Oswald Hope Robertson
Encyclopedia
Oswald Hope Robertson was an English
-born medical scientist who pioneered the idea of blood bank
s in the "blood depots" he established in 1917 during service in France with the US Army Medical Corps
.
in south-east London
, but at the age of one-and-a-half he emigrated with his parents to California
, settling in the San Joaquin
Valley. He attended local schools in Dinuba
, then graduated from the Polytechnic High School in San Francisco.
His initial plan to study basic biology was changed by a meeting with an American medical student while on holiday in Germany
. After attending some lectures on anatomy, he decided to study medicine, being admitted to the University of California
in 1906. He later studied at Harvard Medical School
, the Massachusetts
General Hospital and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, but had to cut short his studies during World War I
when he was called to join medical teams in France
. Here he experimented with preserving human blood cells for use in blood transfusion
s, and became recognised as the inventor of the blood bank.
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...
-born medical scientist who pioneered the idea of blood bank
Blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a result of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. The term "blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory where the storage of blood product occurs and where proper...
s in the "blood depots" he established in 1917 during service in France with the US Army Medical Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
.
Life
Robertson was born in WoolwichWoolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
in south-east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but at the age of one-and-a-half he emigrated with his parents to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, settling in the San Joaquin
San Joaquín
San Joaquín is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region.The alcalde's office and municipal building is located at Ave...
Valley. He attended local schools in Dinuba
Dinuba, California
Dinuba is a city in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 21,453 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Visalia Metropolitan Statistical Area according to the United States Census Bureau...
, then graduated from the Polytechnic High School in San Francisco.
His initial plan to study basic biology was changed by a meeting with an American medical student while on holiday in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After attending some lectures on anatomy, he decided to study medicine, being admitted to the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
in 1906. He later studied at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
General Hospital and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, but had to cut short his studies during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when he was called to join medical teams in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Here he experimented with preserving human blood cells for use in blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
s, and became recognised as the inventor of the blood bank.
Commemoration
- Robertson Blood Center, Fort Hood TX http://www.hood-meddac.army.mil/default.asp?page=blood_bank&vi=n&mnu=0#History