Ross Taylor

In 2002 a total of 1775 kidneys were transplanted in the United Kingdom. This is a far cry from the 1970s when innovative surgeons were developing their skills and transplant medicine was in its infancy. Ross Taylor was a pioneer in transplantation surgery and trained many of today's leading surgeons in that field. As director of the transplant unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, from 1970 to 1995, he was much involved not only in the technical side but also the ethical, moral, and organisational issues surrounding this new era of medicine. He was acknowledged worldwide as an expert in his field and inspired and motivated hundreds to raise money so that others could finish what he had started.

After house officer posts at Ballochmyle Hospital and …