Nuffield Professors of Orthopaedic Surgery

1st Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (1937-40)

Gathorne Robert Girdlestone (1881-1950), born at Christ Church, Oxford, where his father was honorary canon, received his medical training at New College, Oxford, and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. His interest in orthopaedics resulted from his collaboration with Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt in Oswestry, where he had worked as a GP-surgeon before returning to Oxford during the Great War. It was here where his friendship started with William Morris, later Lord Nuffield, which consequently led to substantial benefactions towards orthopaedic care and research in Oxford.

2nd Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (1940-48)

Sir Herbert John (‘Jim’) Seddon (1902-1977) trained at St Barts, London University, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. He spent several years in the US before returning to Britain at the outbreak of WWII. He was the first full-time Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and established a peripheral nerve injury unit in Oxford treating war casualties.

3rd Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (1949-66)

Josep Antony Trueta i Raspall (1897-1977), born in Barcelona, received his medical training at the University of Barcelona and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. At the outbreak of WWII, Trueta’s life in Spain was at risk and an invitation to the UK offered the opportunity to flee the country together with his family. Girdlestone arranged positions for him at the Radcliffe Infirmary Accident Service and the Wingfield-Morris Orthopaedic Hospital before his appointment as successor of Herbert Seddon.

4th Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (1966-1992)

Robert Buchan Duthie (1925-2005), born in Detroit as son of a Scottish engineer working for Henry Ford, received his training at the University of Edinburgh. Sir Walter Mercer and the experience as RAMC surgeon during the emergency war in Malaya inspired him to pursue a career in orthopaedic surgery. He was Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Rochester Municipal Hospitals and the University’s Medical School before succeeding Josep Trueta after his retirement.

5th Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (1992-2001)

John Kenwright, Worcester College, received his medical training at St John’s College, Oxford, and University College Hospital, London. Following his PhD at the Karolinska Institute, his academic career was closely linked with the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre where he was consultant and lecturer, working with Professor Duthie whom he succeeded in the chair.

6TH Nuffield Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery (2001-)