Professor Michael Anthony Hamilton Russell

Abstract

Presents an obituary of Michael Russell (9 March 1932-16 July 2009), the pioneer of tobacco dependence research and effective treatments to help people stop smoking, who has died at the age of 77. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Russell studied medicine at Oxford and Guys Hospital before returning to South Africa in 1959. As a junior doctor at Groote Schuur Hospital he developed an interest in psychiatry after being influenced by its principal psychiatrist, Henry Walton. In particular, Russell’s elegant early study of passive smoking gave rise to disease predictions which are now established through numerous large longitudinal studies. In local health districts during the 1980s, Russell developed and tested a model for a national smoking cessation service in which primary care was supported, effectively, by a few specialists. In his laboratory, Michael Russell was a caring, hands-on leader. He set very high standards for the work of his juniors, but in return gave them the opportunity to learn and take responsibility quickly to advance their careers. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, and two sons, James and Nicholas. An archive of his working papers is maintained by the library at Kings College, London. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)