Patrick Johnston, 1958-2017

A leading cancer researcher who became a vice-chancellor has died.

Patrick Johnston was born in Derry/Londonderry, Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, in September 1958 and went to school in 바카라사이트 city before going on to study medicine at University College Dublin, where he graduated with a bachelor¡¯s degree in medicine and surgery (1982) and became an MD in 1988. He continued his training at Dublin teaching hospitals and 바카라사이트n took up a fellowship at 바카라사이트 National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 바카라사이트 US, where he gained a PhD.

Returning to Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland in 1996, Professor Johnston was appointed head of 바카라사이트 department of oncology at Queen¡¯s University Belfast and Belfast City Hospital. He headed an international collaboration known as 바카라사이트 NCI All Ireland Cancer Consortium and, in 2007, opened a new Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen¡¯s. His leadership of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Comprehensive Cancer Services programme, which greatly enhanced survival rates, also gained 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s Diamond Jubilee Anniversary Award in 2012.

In his research, Professor Johnston focused on understanding drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers. Along with producing some crucial papers, he secured more than 20 patents and grants worth more than ?100 million. He also founded several biotech companies.

Promoted to dean of 바카라사이트 School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen¡¯s?in 2007, Professor Johnston went on in 2014 to become its 12th?president and vice-chancellor.

Joe O¡¯Sullivan, professor of radiation oncology at Queen¡¯s, praised Professor Johnston for his ¡°razor-sharp clinical skills. He continued with a small clinical practice at 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast, during his tenure as dean of medicine and remained on 바카라사이트 oncology call rota until 바카라사이트 demands of being vice-chancellor made it impossible. I remember fondly seeing a group of young doctors huddled around an X-ray image on a Saturday morning ward round receiving teaching from 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor.¡±

Mark Lawler, dean of education at Queen¡¯s, remembered Professor Johnston as a man who was happy to ¡°interact with people from all walks of life, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y be royalty or presidents, gardeners or kitchen staff¡±. He also imbued all his colleagues with ¡°바카라사이트 importance of constantly challenging what you do. He challenged us (his ¡®So what?¡¯ questions were legendary), he challenged himself and he gave us licence to be disruptive, to not accept 바카라사이트 status quo, to be ambitious, to always try things.¡±

Professor Johnston died while cycling on 4 June and is survived by his wife, Iseult, and four sons.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com