250:. Under Walsh's direction, the unit developed innovative technology for blood transportation, such as identifying different requirements when it was shipped by air or sea. It supplied substantial quantities of serum and plasma to armed forces from Australia, Britain, and America. It collected over 350 blood donations per day in 1942. Investigating why some donors experienced bad reactions was the launch of Walsh's research career. He was also Secretary to the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Committee.
334:
Community
Medicine (which replaced the School of Human Genetics). From 1973 until he retired in 1982, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UNSW. One of his first responsibilities was to oversee the introduction of a five-year medical degree, to keep pace with international practice. On his retirement, the university made him an
279:
Returning to
Australia after his study period, Walsh found there were inadequate research facilities so he established a new research section in 1952. He focused on issues that directly benefited blood donors and recipients; his research into haemoglobin and iron metabolism led him to advocate for
241:
As the BTS changed from civilian to military focus, Walsh left Sydney
Hospital and joined the Army. By July 1942, he was Commander of the newly created 2nd Australian Blood and Serum Preparation Unit, where he was promoted to Major in September 1942. Meanwhile, work was underway to establish the
329:
By the early 1960s, the BTS was well established and had international credibility, so Walsh wanted to move on by getting involved in the new School of
Medicine at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). In 1962, Walsh was appointed UNSW's Visiting Professor of Human Genetics and before long he
333:
In 1966, he resigned from the BTS to assume a full-time position as foundation chair and
Professor of Human Genetics at the UNSW. In 1969, he joined the University Council, and in 1970, he took on the role of Chairman of their Professional Board. From 1973 to 1976 he was head of the School of
292:
groups. He oversaw the development of increasingly sophisticated technology to collect, process, and transport blood and its products. The demand was surging, as they became essential for more complex surgical procedures. Walsh also investigated the hereditary and genetic underpinnings of
149:(3 January 1917 - 20 July 1983) was an Australian medical scientist and geneticist. He set up the New South Wales Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, serving as its inaugural Director for twenty years from 1946 to 1966. From 1973 to 1982, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the
439:
On 5 June 1944, he married
Kathleen Helen Tooth (known as "Helen"), a fellow medical practitioner and former university classmate; they earned their medical degrees (with honours) together and they were medical residents together at Sydney Hospital. Helen became the first female medical
153:. His research activities covered a wide range, including iron metabolism, blood groups, genetic influences on diseases, and improving techniques and equipment for collecting, processing, and transporting blood and its products. In 1982 he was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour,
280:
supplying iron supplements to aid blood cell production in donors. Data from the BTS provided a unique opportunity to standardize instrument calibration, improving the accuracy of laboratory pathology measurements. He also ran blood group antigen studies, notably among
165:
Walsh was born on 3 January 1917 in East
Brisbane, the second of seven children. His parents were John James Walsh, a barrister, and Catherine Mary Walsh (nÊe Ahern). His father was secretary of the University Congress that formed the
825:
253:
The BTS was so effective during the war that it was continued afterwards. When he left the army in 1946, Walsh was appointed as the inaugural
Director of the BTS, a position which he held until 1966.
820:
321:. Furthermore, he identified a previously unknown blood group, which he coined as "S for Sydney"; anti-S reagents in patients' blood are usually a response to pregnancy or transfusion.
412:
840:
835:
268:
identification, leading to population studies on blood group antigens. By 1954, Walsh had secured funding for full-time research fellows and grants for expeditions; the
427:, the Australian Blood Transfusion Society, the Haematology Society of Australia, the German Haematology Society, the German Society for Blood Transfusion and the
230:
Early in the war, blood transfusions were not common and blood banks did not yet exist; each hospital relied on its own donor list for emergency transfusions. The
210:
When World War II broke out in
September 1939, Walsh joined the Australian Army Medical Corps as a captain in the Citizen Military Forces. He was diagnosed with
810:
416:
397:
373:
269:
372:
Other highlights include serving on the council of the
Australian Academy of Science (starting 1963), the Australian Research Grants Committee (1965), the
385:
186:
264:
for six months. He studied iron metabolism, particularly its role in red blood cell formation. Additionally, he explored the use of antibodies for
805:
440:
superintendent at Sydney Hospital in 1943, and later she pursued a career as a paediatrician. They had four children (three sons and a daughter).
350:
815:
238:), and ten thousand donors were enlisted in the first three months; Walsh said he was proud that blood donations were voluntary, not paid.
376:
Research Advisory Committee (1959), the Medical Research Advisory Committee of New Guinea, and the Queen Elizabeth Fellowships Committee.
349:
He was also engaged in professional organizations and government committees, including many senior positions. He was the president of the
428:
145:
36:
643:
536:
362:
285:
830:
447:
throughout his career, and a severe episode in 1953 resulted in ongoing problems with his vision and kidneys. He died of
420:
358:
150:
20:
346:
Walsh was instrumental in founding the Haematology Society of Australia and the Australian Society of Blood Transfusion.
