Dr John B. Macdonald  MD, FRCP

21^st May 1942 - 2021

John went up to Queens’ in 1961 to read Natural Sciences then transferred to medicine graduating in 1968. He had a distinguished career in respiratory medicine including a mid-career scholarship to Harvard to work in the respiratory unit at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. John always gave his patients the time they needed and had a great ability to see things from their point of view. When he moved from his consultant post in Scotland to Northampton he was  overwhelmed with letters of thanks.  Ahead of his time in developing MDTs he contributed nationally and internationally to improving both access to and standards of care. He co-authored a textbook with his wife, and was contributing author to three others.  This resulted in an invitation to contribute to seminars at the  National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

A reserved and gentle man he had a strong sense of social justice publishing his first article on medical ethics in the Lancet whilst still an undergraduate. He felt strongly that doctors had a privileged position that should be used for the greater good. He exhibited this concern for others  even as an undergraduate using the long vacations to travel widely including to the southern states of America at the height of the Civil Rights struggle where he helped Black voters to register in Georgia where he met Martin Luther King.

A lifelong interest in medical education was furthered by completing a Diploma in Medical Education.  He was a patient and skilful teacher. Following his retirement John remained active –  a member of the RCP panel undertaking the National Review of Asthma Deaths, doing a diploma which enabled him to teach adult literacy, working as a volunteer at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and as an Independent Custody Visitor.   

Despite the rapid progress of his Parkinson’s disease over the last eighteen months he was able, supported by his wife, family to whom he was devoted and a circle of amazing friends, to be at home until his death. John is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, his daughter who is a QC and who much to his delight studied at Queens’ and his son who gave him great pleasure by following him into medicine and is now a hepatologist.  The greatest delight of his later years was being part of the lives of his three adored grandchildren.

Dr Elspeth Macdonald

September 2021