Background
Alexander Wiseman MacAra was born on 4 May 1932 in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Both his father and grandfather were Presbyterian ministers. Marion, his mother, was a civil servant.
educator public health physician
Alexander Wiseman MacAra was born on 4 May 1932 in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. Both his father and grandfather were Presbyterian ministers. Marion, his mother, was a civil servant.
Bachelor of Medicine, ChB, University Glasgow, Scotland, 1958. Diploma in public health, University London, 1960. Dr PH (honorary), University Athens, 1992.
Doctor of Science (honorary), University Athens, 1998.
When he was six years old, MacAra was treated for paratyphoid fever, acute appendicitis and whooping cough. Growing up he witnessed the public health affects of the slums in Glasgow as well as the health problems of the dockers and miners. He went on to gain a Department of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 1960.
1963 - 1997 Lecturer in Public Health, and later Consultant Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Bristol University 1960s Founding member and subsequently Head of Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, Bristol University From 1993 - 1998 MacAra was the chair of the ruling council of British Medical Association (British Medical Association).
He was consultant to the World Health Organisation (for over 20 years ), and he was president of the National Heart Forum. He played a key role in smoking ban in public places which was introduced in 2007.
In 2009 he called for the MMR vaccine to be made compulsory following an unfounded health scare which resulted in a fall in the take up rate of the vaccine within the United Kingdom. British Medical Association (British Medical Association) Link 1 Link 2 British Broadcasting Corporation Link Scottish Herald Link The Telegraph The Guardian Link Bristol University Link Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) Perspectives in Public Health (journal) Link.
Elder United Reformed Presbyterian Church. Fellow Royal College Physicians Edinburgh, Royal College Physicians London, Faculty Public Health Medicine, Royal College General Practitioners, Faculty Occupational Medicine. Member British Medical Association (chairman representative body 1988-1992, chairman council 1993-1998, James Preston Memorial award 1993), Society Public Health (Public Health award 1992, John Kershaw award 1994, BMA Gold medal 1999, Andrija Stampar medal 2002), Athenaeum Club.
Married Sylvia May Williams, April 2, 1964. Children: Alexandra Sarah, James William.