Abraham Manie Adelstein
Encyclopedia
Abraham Manie "Abe" Adelstein (28 March 1916 – 18 October 1992) was a South Africa
n born doctor who became the United Kingdom
's Chief Medical Statistician
.
to South Africa
.
After graduating from the University of Witwatersrand and doing military service, Adelstein worked as a Health Officer (research and medical statistics) at South African Railways, 1947-61. He spent 1951-3 studying at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He returned to South African Railways as the Director of Research and Medical Statistics.
Moving to England
in 1961, he became
David Adelstein, one of his sons, was an active student politician at L.S.E.
during the 1960s; he was President of LSE Students' Union
during the famous protests in 1967. Both father and son were active politically on the left-wing and in anti-Apartheid politics.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n born doctor who became the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Chief Medical Statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
.
Career
Adelstein was the fourth of five children (four boys and one girl) of Nathan Adelstein, a miller, and Rosie Cohen, Jewish immigrants from LatviaLatvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
After graduating from the University of Witwatersrand and doing military service, Adelstein worked as a Health Officer (research and medical statistics) at South African Railways, 1947-61. He spent 1951-3 studying at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He returned to South African Railways as the Director of Research and Medical Statistics.
Moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1961, he became
- Senior Lecturer at the University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterThe University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, 1961-67, - medical statistician at the Office of Population Censuses and SurveysOffice of Population Censuses and SurveysThe Office of Population Censuses and Surveys , was created in May 1970 through the merger of the General Register Office and the Government Social Survey Department....
in 1967 - Chief Medical Statistician in 1975 (among his staff was John FoxJohn Fox (statistician)John Fox is a British statistician, who has worked in both the public service and academia.He was born on 25 April 1946, the son of Fred Frank Fox OBE. He was educated at Dauntsey's School, University College London and Imperial College London...
, who later held this post). - Visiting Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine after retiring in 1981, until 1984.
David Adelstein, one of his sons, was an active student politician at L.S.E.
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
during the 1960s; he was President of LSE Students' Union
LSE Students' Union
The London School of Economics Students' Union is the representative and campaigning body for students at The London School of Economics and Political Science...
during the famous protests in 1967. Both father and son were active politically on the left-wing and in anti-Apartheid politics.
Honours
- Fellow of the Royal College of PhysiciansRoyal College of PhysiciansThe Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, 1977 - Donald Reid MedalDonald Reid MedalThe Donald Reid Medal is awarded triennially by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in recognition of distinguished contributions to epidemiology.-Institution:...
, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1979 - Bisset Hawkins Medal, Royal College of Physicians, 1982
- Fellow, Faculty of Public Health Medicine