I met him first in 1932 when I was appointed to the Chair of Surgery in the University of Aberdeen, and I and mine have had 20 years of unbroken kindness from him and from his. As sometimes happens with the physically afflicted, he seems early in life to have come to terms with his handicap, a process that involves a purifica- tion of the spirit that sets its mark upon a man.
The outward sign of this was an indomitable courage, which refused to accept any restriction upon his riding, the only form of physical exer- cise open to him, and one that he followed with an almost perverse insistence up to the last, an insistence that not infrequently alarmed his friends. As was his habit, he remained entirely if unostentatiously faithful to his horse Redwing, whom he counted as a friend; and it is good to know that a “next-best” home has been found for this remarkable animal, as his rider would have wished. The inward sign was the effortless way in which he immediately established affectionate relationships with most children, and working relationships with even the intractable. To be with him in a children’s ward was always an education in the art of surgery. Before such patients were segregated, he would give me his advice upon orthopedic problems most generously: and—like the man—it was always simple advice, and emi- nently practicable.
Mitchell’s broad education, wide interests and long experience made him a wise counsellor. His opinions were always definite and expressed in the clearest of terms. If the matter were private, one had to be prepared, on occasion, for unpalat- able advice; often enough further reflection showed him to be right. In public matters his complete disinterestedness made his opinions and advice most influential; and I believe that it played a substantial part in the rapid and friction- less establishment of the orthopedic service in the north-east. He was a man who had a mind, and knew it: and he was careful that others knew his mind. But no thought of himself was allowed to influence his views, and he was most generous to his fellows. Only two things disturbed his gener- ally benevolent outlook: sins of omission, and any suspicion of “wangling.” Then there would appear the prophetic malar flushes and the ominous stare, and the culprit would be left in no doubt of Mitchell’s opinion of him.
He was good enough to serve two terms as an examiner in surgery in the University of Edinburgh, and an excellent examiner he was—
simple, direct and eminently fair. The whole staff
looked forward to his arrival; everyone (even, I understand, the “ploughed”) enjoyed meeting him.
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Who’s Who in Orthopedics
George Patrick MITCHELL
1917–1993
George Patrick Mitchell, past president of the British Orthopedic Association, came from a medical background, his father having been a general practitioner in Aberdeenshire. George was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, where he captained the shooting team that won the Ashburton Shield at Bisley, and at Aberdeen University. Soon after graduating in 1940, he became Regimental Medical Officer to the 23rd Hussars and had a distinguished military career, which ended in 1944 when he was wounded in Normandy in an action for which he received the Military Cross. Throughout his life his military experience was evident in his bearing and in his disciplined approach to work and recreation.
His orthopedic training began in Aberdeen after the war and continued at the Nuffield Orthopedic Centre in Oxford. In 1954 he was appointed consultant surgeon to the Royal Infirmary and to the Princess Margaret Rose Hos- pital in Edinburgh, and senior lecturer at Edin- burgh University. J.I.P. James, who came to Edinburgh as professor in 1957, recognized the value of specialization within orthopedics (a rather innovative concept at that time) and encouraged George to develop his interests in
Who’s Who in Orthopedics
pediatric orthopedics, which had been kindled by Joseph Trueta and Edgar Somerville in Oxford.
He established in Edinburgh one of the most suc- cessful neonatal screening programs for congeni- tal dislocation of the hip and acquired an international reputation in the treatment of this disorder.
Perhaps as a result of his experience as one of the early ABC Traveling Fellows in 1954, he rec- ognized the importance of international contacts and exchange of ideas. He became an active member of SICOT, serving as the UK delegate for many years and as congress vice chairman of the SICOT meeting held in London in 1984. For several years after its inception, he served on the editorial board of International Orthopedics, devoting many hours to the translation of papers into English.
George will be remembered as a caring doctor, a teacher and an administrator rather than as an academic. Although he wrote little, each of his papers made a significant contribution. Orthope- dic trainees from many countries vied for the opportunity of an attachment to his unit and he was in great demand as a lecturer throughout the world. His contribution was recognized when he was elected president of the British Orthopaedic Association, holding that office for two terms.
George lived life to the full and found time for a variety of recreational interests. Although he took up skiing late, he perfected an elegant and effective style and was a popular member of the orthopedic ski club. He took great pleasure in introducing his two daughters and his grandchil- dren to the joys of sailing and field sports, which he continued to enjoy until a few weeks before his death. Hazel, whom he met when both were serving in the armed forces, was an enthusiastic partner in all his pursuits; their golden wedding would have been celebrated a few days after his death.
George Patrick Mitchell died on September 2, 1993 after a long illness borne with characteristic courage.
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John Howard MOE
1905–1988
John Moe was born on August 14, 1905, the youngest of six children of Norwegian immi- grants, on a farm not far from Grafton, North Dakota. He was first exposed to English in a single-room schoolhouse, at the age of 6 years.
After completing secondary school, he entered the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks.
He obtained his medical education at Northwestern University, Chicago, during the Depression, and received further orthopedic train- ing in Arkansas, California, and St. Paul. Min- nesota. In St. Paul, he joined Dr. Carl Chatterton, then chief of staff at Gillette Children’s Hospital, in 1933. This was the beginning of his involve- ment with Gillette Children’s Hospital, which continued throughout most of his professional career.
In 1934, Dr. Moe was appointed clinical assis- tant professor at the University of Minnesota. He became professor and director of the Division of Orthopedic Surgery in 1964 and stayed on, as chairman, when departmental status was granted in 1969.
Dr. Moe’s greatest interest and academic con- tributions were in the area of spinal deformities.
His early associations with Dr. Walter Blount, Dr. John Cobb, Dr. George Hammond, Dr. George Garceau, Dr. Claude Lambert, and many others stimulated his interest in and devotion to patients who had scoliosis. Under his direction, a scolio- sis service was established at Gillette Children’s Hospital in 1947, and this served as an early focus
