Speaker: Dr Ken McHardy, retired Consultant Diabetologist NHSG.
Ken McHardy was born in Aberdeen in May 1955, firstborn of a mixed marriage; his mother, a toonser, and father, a teuchter, had been denied opportunities to improve on the family’s scant educational heritage courtesy of Hitler’s disruptions. Via Rosewood Infants and Kirkhill Primary, Ken’s learning potential accelerated from 1964 at Aberdeen Grammar School. Nine years later he was entering the University of Aberdeen headed for a medical career and graduated MB ChB in 1978. After house jobs, he trained as a hospital general physician in Aberdeen and Inverness. Sub-specialisation in diabetes included a national research scholarship at the Rowett Institute, leading to an MD in 1990.
Appointed consultant with NHS Grampian in 1993, Ken practised acute/general medicine until 2007 and diabetes until retiring in 2015. An interest in medical education led to a parallel career in postgraduate training, including 13 years as Associate Dean.
In retirement, he has been researching, writing and presenting on Macleod and Lawrence, thus promoting Aberdeen’s major involvement in the discovery and early use of insulin. A MedChi member for 30 years, Ken served 8 years on Council, was President (2012/13) and Honorary Secretary (2015-18); he continues to make regular contributions to Society activities.
