John Robinson Marshall (died 8 December 2005)

(Obituary and Appreciation by Dr Helen Marshall)

Dr Jack Marshall could be described as the epitome of the 'quiet achiever' with international recognition in the field of medical education.

Jack was one of four children; three boys who all studied medicine in Ireland and emigrated to the USA and Australia and a sister who became a teacher and who resides in Belfast.

Jack graduated from Queen's in 1955.  He obtained Honours in Anatomy, a Medal in Bacteriology and a Scholarship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  After four years at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast he emigrated to Adelaide with his young family and from 1958 to 1971 worked as a General Practitioner initially at Clearview and then at Glynde.  In 1958 he was appointed as Clinical Assistant in Cardiology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) and in 1992 was made a Senior Visiting Specialist.  His association with the RAH spanned nearly 50 years, and he was still working there as a Senior Visiting Specialist until a few weeks before his death.

Jack was also a prolific author and talented scholar who remained passionate about education and training throughout his medical career.  His publication list was extensive with his most notable achievement the 338 Check programs (Continuous Home Evaluation of Clinical Knowledge, Understanding and Problem Solving) he published in 30 years as Director of Check.  The Check Program is used internationally and continues to present a challenging and unique method of providing continuing education for GPs.  Jack also had four books published on education in General practice.

Jack played a major role in the establishment of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioner's (RACGP) Family Medicine Program and in 2004 was made a Life Fellow of the RACGP in recognition of his enormous contribution to general practice education and the many positions he held in education and training throughout the college .

Jack also achieved extensive international recognition for his expertise in medical education including visiting professorships at Jefferson University, Philadelphia, McMaster's University, Ontario, the School of Medical Education, Southern Illinois Unviersity and at the University of Kebangsaan, Malaysia.  In 1984 he was a consultant to the American Board of Family Practice, in 1985 WHO Consultant to the Government of Myanmar and in 1990 WHO Consultant in Seoul, Korea, Japan and the Peoples' Republic of China.

His commitment to professional excellence culminated in Jack being awarded the Membership of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day's Honours 2002.

Throughout his extensive career he was also a wonderful father and great provider who gave his five children every opportunity to achieve what they wanted in life. Jack moved to live at Victor Harbor eight years ago where he took up painting as a hobby and became a local identity.  He is survived by his brother Bertie (USA), sister May (NI), his children; Peter, David, Helen, Trish and Fiona and 11 grandchildren.

 

 

Back to List

 

 

 

Top of Page