582:
222:
for use by the military. He also played a crucial role in ensuring a ready supply in case of attacks on Sydney.
178:
167:
305:
in babies, where most cases were found to have an Rh-negative mother and Rh-positive father), inheritance of
174:
294:
281:
257:
234:
invited Walsh to become their Medical Officer in February 1941. He created the Blood Transfusion Service (
298:
800:
795:
424:
261:
231:
190:
182:
273:
401:
389:
218:, which precluded him from serving overseas; instead, he led a domestic army unit which prepared
154:
639:
393:
318:
302:
289:
256:
In 1947â1948, Walsh took 18 months' study leave from the Red Cross, which was split between
492:
369:. He became Deputy Chairman of the National Blood Transfusion Service Committee in 1972.
354:
194:
170:, which Robert later attended, and a founding member of that university's Senate in 1911.
357:
Association of New South Wales. Additionally, he was chairman of Biological Sciences,
718:
608:
181:, but it did not have a school of medicine so the following year he transferred to the
789:
366:
247:
219:
699:. Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 14 June 1982
692:
444:
310:
243:
215:
211:
667:"Walsh, Robert John - Person - Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation"
265:
276:
facilitated studies, including native populations in the New Guinea highlands.
673:. Swinburne University of Technology - Centre for Transformative Innovation
666:
448:
335:
306:
314:
408:
589:. University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive
330:
also chaired the university's Medical Research Advisory Committee.
499:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
638:(4 ed.). Durham NC: Montgomery Scientific Publications.
361:(1966â70), the Australian HA (Human Adaptability) Committee,
733:– via Trove from the National Library of Australia.
623:– via Trove from the National Library of Australia.
396:
of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1979. In the
353:(1972â73), the Sydney Hospitallers Association, and the
91:
MB, BS with distinction (University of Sydney)
826:
Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
486:
484:
16:
Australian medical scientist and geneticist (1917â1983)
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
693:"Award extract: Professor Robert John WALSH, AO, OBE"
821:
Academic staff of the University of New South Wales
118:
103:
95:
87:
79:
63:
44:
30:
189:with distinction in 1939. He went on to serve his
423:(1959). He was an honorary life member of the
226:Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, 1941-1966
8:
841:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science
780:Journal and Proceedings Royal Society of NSW
270:National Health and Medical Research Council
197:, as a junior in 1940 and a senior in 1941.
836:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
634:Issitt, Peter D.; Anstee, David J. (1998).
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
563:
417:Royal College of Pathologists of Australia
386:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
27:
530:
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
365:, and the Research Advisory Committee of
242:efficacy of blood components, especially
19:For other people named Robert Walsh, see
413:Royal Australasian College of Physicians
460:
351:Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences
762:Australian Journal of Forensic Science
661:
659:
657:
655:
107:Establishing blood transfusion service
555:Historical Records Australian Science
7:
811:Companions of the Order of Australia
177:. In 1934, he began studying at the
429:Australian Society of Anaesthetists
402:Companion of the Order of Australia
301:(Rh) (especially as it pertains to
155:Companion of the Order of Australia
125:Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service
719:"SYDNEY HOSPITAL DOCTORS TO MARRY"
497:Australian Dictionary of Biography
363:International Biological Programme
342:Professional and community service
14:
390:Officer of the Order of Australia
609:"Warships made the blood curdle"
411:of organizations including the
404:(AC) "for service to medicine".
157:, for his services to medicine.
543:. Australian Academy of Science
493:"Robert John Walsh (1917â1983)"
806:Australian medical researchers
392:(AO) in 1976, and awarded the
1:
537:"Robert John Walsh 1917-1983"
421:Australian Academy of Science
398:1982 Queen's Birthday honours
359:Australian Academy of Science
173:He matriculated in 1933 from
151:University of New South Wales
128:University of New South Wales
21:Robert Walsh (disambiguation)
768:Medical Journal of Australia
749:With Hand and Mind and Heart
636:Applied Blood Group Serology
491:Crane, Helen Bashir (2012).
816:University of Sydney alumni
557:, vol 6, no 2, 1985, p 277.
272:and a joint grant from the
857:
776:, vol 16, no 1, 1984, p 97
764:, vol 16, no 1, 1983, p 46
309:, and the inheritance and
18:
725:. 8 March 1944. p. 2
325:Academic career 1962-1982
135:
111:
615:. 1 July 1945. p. 4
553:Originally published in
384:Walsh was appointed an
179:University of Queensland
168:University of Queensland
161:Early life and education
74:Westmead, NSW, Australia
407:He was recognized as a
400:, Walsh was appointed
258:Harvard Medical School
782:, vol 117, 1984, p 83
175:St Laurence's College
831:People from Brisbane
770:, 29 Oct 1983, p 464
583:"Walsh, Robert John"
443:Walsh suffered from
183:University of Sydney
274:Nuffield Foundation
58:Brisbane, Australia
697:honours.pmc.gov.au
541:www.science.org.au
303:haemolytic disease
587:www.sydney.edu.au
451:on 20 July 1983.
