Peter Beighton
Encyclopedia
Peter Herbert Beighton, a medical geneticist
, was born in Lancashire in England in 1934 and qualified in medicine in 1957 at the University of London
's St Mary's Hospital. After several internships, Beighton served as a Medical Officer in the Parachute Regiment and with the United Nations
forces during the Congo Crisis
. In 1962 Beighton began training in internal medicine
at St Thomas' Hospital
in London
. Beighton had a Fulbright research fellowship in clinical genetics in 1968-69 with Dr. Victor McKusick at Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore
.
In 1968 Beighton published a report in the British Heart Journal outlining that air travel can produce "an ideal climate for precipitating deep vein thrombosis
". The airlines refused to warn passengers and it was only in the early 1990s that the link between long flights and deep vein thrombosis was made public.
Beighton did clinical research in the Sahara Desert and epidemiologic studies on Easter Island
and in Southern Africa. In 1972, Beighton was appointed Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Town
's Faculty of Medicine. His research was largely on inherited disorders of the skeleton and connective tissues.
Beighton has received many awards including the gold medal of the British Orthopaedic Association, the President's Medallion of the South African Orthopaedic Association, the Smith & Nephew literary award and the silver medal of the South African Medical Research Council. In 2002, he received the Order of Mapungubwe
- Bronze, for outstanding work and lifetime achievement as a scientist, and research into the inherited disorder of the skeleton.
He has been accorded Fellowship of the University of Cape Town and the British Society of Rheumatology, and in 1999, he obtained the degree of Master of Philosophy in History by thesis at the University of Lancaster, UK. Professor Beighton retired with Emeritus status at the end of 1999, retaining his links with UCT, and collaborating with the University of the Western Cape Faculty of Dentistry.
Fourteen of Professor Beighton's postgraduate students have been awarded Doctorates, and eight of these have achieved Professorial or Associate Professorial status. Professor Beighton is the author, co-author or editor of 19 monographs and editions, 25 chapters and more than 400 medical publications.
Peter Beighton and his wife Greta Beighton have a shared interest in the history of medical genetics and have published two unique volumes of brief biographies of people for whom genetic syndromes have been named.
Peter and Greta participate in the sport of orienteering, and they have been South African champions in their respective age groups on several occasions.
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
, was born in Lancashire in England in 1934 and qualified in medicine in 1957 at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
's St Mary's Hospital. After several internships, Beighton served as a Medical Officer in the Parachute Regiment and with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
forces during the Congo Crisis
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
. In 1962 Beighton began training in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
at St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
in 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...
. Beighton had a Fulbright research fellowship in clinical genetics in 1968-69 with Dr. Victor McKusick at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
In 1968 Beighton published a report in the British Heart Journal outlining that air travel can produce "an ideal climate for precipitating deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombosis commonly affects the leg veins or the deep veins of the pelvis. Occasionally the veins of the arm are affected...
". The airlines refused to warn passengers and it was only in the early 1990s that the link between long flights and deep vein thrombosis was made public.
Beighton did clinical research in the Sahara Desert and epidemiologic studies on Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
and in Southern Africa. In 1972, Beighton was appointed Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
's Faculty of Medicine. His research was largely on inherited disorders of the skeleton and connective tissues.
Beighton has received many awards including the gold medal of the British Orthopaedic Association, the President's Medallion of the South African Orthopaedic Association, the Smith & Nephew literary award and the silver medal of the South African Medical Research Council. In 2002, he received the Order of Mapungubwe
Order of Mapungubwe
The Order of Mapungubwe is South Africa's highest honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa, for achievements in the international area which have served South Africa's interests...
- Bronze, for outstanding work and lifetime achievement as a scientist, and research into the inherited disorder of the skeleton.
He has been accorded Fellowship of the University of Cape Town and the British Society of Rheumatology, and in 1999, he obtained the degree of Master of Philosophy in History by thesis at the University of Lancaster, UK. Professor Beighton retired with Emeritus status at the end of 1999, retaining his links with UCT, and collaborating with the University of the Western Cape Faculty of Dentistry.
Fourteen of Professor Beighton's postgraduate students have been awarded Doctorates, and eight of these have achieved Professorial or Associate Professorial status. Professor Beighton is the author, co-author or editor of 19 monographs and editions, 25 chapters and more than 400 medical publications.
Peter Beighton and his wife Greta Beighton have a shared interest in the history of medical genetics and have published two unique volumes of brief biographies of people for whom genetic syndromes have been named.
Peter and Greta participate in the sport of orienteering, and they have been South African champions in their respective age groups on several occasions.
External links
- Biographical sketch of Peter Beighton with a photograph on the University of Cape Town site