Palmer Lecture
ADVANCES IN PARATHYROID SURGERY
John Palmer
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John Angus Palmer was
a faculty member of the
Department of Surgery at
University of Toronto and
the Division of General
Surgery at the Toronto
General Hospital. He practiced
as a Surgical Oncologist
until his untimely demise
in 1984. He had a broad
range of interests including
Endocrine Surgery and
Gastrointestinal Malignancy. He was a master surgeon,
an astounding technician, a thoughtful and sage clinician
and a gifted teacher. A lectureship was established
in 1985 by his friends, family, former students, patients,
and medical colleagues as a tribute to his life and
memory.
Gerard Doherty, Professor of Surgery and Head, Section
of Endocrine Surgery at University of Michigan, delivered
this year’s John Palmer Memorial Lecture on Friday
April 1st, 2001. Dr Doherty reviewed the history of discovery
of disease of the parathyroid glands and provided
an overview of current treatment options as well as challenges.
He then discussed
the fascinating topic of tissue
engineering, and the
potential use of stem cells to
grow parathyroid glands in
vitro. The parathyroid cells
grown in his laboratory are
responsive to calcium levels
and produce functioning
parathyroid hormone in
response to hypocalcemia.
He reviewed the progress
made in research in this area in his
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Gerard Doherty
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own and other laboratories
and described how it will be possible, in the near
future, to produce functional, transplantable human
syngeneic parathyroid tissue to replace function in those
unfortunate individuals who have lost their own glands
due to disease or surgery. Hypoparathyroidism is an
uncommon but devastating disability which at present
can only be managed, with difficulty, by large doses of
Calcium and Vitamin D, leaving the sufferer with wild
fluctuations in serum calcium levels and severe symptoms
including possible tetany.
After the lecture, Gerard Doherty met with individual
faculty members and conducted a spirited endocrine
oncology tumour board
with residents from the
General Surgery and ENT
programs, the highlight of
his visit. John Palmer would
have been proud.
Lorne Rotstein
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We would like to thank
Gerard Doherty for taking
the time from his busy
schedule to visit here and
bring us up to date on his
exciting work.
Lorne Rotstein
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