 outlets across England, Scotland and Wales. It has built an international reputation for bookselling excellence with links to academic institutions and libraries around the globe and has continued to expand its UK base on high streets and in university campuses up and down the country.

First published: 6 July 2007

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