Donald Singer
{{Short description|British pharmacologist (1954–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox medical person
|name = Donald Singer
|birth_date = {{birth date|1954|8|20|df=y}}
|birth_place = Forres, Morayshire, Scotland
|death_date = {{death date and age|2022|6|11|1954|8|20|df=y}}
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|field = {{ubl|Clinical pharmacology|Therapeutics}}
|work_institutions = Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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Donald Robert James Singer (20 August 1954 – 11 June 2022) was a British clinical pharmacologist who was the president of the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.
Biography
He was born in Forres, Scotland and attended schools in Iraq, Bahrain, and Scotland. He died on 11 June 2022, at the age of 67.{{cite web |title=Obituary: Donald R.J. Singer |url=https://bihsoc.org/obituary-donald-r-j-singer/ |website=BIHS |date=13 June 2022 |access-date=24 June 2022}}
Medical career
Singer was awarded Bachelor of Medical Biology and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degrees from the University of Aberdeen in 1975 and 1978 respectively, followed by the MD degree in 1995. He served as senior lecturer/consultant and then reader at St George's Hospital Medical School from 1996 to 2003, having previously trained at the Aberdeen Teaching Hospitals, Hammersmith Hospital, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, and the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. While at St George's, he held honorary research posts at the Harefield Heart Science Centre, a research facility of the National Heart and Lung Institute, a Division of the Faculty of Medicine of Imperial College. He was appointed professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics at the graduate medical school of the University of Warwick in 2003. In 2007, Singer was elected president of the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine. In 2014 he was on the Faculty of Yale University School of Medicine.
Medical activities
His interests included new approaches to personalising medicine, chemical and genomic research for the discovery of medicines and their harmful effects,Paul C. Taylor, Andrew J. Clark, Andrew Marsh, Donald R. J. Singer and Suzanne J. Dilly. A Chemical Genomics Approach to Identification of Interactions between Bioactive Molecules and Alternative Reading Frame Proteins" Chemical Communications 2013;49: 9588-9590(DOI: 10.1039/C3CC44647F). http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2013/CC/C3CC44647F#!divAbstract{{cite journal |vauthors=Marsh A, Casey-Green K, Probert F, Withall D, Mitchell DA, Dilly SJ, James S, Dimitri W, Ladwa SR, Taylor PC, Singer DR | date = Feb 2016 | title = Simvastatin Sodium Salt and Fluvastatin Interact with Human Gap Junction Gamma-3 Protein | journal = PLOS ONE| volume = 11 | issue = 2| page = e0148266 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0148266 | pmid = 26863535 | pmc=4749215| bibcode = 2016PLoSO..1148266M | doi-access = free }} prevention and treatment of hypertensionCheema E, Sutcliffe P, Singer DR. The impact of interventions by pharmacists
in community pharmacies on control of hypertension: a systematic review and
meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Jun 26.
doi: 10.1111/bcp.12452. and other disorders of the heart and circulation, and public understanding of health.A pharmacologist on Side Effects: The Guardian, Monday 25 March 2013. http://m.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/mar/25/pharmacologist-another-view-side-effects He is a co-author of the Pocket Prescriber,TRJ Nicholson and DRJ Singer. Pocket Prescriber 2013. Taylor-Francis. {{ISBN|1444180649}}. http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781444180640Anthony Brown, TRJ Nicholson and DRJ Singer. Pocket Prescriber - Emergency Medicine 2013. Taylor-Francis. 2013. {{ISBN|1444176641}}. http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781444176643 a paper and electronic guide on safe and effective use of medicines for health students and prescribers, in publication with 8 editions since 2004.
