Kenneth Cross (physiologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenneth Cross
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| Born | 26 March 1916 |
| Died | 10 October 1990 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | St Mary's Hospital, London |
| Awards | James Spence Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | physiologist, foetal and neonatal physiology |
| Institutions | St Mary's Hospital, London, University of California, San Francisco |
Sir Kenneth William Cross (born March 26, 1916 – died October 10, 1990) was a British scientist. He was a physiologist, which means he studied how living things work. Sir Kenneth was famous for his important discoveries about how newborn babies' bodies function. His work greatly helped doctors who care for children.
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Life of Kenneth Cross
Kenneth Cross went to St Paul's School, London from 1930 to 1935. After that, he studied medicine at St Mary's Hospital, London. He was a very bright student and won special scholarships. By 1940, he had already passed a difficult medical exam.
When World War II began, Kenneth Cross worked in the emergency medical service. He believed in peace and spent time helping people in China. He worked with the Friends' Ambulance Unit, which was a group that provided medical aid during the war.
Kenneth Cross was married twice. His second wife, Sheila Cross, was a great support to him.
Kenneth Cross's Career
After returning from China, Kenneth Cross decided to become a physiologist. He started working in the physiology department at St Mary's Hospital. In 1948, he began studying how newborn babies breathe. He was one of the first scientists to use special techniques to help babies who had trouble breathing.
His research was very important. He became a key member of a group of scientists and paediatricians (children's doctors). Together, they started the Neonatal Society in 1959. This society focused on research about newborns.
In 1952, Cross became a "reader," which is a senior academic position. He spent a year in America from 1958 to 1959. He worked at the University of California, San Francisco. There, he helped create a large research group focused on newborn health.
When he came back to the UK, he became a Professor of Physiology in 1960. He worked at the London Hospital Medical College until 1981.
In 1963, he became a director for a Medical Research Council group. This group studied how newborns breathe and use energy. He also organized a big meeting in 1973 for The Physiological Society. In 1974, he gave an important lecture about studying newborns ethically.
Major Contributions to Science
Kenneth Cross was known for being very direct and honest. He cared more about people's abilities than their titles. Many people believed he should have been a member of the Royal Society, a very prestigious scientific group. Another physiologist, Arthur Huggett, even said that his own membership was partly thanks to Cross's work.
Cross made many important discoveries about newborn physiology before 1957. It was surprising that he wasn't immediately accepted into the British Paediatric Association (BPA). Some doctors didn't think a physiologist should be part of their group.
When he was finally elected to the BPA in 1957, his work was still not fully recognized. Many doctors and physiologists found it hard to believe that such important research could be done on newborns. Professor Otto Herbert Wolff once quoted Cross's own professor, who told him to "stop playing with babies" and do "proper physiology."
Despite this, Cross continued his work. He had a simple approach: develop practical solutions and turn them into ways to help babies in hospitals. He also had very high ethical standards. He trained many students who later became leading experts in newborn care.
Awards and Recognition
On March 28, 1979, Kenneth Cross received the James Spence Medal. This medal is named after Professor Sir James Calvert Spence. It is the highest award given by the British Paediatric Association, recognizing his outstanding contributions to child health.
