Background
James Ralston Kennedy Paterson, also known as Ralston Paterson or "RP" Paterson was born on 21 May 1897 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
James Ralston Kennedy Paterson, also known as Ralston Paterson or "RP" Paterson was born on 21 May 1897 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
After the War he went back to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and in 1923 awarded Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Latin: Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae) with honors, in 1926 completed FRCSEd, and in 1927 granted the Doctor of Medicine with commendation.
Along with Herbert Parker, pioneered the development of the Paterson-Parker rules for the Radium Dosage System also known as the Manchester system. In 1925 interest with radiology led to DMRE at Cambridge. Paterson went to the Mayo Clinic for a fellowship in radiology.
He received further training in radiotherapy at clinics at the University of Chicago, in Toronto and South Africa.
He returned in 1930 to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as acting director of the radiotherapy department. In 1931, Paterson was appointed as radiotherapy director of the recently combined Holt Radium Institute and Christie Hospital in Manchester.
In November 1943, Paterson was invited by the government of Australia including Queensland and Victoria to assist with the establishment of a cancer institute that would provide medical care and services to the community. The Australian government allocated £100,000 for an institute dedicated to cancer treatment and research, with treatment methodologies to focus on X-ray and Radium.
Paterson retired in 1962 and devoted his efforts to the running of a top-notch cattle and sheep farm at Stenreishill, near Moffat, Scotland.
He died at home in his sleep. British Association of Radiotherapists, president, 1938-1939 Founding member, Faculty of Radiologists President, Faculty of Radiologists, President, 1943-1946 Military Cross, 1917 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Honors, Edinburgh, 1923 DMRE (Cantab), Canterbury, 1924 Doctor of Medicine with Commendation, 1927 FRCSEd, Edinburgh, 1927 FFR, 1938 Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, 1948 Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1950 Professor of Radiotherapy, University of Manchester, 1960 Gold medal, Society of Apothecaries, 1961 President, International Radiological Congress in London, 1950 Gold Medal, Faculty of Radiologists, 1966 Working with Herbert Parker, developed the Paterson-Parker rules for the Radium Dosage System also known as the Manchester system. Paterson Research Laboratory.