Singer was active on many medical and professional committees, including for the British Hypertension Society,{{cite web |url=http://www.bhsoc.org/ |title=British Hypertension Society |publisher=Bhsoc.org |access-date=2012-04-13 |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803041325/http://bhsoc.org/ |url-status=dead }} the London Hypertension Society (president 1990–2002),{{cite journal | author = Singer DRJ | year = 1995 | title = Introduction to New themes in hypertension. re Proceedings of the 6th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society | url = http://www.nature.com/jhh/index.html | journal = Journal of Human Hypertension | volume = 9 | pages = 634–4 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Singer DR, Hughes AD | year = 1996 | title = Introduction to New themes in hypertension. Proceedings of the 7th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society | journal = Journal of Human Hypertension | volume = 10 | pages = 375–6 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Singer DR, Cappuccio FP, Hughes AD | year = 1997 | title = New themes in hypertension: introduction. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society | journal = Journal of Human Hypertension | volume = 11 | issue = 9| pages = 551–552 | doi=10.1038/sj.jhh.1000530| doi-access = free }}Singer, DRJ, Cappuccio, FP, Hughes, AD. "New themes in hypertension. 9th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society. Journal of Human Hypertension 1999{{cite journal | vauthors = ((Singer DRJ)), Cappuccio FP, Hughes AD, Carter ND | year = 2000 | title = New themes in hypertension. 10th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society | journal = Journal of Human Hypertension | volume = 14 | page = 359 }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Singer DR, Cappuccio FP, Hughes AD | year = 2000 | title = New themes in hypertension. 11th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society | url = http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/704955/description#description | journal = NMCD | volume = 10 | page = 223 }}Singer DRJ; Cappuccio FP; Carter ND; Hughes AD. New horizons in cardiovascular disease. 12th Annual Symposium of the London Hypertension Society. NMCD. 2001;11;285-286. the British Pharmacological Society, the West Midlands Physicians Association,{{cite web|url=http://www.wmpa.org.uk |title=Home |publisher=WMPA |access-date=2012-04-13}} the European Union of Medical Specialists,{{cite web|author=Qball Internet Solutions Alkmaar |url=http://www.uems.net/ |title=European Union of Medical Specialists - powered by: Qball Internet Solutions© |publisher=UEMS |access-date=2012-04-13}} the European Association of Internal Medicine,{{cite web|author=EFIM |url=http://www.efim.org |title=European Federation of Internal Medicine - Latest news |publisher=EFIM |access-date=2012-04-13}} and the European Federation of Internal Medicine. He was a co-founder and associate editor of the European Journal of Internal Medicine.{{cite journal|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09536205 |title=European Journal of Internal Medicine | Vol 23, Iss 3, Pgs e75-e84, 197-292, (April, 2012) |access-date=2012-04-13}}{{failed verification|date=July 2012}} He was a former advisory panel member for the National Health Service Health Technology Assessment Programme, for the Pharmaceuticals Panel,{{cite web |url=http://www.hta.ac.uk/about/people/panels/php.shtml |title=Pharmaceutical Panel (PHP) : NIHR HTA programme |publisher=Hta.ac.uk |access-date=2012-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313190027/http://www.hta.ac.uk/about/people/panels/php.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} and for the Primary Care, Community and Preventive Interventions Panel,HTA Primary Care, Community and Preventive Interventions Panel http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hta/our-people an executive committee member of the British Microcirculation Society,Website of the British Microcirculation Society: http://www.microcirculation.org.uk/ secretary of the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and former member of council and co-chair (2011–2013) of the Committee of Heads of Pharmacology and Therapeutics of the British Pharmacological Society.{{cite web|url=http://www.eacpt.org/?q=node/9 |title=Executive Committee Members | European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics |publisher=Eacpt.org |access-date=2012-05-13}} He was a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society and an honorary Fellow of the Finnish Society for Internal Medicine and the European Federation of Internal Medicine. He was chair of the advisory board of Health Policy and TechnologyWebsite for Health Policy and Technology http://www.healthpolicyandtechnology.org/ and a consulting editor for Clinical TherapeuticsWebsite for Clinical Therapeutics http://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/home{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was a member of the Healthcare Professionals' Working Party of the European Medicines Agency.Healthcare Professionals' Working Party of the European Medicines Agency. http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/contacts/CHMP/people_listing_000032.