P007746 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2025-06-19 human Helen Cohn updated 2025-10-28 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007746b.htm person Blackburn Charles Ruthven Bickerton AC FRACP AACR2 Blackburn, Ruthven 7 May 1913 12 April 2016 Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death sydney, New South Wales, Australia Medical scientist University Administrator Ruthven Blackburn was an eminent physician and considered to be the pioneer of clinical research at the University of Sydney. During his time as Bosch Professor of Medicine at the University, significant advances were made in the fields of respiratory medicine (particularly asthma), immunology, metabolic diseases and community medicine. He established key academic and research posts to which he appointed highly competent staff. Blackburn was also committed to the development of both academic departments in teaching hospitals and a strong research-orientated academic group on campus, with strong links between the two. Many of his students became professors, and heads of clinical and research departments. Before joining the University he served with the Australian Army Medical Corps during WWII. As Commanding Officer of the Medical Research Unit in Cairns he worked closely with Neil Fairley on the treatment of malaria. Between 1949 and 1957 Blackburn was Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Under his directorship the Unit became a centre of cutting-edge work in blood diseases, liver disorders and clinical biochemistry. Blackburn's own research was on liver disease: his published output was over 90 papers. The Ruthven Blackburn Medal is awarded in alternate years by the University of Sydney School of Medicine to recognise sustained, distinguished and notable contribution to clinical research and a demonstrated commitment to mentoring junior colleagues by a senior of member of the School. 1936 1936 Education - MB BS (hons), University of Sydney 1937 1940 Career position - Resident Medical Officer, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 1939 1939 Education - MD, University of Sydney 1940 1946 Military service - Served with the Australian Army Medical Corps 1947 1949 Career position - Rockefeller Foundation Fellow, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A. 1949 1956 Career position - Director, Clinical Research Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 1949 1978 Career position - Physician, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 1953 2016 Education - Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1956 2016 Education - Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, London 1957 1978 Career position - Bosch Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney 1957 1983 Career position - Physician, Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney 1959 1971 Career position - Member of Council, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1961 1984 Career position - Member, Board of Directors, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 1969 1974 Career position - Member of the Senate, University of Sydney 1970 1984 Career position - Chairman, Australian Tobacco Research Foundation 1971 1972 Career position - President, Gastroenterology Society of Australia 1978 1978 Career event - Retired 1979 1979 Award - Hamilton Fairley Medal, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1984 1984 Award - Royal Australasian College of Physicians Medal 1984 1985 Career position - Chairman, Board of Directors, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 1991 1991 Award - MD honoris causa, University of Sydney 26 Jan 2006 26 Jan 2006 Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for service to the development of academic medicine and medical education in Australia, particularly in relation to the evolving relationship between research and clinical practice, and as a mentor influencing the professional development of a generation of leading health care professionals Fairley, Neil Hamilton (1891 - 1966) Blackburn, Charles Bickerton (1874 - 1972) The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Bosch Professor and, Head, Department of Medicine 1957 - 1978; Member of the Senate 1969 - 1974

 Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (1882 - )

Director, Clinical Research Unit 1949 - 1956; Chairman, Board of Directors 1984 - 1985

 Neil Hamilton Fairley Medal, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1969 - )

Awarded the Medal 1979

 Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) (1938 - )

Member of Council 1959 - 1971; awarded the College's Medal 1984

 Gastroenterological Society of Australia (1959 - )

President 1971 - 1972

 Woolcock, Ann Janet (1937 - 2001)

Ruthven and Anne were husband and wife

 'Blackburn, Charles Ruthven Bickerton (Ruthven)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Blackburn, Charles Ruthven Bickerton (Ruthven) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book Section: Wade, Sir Robert Blakeway (1874-1954), orthopaedic surgeon Blackburn, C. R. B. Wade, Sir Robert Blakeway (1874-1954), orthopaedic surgeon Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1990 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 12: 1891 - 1939 Smy-Z John Ritchie 343-344 Book Section: Lambie, Charles George (1891-1961), professor of medicine Blackburn, C. R. B. Lambie, Charles George (1891-1961), professor of medicine Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1983 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 9: 1891 - 1939 Gil-Las Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 651-652 Book Section: Blackburn, Sir Charles Bickerton (1874-1972), physician and university chancellor Blackburn, C. R. B. Blackburn, Sir Charles Bickerton (1874-1972), physician and university chancellor Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1979 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 7: 1891 - 1939 A-Ch Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 308-310 Resource Section: Blackburn, Charles Ruthven Bickerton MD 1939, MD honoris causa 1991 Mellor, Lise and Witton, Vanessa Blackburn, Charles Ruthven Bickerton MD 1939, MD honoris causa 1991 Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive, University of Sydney 2008 University of Sydney School of Medicine Online Museum Resource Section: Charles Ruthven Bickerton Blackburn b. 7 May 1913 d. 12 April 2016 AC (2006), MB BS Sydney (1936), MD (1939), MRCP (1939), MRACP (1940), FRACP (1953), FRCP (1956), Hon MD Sydney (1991), Hon MD Newcastle Charles Ruthven Bickerton Blackburn b. 7 May 1913 d. 12 April 2016 AC (2006), MB BS Sydney (1936), MD (1939), MRCP (1939), MRACP (1940), FRACP (1953), FRCP (1956), Hon MD Sydney (1991), Hon MD Newcastle London Royal College of Physicians 2019 Inspiring physicians Newspaper Article: Professor Ruthven Blackburn - a life spent in service of medicine and his country Garsia, Roger, Blackburn, Simon and Blackburn, Angus Professor Ruthven Blackburn - a life spent in service of medicine and his country 2016 Sydney morning herald 23 May Journal Article: 'Becoming a Man of Experience': Interview with C. Ruthven B. Blackburn Anderson, Warwick 'Becoming a Man of Experience': Interview with C. Ruthven B. Blackburn 2013 Health and History 15 1 118-29 Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 2012 Who's who in Australia 2012 48th Melbourne Crown Content Pty Ltd 2012