Dr Alphonsus Ligouri D'Abreu

General Notes:Alphonsus (PON) D'Abreu studied at Stonyhurst Jesuit College. Following in his elder brother's footsteps he became the headboy and also graduated in medicine from Birmingham College. He joined the RAMC in WWII and saw active service in Gibralter, North Africa and Italy. After the war he worked for a few years at the Royal Infirmary in Cardiff Wales before returning to Birmingham in 1947 where he became a renowned surgeon and was the Professor of Surgery at the University of Birmingham.

in an article written by John B. Monteiro in Daijiiworld, Professor Alphonsus Ligouri (Pon) D’Abreu is the Unsung Hero of Cardiothoracic Surgery. It is surprising then that even after thirty years following the death of Professor Alphonsus Ligouri D’Abreu there has been no direct attempt to review the practice of such a distinguished thoracic and cardiac surgeon. This is despite the fact that many considered him to be the greatest Birmingham surgeon of his time.British surgery regarded him as an acknowledged leader of international repute and one of Birmingham’s most renowned surgeons.

He was Professor of Cardiac Surgery and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1959-63) and Professor of Surgery (1963-71) in the University of Birmingham, Hunterian Professor, Member of the Court of Examiners and of the Council, and vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, President of the Thoracic Society (1968-69), Visiting Professor of Surgery at Harvard (1967), a Deputy Lieutenant for Warwickshire; honorary Colonel of the Medical Services of the 42nd Division (TA) and Vice President of the Warwickshire County Cricket Club. He was appointed OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1944 and advanced to CBE (Commander) in 1968.