Dame Sheila Sherlock (1918-2001), Hepatologist and Professor of medicine

Sitter in 2 portraits
Physician and lecturer; studied medicine at Edinburgh University (1936-41). Began pioneering career in hepatology at the Postgraduate School and Hammersmith Hospital and gained a research fellowship at Yale (1947-8). First woman to be appointed Professor of Medicine at the Royal Free Hospital (1959-83). Under her leadership the department became a focal point in hepatology. Also active nationally and internationally as a founder of the British Liver Trust and author of a classic textbook on liver disease, she has been an outstanding teacher, with many of her former students heading departments throughout the world. Created DBE 1978, FRS 2001.