W._J._Virgin
William John Virgin
Indian Medical Service Officer & Founding Principal, Dhaka Medical College
William John Virgin (16 December 1905 – 18 October 1997)[1] was a serving Major in the former Indian Medical Service in British India. He was the first Principal of Dhaka Medical College.[2] Virgin was born in Toronto, Canada on 16 December 1905. He served primarily in India and, after its formation, Bangladesh.
William John Virgin | |
---|---|
1st [[Principal]] Dhaka Medical College | |
In office 1 July 1946 – 14 August 1947 | |
Succeeded by | Colonel E. G. Montgomery |
Personal details | |
Born | (1905-12-16)16 December 1905 |
Died | 18 October 1997(1997-10-18) (aged 91) |
Military service | |
Branch/service | Indian Medical Service |
Rank | Major |
The University of Toronto in June 1933 conferred on Virgin the degree Doctor of Medicine.[3]
He was an orthopedic surgeon by profession. He joined the Indian Medical Service, where he was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 August 1933 [on prob], and Captain on 1 August 1934 [on prob] (17/2/36).[1][4] He received a promotion to the post of Major on 1 August 1943.[5] He was posted in Dhaka from 1943 to 1947,[6] where he was appointed as the Civil Surgeon of Dhaka.[7]
Virgin was made the head of the committee to establish a medical college in Dhaka. Dhaka Medical College was started on 10 July 1946, and Virgin was made its founding principal,[8][9][10] as well as the first superintendent of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.[10][11] He also served as the first ever Dean of Faculty of Medicine at the University of Dhaka.[12] On 21 December 1946, Virgin succeeded Major F. H. A. L. Davidson, IMS, as the medical officer of Dhaka Central Jail.[13]
Virgin served as the principal of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital until 14 August 1947. Later, he joined the department of orthopedic surgery of the University of Liverpool as a senior research fellow.[14]
Later in life, he wrote a book on his experience in India titled The India I Knew: Experiences of a Canadian Orthopaedic Surgeon over 50 Years, which was published in 1988.[6]
In 1934, Virgin married Zelma Crone, with whom he had five children. He died in Toronto on 18 October 1997 at the age of 91.
- "History of Dhaka Medical College". Dhaka Medical College. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- University of Toronto Calendar: Faculty of Medicine, 1934-1935. The University of Toronto Press. 1934. pp. 116–117.
- The Monthly Army List. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. July 1935. pp. 895–9.
- Virgin, W. J. (1988). Neely, Lois (ed.). The India I Knew: Experiences of a Canadian Orthopaedic Surgeon over 50 Years. Toronto, ON, Canada: W. J. Virgin.
- Zaman, Habibuz (1999). "Dhaka Medical College: The early years". Seventy years in a shaky subcontinent. London: Janus. p. 135. ISBN 1-85756-405-7. OCLC 43210443.
- "DMC envisions to be one of the best medical institutions in South Asia by 2021 -Prof. Khan Abul Kalam Azad". The Guardian. Dhaka. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- "Sixty Three years of Dhaka Medical College". Star Campus. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- "Local Health Bulletin- 2020". app.dghs.gov.bd. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- "University of Dhaka". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2020-08-11.