Sir Andrew Patrick McEwen Forrest (25 March 1923 – 7 August 2021) was a Scottish surgeon. After qualifying in medicine from the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

and completing a Fellowship at the

Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an Aust ...

in Rochester, Minnesota, he took up surgical posts first in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, then in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, followed by a position as

Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery The Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery is a royal professorship in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established by George III in 1802 in the university's Faculty of Medicine. Regius Professors of Clinical Surgery * Professor James R ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. His achievements in the field of breast cancer earned him the

Lister Medal __NOTOC__ The Lister Medal is an award presented by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in recognition of contributions to surgical science. It is named after the English surgeon Joseph Lister (1827-1912), whose work on antiseptics establi ...

in 1987.

Life

Forrest was born in

Lanarkshire Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland. Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotlan ...

and educated at the

High School of Dundee The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in Dundee, Scotland, which provides nursery, primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils. Its foundation has been dated to 1239, and it is the only priv ...

.History of the Chair of Clinical Surgery

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. Retrieved 23 June 2017 He then studied medicine at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

. Following military service with the Royal Navy as a medical officer, he spent a year in Rochester, Minnesota as a

Mayo Foundation The Mayo Clinic () is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research. It employs over 4,500 physicians and scientists, along with another 58,400 administrative and allied health staff ...

Fellow, then in 1955 obtained a position at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

. He became Chair of Surgery at the

Welsh National School of Medicine The Cardiff University School of Medicine ( cy, Ysgol Feddygaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd) is the medical school of Cardiff University and is located in Cardiff, Wales, UK. Founded in 1893 as part of the University College of South Wales and Monmouth ...

in 1962. He moved to the

to take up the

in 1971, where he eventually became

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

. He also served as Chief Scientist to the Scottish Department of Home and Health, and chaired the Department of Health working group on the implementation of the

NHS The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

Programme on

breast cancer screening Breast cancer screening is the medical screening of asymptomatic, apparently healthy women for breast cancer in an attempt to achieve an earlier diagnosis. The assumption is that early detection will improve outcomes. A number of screening tests ...

. He was elected a member of

The Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

in 1976. In 1983 he was elected a member of the

Aesculapian Club The Aesculapian Club of Edinburgh is one of the oldest medical dining clubs in the world. It was founded in April 1773 by Dr. Andrew Duncan. Membership of the Club is limited to 11 Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh a ...

. He died on 7 August 2021, at the age of 98.

Awards

Forrest received the Umberto Veronesi Award for the Future Fight Against Breast Cancer (2000). In 1987, he received the

, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to surgical science, particularly in the field of breast cancer".College and Faculty News
Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1987 July; 69(4): supplement: College and Faculty Bulletin, page 3.

Publications

*''Principles and Practice of Surgery'' *''Breast Cancer: The Decision to Screen'' (1990)

References

External links

*
Portrait of Andrew Patrick McEwen Forrest
at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff (Art UK) 1923 births 2021 deaths People from Lanarkshire People educated at the High School of Dundee Alumni of the University of St Andrews Academics of the University of Glasgow Academics of the University of Edinburgh Scottish surgeons Military personnel from Glasgow Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Royal Navy Medical Service officers Royal Navy officers of World War II {{Scotland-med-bio-stub