John Stoke (doctor)

John Charles Jamieson Stoke FFOM, FAFOM, FAFPHM, MCCM MBBS, DIH (1928–2000) was a pioneer in Occupational Medicine in New Zealand, with influence in the Asia/Pacific region.[1] He was Director of Public Health in New Zealand from 1986 to 1987. Some of the details in this article are drawn from notes that he had made in preparation for an autobiography.

Early life and education

John was born on 14 August 1928, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, on the north side of the Thames Estuary. John's father was the son of Polish immigrants who came to England under a church sponsorship scheme in the 1880s. His mother was the daughter of a Scots marine engineer, whose clan (the Jamiesons) came from the area south of Glasgow. His parents met (in London) through church activities and married in 1918. His parents settled in Leigh-on-Sea, close to the mouth of the Thames Estuary.
His upbringing was heavily influenced by three main factors. These were a very strong Presbyterian set of values, his father's work ethic, and the great depression. He remembered going to church and Sunday school and being forced to read books when he wanted to go out and to play. He also clearly remembered the day his father came home from work and told the family that his salary had been cut by 20% as a result of the depression.
When WW2 broke out, the family had to move from Essex for safety reasons, and went to live in Surrey. John had gained a scholarship and went to school at the King Edward 6th Grammar School in Guildford. In 1943, the family returned to Leigh-on-Sea, and John attended the local grammar school – Westcliff.
He sat his matriculation exam in 1944 and repeatedly the exams were interrupted by air raid warnings and trips to the air raid shelters at the school. He passed with distinction in history, Latin, and maths.
In 1946, John was accepted for medical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital in the heart of London. He travelled each day by train from the family home – and recalls walking from the London station to the College past heaps of rubble as high as four-storey buildings, and big holes where bombs and land mines had fallen.

The Zimbabwe years

After graduating John did "house appointments" in hospitals (1952–53), and then became a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy (1953–57). During this time John met Bernice and they were married in 1954.
In 1958, they moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). John initially worked as a general practitioner in rural areas. During this time that he became involved in leprosy work. He trained locals in leprosy treatment, with the result that the leper colonies became unnecessary.
After a period as a GP in Salisbury (Harare), John became Senior Medical Officer in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, and the family moved to Gwelo (Gweru). It was during this time that he developed his interest in Occupational and Preventive Medicine.
In 1969 the family returned to Salisbury, and John became a lecturer in Preventive Medicine at the University of Rhodesia, where he worked until 1976. In 1975 he returned to England on sabbatical, and did post-graduate work in Occupational Medicine.
During this time the political situation in Rhodesia was deteriorating. Faced with the prospect that his elder sons would soon be drafted into the army, he decided to migrate. After applying for several positions around the world, he was offered a position in New Zealand.

The New Zealand years

In 1976, the family migrated to New Zealand, leaving behind the two eldest boys to complete their university studies – Mike in Cape Town and Alan in Salisbury. They settled in Paraparaumu. John initially was Senior Medical Officer with the Ministry of Transport, and then joined the Ministry of Health, with responsibility for Occupational Health.
In 1981 he undertook a World Health Organisation (WHO) fellowship, studying the effect of political and socioeconomic systems on occupational health. The four-month fellowship included visits to Canada, USA, Eire, United Kingdom, USSR and Sweden.
In 1986 he was appointed Director of Public Health in New Zealand. During this time he also did some lecturing in community health at the Wellington branch of Otago Medical School, and was active in the Asia/Pacific branch of the WHO.
In 1987, complications from cataract surgery resulted in his retirement from the Ministry of Health. After some months of convalescence, his vision improved sufficiently for him to work again, and he was appointed co-ordinator of the Occupational Health Task Force of the National Health Institute. He retired again in 1989.
John's work with the World Health Organisation continued after his retirement. He undertook assignments in Western Pacific, China, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea.
He died unexpectedly on 27 July 2000, in Auckland.

In 2001 ANZSOM (NZ) - The Australia & New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine - inaugurated The John Stoke Medal in his honour, as a way of recognising special contributions to occupational medicine by one of its members.

Tertiary education

Year School Qualification
1946–1952 St Bartholomew's Hospital, London M.B.B.S (medicine and surgery)
1975 University of London O.I.H. (occupational health)
1980 Royal College of Physicians, London M.F.O.M. (occupational health)
1980 M.C.C.M. (NZ) Community medicine
1982 Australian College of Occupational Medicine F.A.C.OM. (occupational health)
1983 Royal College of Physicians, London F.F.O.M. (occupational health)

Positions held

Years Position Location
1952–1953 House appointments UK
1953–1957 Surgeon Lieutenant Royal Navy (mainly General Medicine – hospital appointments in R.N.H. Hospitals Plymouth and Portland and Occupational Medicine-Medical Officer 42 Commando) UK (Service in Middle East)
1958–1965 General Medicine with some Occupational Medicine Zimbabwe
1965–1968 Senior Medical Officer and Specialist in Aviation Medicine Royal Rhodesian Air Force Zimbabwe
1969–1976 Senior Lecturer, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine University of Zimbabwe. (The Medical School was initially part of the University of Birmingham UK to which appointments were also made) Zimbabwe
1976–1977 Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Transport New Zealand.
1977–1979 Principal Medical Officer (Occupational Health) – one year, Assistant Director (Occupational Health) – one year, Division of Public Health, Department of Health New Zealand.
1980–1985 Deputy Director (Occupational Health), Division of Public Health, Department of Health New Zealand.
1985–1987 Director, Division of Public Health, Department of Health New Zealand.
1987–1989 Co-ordinator, Occupational Health Task Force, National Health Institute, Kenepuru New Zealand.
1988–1991 Private consultancy New Zealand
1990–1995 Director Training Programme, New Zealand College of Community Medicine

