John M. Goldman facts for kids

John M. Goldman (born November 30, 1938 – died December 24, 2013) was a British doctor and medical researcher. He was an expert in haematology (blood diseases) and oncology (cancer). Dr. Goldman was especially known for his work on a type of blood cancer called chronic myeloid leukaemia. He helped create new ways to treat this disease.

He played a big part in developing bone marrow transplantation as a common medical procedure. He also helped create a very important medicine called imatinib. Dr. Goldman wrote many scientific papers and worked with several medical charities. He had a long career as a surgeon at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Early Life and Education

John Goldman was born in London in 1938. He went to the Westminster School and sang in the school choir. Later, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford University. He focused on psychology and physiology.

During his time at Oxford, Dr. Goldman went on an amazing road trip with friends. They drove all the way across Europe and Asia to reach India. After graduating, he trained to become a specialist in blood diseases and cancer. He studied and taught at famous places like St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Harvard University, and the University of Miami.

Medical Career and Leukaemia Research

In 1971, Dr. Goldman joined Hammersmith Hospital in London. He became a leading expert in treating chronic myeloid leukaemia. In the 1980s, he performed some of the first bone marrow transplants in Europe. These transplants help replace unhealthy bone marrow with healthy cells. He also created special tests to find tiny amounts of leukaemia cells in patients' blood.

Dr. Goldman was a key figure in the charity Leuka. He helped raise money to build the Catherine Lewis Centre at Hammersmith Hospital. This center, which opened in 2002, is a special place for treating leukaemia. In 1988, he joined another important charity called Anthony Nolan. This group helps people find bone marrow donors. He worked with Anthony Nolan for over 20 years, helping them grow and reach more people around the world. He also helped start the World Marrow Donor Association in 1990. Dr. Goldman led many other medical and scientific groups during his career.

From the late 1990s, Dr. Goldman was very important in promoting the use of the anti-cancer drug imatinib. He worked to improve how this medicine was used to treat patients. He retired from Hammersmith Hospital in 2004. However, he continued to support cancer research and treatment, especially in developing countries. He wrote more than 700 scientific papers. He was also the editor of a journal called Bone Marrow Transplantation from 1985 until he passed away in 2013.

Personal Life

John Goldman had three children. He enjoyed reading about history and classic books. He loved to travel to different countries. He was also a very passionate skier.