John Webster FRCOG (born 4 July 1936) is an English

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

and

gynaecologist Gynaecology or gynecology (see American and British English spelling differences) is the area of medicine concerned with conditions affecting the female reproductive system. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, which focuses on pre ...

. Present at the world's first

in vitro fertilisation In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation in which an ovum, egg is combined with spermatozoon, sperm in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating the Ovulation cycle, ovulatory process, then removing ...

(IVF) birth,

Louise Brown Louise Joy Brown (born 25 July 1978) is an English woman noted as the first human born following conception by in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Her birth, following a procedure pioneered in Britain, has been lauded among "the most remarkable medic ...

, Webster has continued to develop and further research in the field of IVF.

Life and career

Webster graduated from

University of Liverpool The University of Liverpool (abbreviated UOL) is a Public university, public research university in Liverpool, England. Founded in 1881 as University College Liverpool, Victoria University (United Kingdom), Victoria University, it received Ro ...

in 1960, gaining an

MB ChB A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (; MBBS, also abbreviated as BM BS, MB ChB, MB BCh, or MB BChir) is a medical degree granted by medical schools or universities in countries that adhere to the United Kingdom's higher education tradi ...

. From 1960 to 1963, he was a House Officer at

Clatterbridge Hospital Clatterbridge Hospital is a general hospital located on Clatterbridge Health Park in Bebington, Wirral, England. It is managed by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. History The hospital has its origins in the accommod ...

in Liverpool. From 1963 to 1964, he was the Senior House Officer to Mr

Patrick Steptoe Patrick Christopher Steptoe CBE FRS (9 June 1913 – 21 March 1988) was an English obstetrician and gynaecologist and a pioneer of fertility treatment. Steptoe was responsible with biologist and physiologist Robert Edwards and the nurse and ...

. From 1964 to 1974, Webster practised in Canada. From 1974 to 1980, he was a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology and infertility as

registrar A registrar is an official keeper of records made in a register. The term may refer to: Education * Registrar (education), an official in an academic institution who handles student records * Registrar of the University of Oxford, one of the sen ...

consultant A consultant (from "to deliberate") is a professional (also known as ''expert'', ''specialist'', see variations of meaning below) who provides advice or services in an area of specialization (generally to medium or large-size corporations). Cons ...

to Mr Patrick Steptoe at

Oldham General Hospital The Royal Oldham Hospital is a NHS hospital in the Coldhurst area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It is managed by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. The hospital has its own volunteer-run radio station, Radio Cavell, which ...

. It was during this time that Webster was involved with early pioneering research into

in vitro fertilization In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation in which an egg is combined with sperm in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating the ovulatory process, then removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) from ...

with Patrick Steptoe and

Bob Edwards Robert Alan Edwards (May 16, 1947 – February 10, 2024) was an American broadcast journalist who was a Peabody Award-winning member of the National Radio Hall of Fame. He hosted both of National Public Radio's flagship news programs, the after ...

. He was also awarded his MRCOG during this period. Webster was present at the birth of

(world's first IVF baby, born 25 July 1978) and assisted Patrick Steptoe with the delivery. In 1980, Webster was invited by Steptoe and Edwards to establish with them the world's first IVF clinic at Bourn Hall. Webster served as Deputy Medical Director at Bourn Hall from 1980 to 1985. In 1985 Webster established an IVF Unit (

CARE Fertility Care may refer to: Organizations and projects * CARE (New Zealand), Citizens Association for Racial Equality, a former New Zealand organisation * CARE (England) West Midlands, Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency team, a team of doctors & p ...

) at the Park Hospital in Nottingham, the sixth unit in the UK, and the first in the Midlands. He served there as a Medical Director from 1985 to July 2006. He was also present at the opening of the new purpose built building which houses CARE Fertility in Nottingham, and is named after him, John Webster House. In 1988 Webster was elected a Fellow of the

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is a professional association based in London, United Kingdom. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, that is ...

References

Publications

# IN VITRO FERTILISATION - Past Present Future Edited by S. Fishel and E. M. Symonds (IRL Press 1986)

External links

IVF A miracle - Then Cheese On ToastIVF Centre & Fertility Clinic
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, John 1936 births Living people British obstetricians British gynaecologists Alumni of the University of Liverpool In vitro fertilisation Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists