Geoffrey Donald Oates

Geoffrey Donald Oates (Intercalated BSc Anatomy & Physiology, 1950, MBChB Medicine, 1953) was born on 16 May 1929, in Wolsingham, County Durham. Not only did he excel academically, but he also demonstrated exceptional prowess in various sports during his school years. During his university studies, both undergraduate and postgraduate, Geoffrey earned numerous prizes and accolades, including a First Class Honours, Intercalated Degree in Anatomy and Physiology from the University of Birmingham in 1950. He completed his medical training in Birmingham and pursued postgraduate surgical training, establishing a lifelong surgical career in the same city. Over the years, he held multiple roles, including Consultant Surgeon and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, and a six-year tenure as Chairman of the Division of Surgery at United Birmingham Hospitals.

Throughout his career, Geoffrey remained deeply committed to the field of surgical oncology. His interest in cancer treatment was sparked during a research fellowship and instructorship with Professor Warren Cole at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where he focussed on experimental and clinical aspects of tumour metastases. Geoffrey was among the first surgeons in England to advocate for ‘surgical oncology’ - optimal surgery and multidisciplinary care for cancer patients, particularly those with breast and colorectal cancer.

Geoffrey played a pivotal role in founding several organisations, including the oncology section of the Royal Society of Medicine, the British Association of Surgical Oncology and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI). He served as the inaugural President of the ACPGBI in 1990, shaping it into a prominent international force in colon and rectal disease management. His vision for the association included the inclusion of all medical specialties involved in coloproctology and fostering collaboration across the British Isles.

Beyond his professional achievements, Geoffrey was an accomplished athlete, particularly excelling in cricket, hockey, squash and skiing. However, his true passion lay in football, where he distinguished himself as a goalkeeper for the University of Birmingham First XI and various other teams, including the Corinthian Casuals, with whom he reached the Amateur Cup Final. Geoffrey served as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps during his National Service in Korea and Japan, where he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, later cured by streptomycin, albeit with permanent high-tone deafness due to streptomycin-induced toxicity. Despite this disability, Geoffrey approached life with resilience and a sense of humour, often humorously referring to his ’selective hearing loss‘ when needed.

Geoffrey is survived by his second wife, Liz, who he married in 1973, and his children from his first marriage, John and Sue, along with his grandchildren Polly and Henry. Inspired by her late husband’s passion for surgical oncology and bowel cancer, Liz decided to give a gift to the University of Birmingham in his memory. This very generous gift has gone towards Professor Andrew Beggs’ research into colorectal cancer. It has funded a flow cytometer machine which is used to analyse characteristics of cells or particles and is vital for this research. Liz visited Professor Beggs’ laboratory and was touched to see a plaque in memory of her husband installed on the machine.

Through Liz’s gift, Geoffrey’s legacy in surgical oncology continues to impact cancer care in the UK and worldwide. Professor Beggs and his team are doing incredible work and saving the lives of many people in Birmingham and beyond. Though his physical presence is missed, his achievements endure and will continue to thrive; a testament to his lasting contributions to the field.