425:Red Cross Society
142:Robert John Walsh
139:
138:
99:Medical scientist
848:
756:Banking on Blood
735:
734:
732:
730:
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
689:
683:
682:
680:
678:
663:
650:
649:
631:
625:
624:
622:
620:
605:
599:
598:
596:
594:
579:
558:
552:
550:
548:
532:
509:
508:
506:
504:
488:
419:(1956), and the
394:James Cook Medal
319:haemochromatosis
290:Pacific Islander
148:
70:
54:
52:
39:
28:
856:
855:
851:
850:
849:
847:
846:
845:
786:
785:
744:
742:Further reading
739:
738:
728:
726:
717:
716:
712:
702:
700:
691:
690:
686:
676:
674:
665:
664:
653:
646:
633:
632:
628:
618:
616:
607:
606:
602:
592:
590:
581:
580:
561:
546:
544:
535:Courtice, F.C.
534:
533:
512:
502:
500:
490:
489:
462:
457:
437:
388:(OBE) in 1970,
382:
355:Cystic Fibrosis
344:
327:
260:for a year and
228:
208:
203:
195:Sydney Hospital
163:
144:
131:
75:
72:
68:
59:
56:
50:
48:
40:
35:
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
854:
852:
844:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
788:
787:
784:
783:
777:
771:
765:
759:
752:
743:
740:
737:
736:
710:
684:
651:
644:
626:
600:
559:
510:
459:
458:
456:
453:
436:
433:
381:
378:
343:
340:
326:
323:
227:
224:
207:
204:
202:
199:
162:
159:
137:
136:
133:
132:
130:
129:
126:
122:
120:
116:
115:
113:Medical career
109:
108:
105:
104:Known for
101:
100:
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
81:
77:
76:
73:
71:(aged 66)
65:
61:
60:
57:
55:3 January 1917
46:
42:
41:
34:
31:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
853:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
793:
791:
781:
778:
775:
772:
769:
766:
763:
760:
757:
754:M. Cortiula,
753:
750:
746:
745:
741:
724:
720:
714:
711:
698:
694:
688:
685:
672:
671:www.eoas.info
668:
662:
660:
658:
656:
652:
647:
645:9780935643053
641:
637:
630:
627:
614:
610:
604:
601:
588:
584:
578:
576:
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
564:
560:
556:
542:
538:
531:
529:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
511:
498:
494:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
471:
469:
467:
465:
461:
454:
452:
450:
446:
441:
435:Personal life
434:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
410:
405:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
379:
377:
375:
370:
368:
367:Foundation 41
364:
360:
356:
352:
347:
341:
339:
337:
331:
324:
322:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
299:rhesus factor
296:
291:
287:
283:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
254:
251:
249:
245:
239:
237:
233:
225:
223:
221:
217:
213:
205:
200:
198:
196:
192:
188:
185:, graduating
184:
180:
176:
171:
169:
160:
158:
156:
152:
147:
143:
134:
127:
124:
123:
121:
117:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
66:
62:
47:
43:
38:
29:
26:
22:
779:
773:
767:
761:
755:
748:
727:. Retrieved
723:Daily Mirror
722:
713:
701:. Retrieved
696:
687:
675:. Retrieved
670:
635:
629:
617:. Retrieved
612:
603:
591:. Retrieved
586:
554:
545:. Retrieved
540:
501:. Retrieved
496:
445:hypertension
442:
438:
415:(1955), the
406:
383:
371:
348:
345:
332:
328:
311:pathogenesis
295:blood groups
278:
255:
252:
240:
235:
229:
216:tuberculosis
212:hypertension
209:
206:World War II
172:
164:
141:
140:
119:Institutions
112:
69:(1983-07-20)
67:20 July 1983
32:Robert Walsh
25:
801:1983 deaths
796:1917 births
747:R. Winton,
380:Recognition
338:professor.
286:New Guinean
266:blood group
220:blood serum
80:Nationality
790:Categories
455:References
282:Aboriginal
96:Occupation
83:Australian
51:1917-01-03
774:Pathology
232:Red Cross
191:residency
187:MB and BS
88:Education
449:lymphoma
336:emeritus
307:albinism
729:9 March
703:4 March
677:4 March
619:9 March
593:4 March
547:5 March
503:4 March
315:anaemia
758:(2001)
751:(1999)
642:
409:Fellow
297:, the
262:Oxford
244:plasma
201:Career
374:NHMRC
248:serum
731:2024
705:2024
679:2024
640:ISBN
621:2024
595:2024
549:2024
505:2024
317:and
288:and
246:and
214:and
64:Died
45:Born
613:Sun
313:of
236:BTS
193:at
792::
721:.
695:.
669:.
654:^
611:.
585:.
562:^
539:.
513:^
495:.
463:^
431:.
284:,
146:AC
37:AC
707:.
681:.
648:.
597:.
551:.
507:.
53:)
49:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.