Peter Morris (surgeon) facts for kids

Sir Peter John Morris (17 April 1934 – 29 October 2022) was an amazing Australian surgeon. He was a top professor of surgery at the University of Oxford. Sir Peter was also the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He started the Oxford Transplant Centre, which helps people get new organs.

Early Life and Education

Peter Morris was born in Australia in 1934. He went to Xavier College in Melbourne. Later, he studied medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital and the University of Melbourne. He finished his medical studies in 1957.

He started his training to become a surgeon in Melbourne. To learn even more, he moved to the UK and the US. This helped him become a very skilled surgeon.

A Career in Surgery

In 1968, Sir Peter Morris came back to Melbourne. He worked in the Department of Surgery at the University of Melbourne. By 1971, he became a Reader in Surgery.

In 1973, when he was 39, he got a very important job. He became the Nuffield Chair of Surgery at the University of Oxford. He held this position for 28 years.

Leading the Way in Transplantation

When he arrived in Oxford, he set up the Oxford Transplant Centre. He was the director of this center. This center became a leader in helping people get organ transplants.

Sir Peter Morris also helped start the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. This center studies human genes. He was also the director of the Centre for Evidence in Transplantation (CET). This group helps make sure transplant surgeries are based on the best evidence.

Important Roles and Honors

From 2001 to 2004, he was the President of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. This is a very important role for surgeons in England. He was also the Chairman of the British Heart Foundation for eight years.

Many important groups recognized his work. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1994. In 1998, he became a Foundation Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. These are big honors for scientists and doctors.

Contributions to Transplantation Science

Sir Peter Morris spent his career studying organ transplants. He was very interested in how the body's immune system reacts to new organs. He also studied how to stop the body from rejecting a new organ.

One of his big discoveries was finding certain antibodies in patients. These antibodies could cause the body to reject a transplanted kidney. He also studied HLA, which are markers on our cells. These markers are important for matching organs for transplant.

He was the editor of a well-known book called Kidney Transplantation: Principles and Practice. He also edited the Oxford Textbook of Surgery. These books are used by many doctors and students.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Peter Morris received many awards for his work. In 1997, he won the Lister Medal. This award is for major contributions to surgical science. In 2006, he received the Medawar Prize. This prize is given for important work in transplantation.

In 1996, the Queen made him a knight for his services to medicine. This means he was called "Sir Peter Morris." In 2004, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor in Australia.

Personal Life

Sir Peter Morris passed away on 29 October 2022, at the age of 88.