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac0580028dd3 He has worked as a clinical pharmacologist on the Human Resources for Health Programme for Rwanda{{cite web |url=http://www.hrhconsortium.moh.gov.rw/ |title=Home |website=hrhconsortium.moh.gov.rw}} advising on systems for pharmacovigilance and organizing an International Symposium on Medicines and Patient Safety held in Kigali in November 2014 in partnership with Pharmacology for Africa{{cite web |url=http://www.iuphar-africa.org/ |title=Home |website=iuphar-africa.org |access-date=26 November 2014 |archive-date=9 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109154621/http://iuphar-africa.org/ |url-status=dead }} and IUPHAR.{{cite web|url=http://medicinessafety.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/plans-announced-for-a-rwanda-society-of-pharmacology/|title=Plans announced for a Rwanda Society of Pharmacology|work=Medicines and patient safety|date=7 November 2014}}
Poetry and medicine
He was co-founder in 2009 with Michael Hulse of the Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine for UK NHS-related poets and the International Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine.{{cite journal |author1=Singer D.R.J. |author2=Hulse M.W. | year = 2010 | title = Poetry, medicine, and the International Hippocrates Prize | journal = The Lancet | volume = 375 | issue = 9719| pages = 976–977 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60427-8 |pmid=20333814 |s2cid=28603503 | doi-access = free }}Hulse M, Singer D, eds. The Hippocrates Prize 2010. The winning and commended poems. The Hippocrates Prize in association with Top Edge Press, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-9545495-5-8}}.Hulse M, Gunne S, Singer D, eds. The Hippocrates Prize 2011. The winning and commended poems. The Hippocrates Prize, 2011. Singer, Michael Hulse and Sorcha Gunne won the 2011 Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts for the Hippocrates poetry and medicine initiative.{{cite magazine|last=Cunnane |first=Sarah |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=418247&c=1 |title=Sheffield named 'University of the Year' at annual THE Awards |magazine=Times Higher Education |access-date=2012-04-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/warwick_team_inspired/ |title=Warwick team inspired poetry competition wins national award |publisher=.warwick.ac.uk |date=2011-11-28 |access-date=2012-04-13}} This award aims to recognise the collaborative and interdisciplinary work within universities and their external partners to promote the arts.
In 2012, he co-founded with Michael Hulse the international Hippocrates Prize for Young Poets for poetry on a medical theme.Website for the Hippocrates Prize for Young Poets http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/research/csri/research/cpt/poetry/entry-schools
In 2013, he was co-founder with Michael Hulse of the international Hippocrates Society for Poetry and Medicine.Launch of the international Hippocrates Society for Poetry and Medicine. http://hippocrates-poetry.org/news/press-releases-2/science-meets-life-and.html
Since 2017, Open, Health Professional and Young Poet categories are all international in the Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine. The 2017 Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine was held in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Initiative of Harvard Medical School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2017/may/29/poem-of-the-week-it-will-make-a-fine-hospital-andrew-dimitri#comments|title = Poem of the week: It Will Make a Fine Hospital by Andrew Dimitri|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 29 May 2017}}Hulse M, Singer D, eds. The Hippocrates Prize 2017. The winning and commended poems. The Hippocrates Press, 2017. {{ISBN|978-0-9935911-0-5}}.
Other interests
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He was formerly a trustee of the Richmond Orchestra (London)Website for the Richmond Orchestra http://www.richmondorchestra.org.uk/{{failed verification|date=October 2013}} and Ealing Junior Music School (London).Website for Ealing Junior Music School http://www.ejms.org.uk/{{failed verification|date=October 2013}} In 2010 he co-founded the "Healthy Heart Awards" for schools and colleges.{{Cite web|url=http://hippocrates-poetry.org/healthy-heart-poetry/healthy-heart-awards.html|title = Healthy Heart Awards | Hippocrates Initiative for Poetry and Medicine | Donald RJ Singer}} The inaugural 2011 Healthy Heart Awards were organised by the Cardiovascular Research Trustwebsite for the Cardiovascular Research Trust {{cite web |url=http://www.cvrt.org.uk/ |title=CVRT - Home |access-date=2011-07-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402083135/http://www.cvrt.org.uk/ |archive-date=2 April 2011 }}{{failed verification|date=October 2013}} and supported by "Heads, Teachers and Industry". Selected healthy heart poetry entered from 19 schools for the 2013 and the 2014 Healthy Heart Awards was published in the Love your Heart anthology.Love your Heart. An anthology of poems by children for children about heart health. Edited by Wendy French and Rebecca Goss with notes on heart health by Donald Singer. 64 pages. Published by The Hippocrates Press, London: 4 December 2014: {{ISBN|978-0-9572571-4-6}}.
See also
References
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Category:21st-century British medical doctors