The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, more commonly known by its acronym RSTMH, was founded in 1907 by Sir
James Cantlie
Sir James Cantlie (17 January 1851 – 28 May 1926) was a British physician. He was a pioneer of first aid, which in 1875 was unknown: even the police had no knowledge of basic techniques such as how to stop serious bleeding and applying splin ...
and
George Carmichael Low
George Carmichael Low (14 October 1872 – 31 July 1952) was a Scottish parasitologist.
Biography
He was born in Monifieth, Forfarshire, Scotland, the son of Samuel Miller Low, a manufacturer of flax machinery, and educated at Madras Coll ...
. Sir
Patrick Manson
Sir Patrick Manson (3 October 1844 – 9 April 1922) was a Scottish physician who made important discoveries in parasitology, and was a founder of the field of tropical medicine.
He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with degrees in Ma ...
, the Society's first President (1907–1909), was recognised as "the father of
tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or are more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions.
Physicians in this field diagnose and tr ...
" by his biographer.
He passed the post on to Sir
Ronald Ross
Sir Ronald Ross (13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932) was a British medical doctor who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on the transmission of malaria, becoming the first British Nobel laureate, and the f ...
(president 1909–1911), discoverer of the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria.
The objectives of RSTMH are "to promote and advance the study, control and prevention of diseases in man and other animals in the tropics and sub-tropics, facilitate discussion and exchange of information among those who are interested in tropical diseases and international health, and generally to promote the work of those interested in these objectives".
In 1920,
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
George was born during the reign of his pa ...
gave his permission for RSTMH to use the Royal prefix.
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
was
patron
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...
of the society and the
Princess Royal
Princess Royal is a substantive title, title customarily (but not automatically) awarded by British monarchs to their eldest daughters. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal famil ...
is an Honorary Fellow.
Location
In 2011 the Society moved from Manson House, 26 Portland Place, London, to its current premises in Northumberland House, 303-306 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7JZ
Journals
RSTMH publishes two peer reviewed journals, ''
'' and ''
International Health
International health, also called ''geographic medicine'', '' international medicine'', or ''global health'', is a field of health care, usually with a public health emphasis, dealing with health across regional or national boundaries. One subset ...
''.
Awards and medals
RSTMH awards the
Chalmers Medal
The Chalmers Medal is the major mid-career award of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The Chalmers Medal was initially awarded biennially, then annually, "in recognition of research of outstanding merit contributing to our knowl ...
and
Donald Mackay Medal
The Donald Mackay Medal is awarded for outstanding work in tropical health, especially relating to improvements in the health of rural or urban workers in the tropics. It is named after Donald Mackay, who was deputy Director of the Ross Institute ...
annually and the
Manson Medal The Manson Medal (full name Sir Patrick Manson Medal, originally the Manson Memorial Medal), named in honour of Sir Patrick Manson, is the highest accolade the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awards. Started in 1923, it is awarded tr ...
, the
George Macdonald Medal and the
Sir Rickard Christophers Medal triennially.
Five special Centenary Medals were awarded in 1907, two for lifetime achievement and three for special achievement by an under-45 year old.
Presidents
A complete list of presidents and their inaugural presidential addresses
[''Presidential addresses of the RSTMH'' retrieved from http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/trstmh/presidential_addresses.html on 27 January 2014] can be found on the ''Transactions'' website.
References
External links
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{{authority control
Health in the London Borough of Camden
Medical associations based in the United Kingdom
Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden
Organisations based in London with royal patronage
Organizations established in 1907
1907 establishments in the United Kingdom
Tropical medicine organizations