Appointments

Years Position
1969–1976 Honorary Secretary, Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health
1970–1975 Member Rhodesian Occupational Safety Council
1971–1972 Chairman, Rhodesian Occupational Safety Council
1977–1984 Honorary Lecturer Department of Community Health, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago
1980 Temporary Adviser to World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) on Leptospirosis
1981 World Health Organisation Fellowship
1981–1985 Member of Board of Censors, New Zealand College of Community Medicine
1982–1985 Member of Council, New Zealand College of Community Medicine
1982–1984 Member, World Health Organisation Panel of Experts on Public Health, Biomedical Services, and Education
1984–1991 Chairman Aviation Medical Appeal Board
1984–1998 Member, World Health Organisation Panel of Experts on Occupational Health
1985–1988 Member Health Services Committee, Medical Research Council
1985 Chairman, World Health Organisation Review Committee on "Occupational Health-Problems in Agriculture"
1986 Chairman, World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) Review Committee on "Occupational Health Services to Small Industries"
1989 World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) Consultant in Occupational Health to The Peoples Republic of China
1990–1992 World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) Consultant in Occupational Health to the Government of Papua New Guinea
1991 Rapporteur, World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) Regional Working Group on Occupational Health
1991 Convenor, Working Party, Medical and Industrial Issues for Ministerial Committee on Asbestos
1991–1992 Member Medical Council
1991–1992 Chairman Physiotherapy Board
1991–1992 Chairman Occupational Therapy Board
1994 World Health Organisation (Western Pacific Region) Consultant to the Government of Vietnam

Societies

Society Role
International Commission on Occupational Health Member
International Association of Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health Vice-President (from 1984)
Asian Association of Occupational Health Vice-President (1982–1985)
Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine President (1981–1983)
Society of Occupational Medicine Member
British Occupational Hygiene Society Member

Publications, awards and citations

During his lifetime, Stoke published many papers and articles in a wide variety of journals, and gained a number of awards. Among these is one called the Purkinje Medal from the Czechoslovakian Medical Academy; the citation on the certificate accompanying this is in Latin so the circumstances under which he was awarded this are not known.

Year Award
1976 Fellow Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health.
1976 Harry Allen Award by Royal Aeronautical Society, Salisbury Branch.
1984 Purkinje Medal – Czechoslovakian Medical Academy.

He is commemorated by an eponymous medal that is presented annually by the New Zealand branch of ANZSOM to a physician who has displayed leadership in Occupational Medicine.

Publications in refereed journals

Title Publication Issue Date
A case of Glandular Fever with Pulmonary Complications Journal of Royal Naval Medical Service 43 : 3 : 164–165 1957
Commentary on a Conference on Student Health South African Medical Journal 46 : 1840–1841 1972
The Student's Dilemma : Black Magic or White Medicine Proceedings of British Student Health Association 1973 : 68–77 1974
The Prevention of Malnutrition Proceedings of British Student Health Association 1975 : 53–61 1976
Captafol Dermatitis in the Timber Industry Contact Dermatitis 5 : 284–292 1979
Epidemiology of Leptospirosis in Dairy Farm Workers in the Manawatu New Zealand Veterinary Journal 28 245–250 1980
Agricultural Chemicals – How Their Potential Hazards are Controlled Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine 11 3 338 1981
Agricultural Chemicals : How Their Potential Hazards are Controlled in New Zealand Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health 9 1: 12–16 1984
Health For All by the Year 2000 – Achieving the Goal New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy 12: 2 : 30(c)32 1984
Repetitive Strain Injury New Zealand Medical Journal 98 : 783 : 601(c)602 1985 (with Bury H.C.)
Occupational Health (c) Why, Wherefore and Whither New Zealand Health Review 6 : 2-:3 1986
Accidents (c) A Major Public Health Problem Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 1 : 3 : 79(c)85 1987
Occupational Health ; Important or Irrelevant? New Zealand Hospital 48 : 7 : 2–5 1988
The Provision of Occupational Health Services in Agriculture Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health 14 : 1 : 9-11 1990
Problems in Agricultural Health Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health 14 : 1 : 12–16 1990
Ergonomics and Psychosocial Problems Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health 15 : 1 : 16–23 1991
Health for All by the Year 2000 in Rural Areas – A Challenge Agricultural Medicine and Rural Health 19 : 1:11–18 1995

Publications in other journals

Title Publication Issue Date
Blood Groups in Rhodesia The Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 12 no 4 April 1966
The Cervical Headache Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 13 no 11 November 1967
The Student Health Service: University of Rhodesia The Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 16 no 11 November 1970
Swimmer's Nose The Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 17 no 11 November 1971
Danger: food handlers at work Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 1 no 2 April 1974
The age of noise Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 1 no 3 July 1974
The Contribution of Medicine to Aviation Speech to RSOM February 1975
Plumbism in Rhodesia The Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 21 no 6 Jun 1975
Circadian Rhythm Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 2 no 4 October 1975
The fight for quiet The Rhodesia Science News Vol 9 no 11 November 1975
Occupational health hazards in dentistry The Rhodesian Journal of Dentistry No 2 January 1975
The contribution of medicine to aviation Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 3 no 1 January 1976
The East of Scotland Occupational Health Service Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 3 no 2 April 1976
Monitoring in Occupational Health Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 3 no 3 July 1976
The role of the Occupational Health Nurse Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 3 no 3 July 1976
Booze – a word in your ear The Pilots View Vol 15 no 3 December 1976
Prevention of malnutrition Proceedings of British Student Health Association Nottingham July 1976
Metal Fume Fever in Ferro-Chrome Workers The Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 23 no 2 February 1977
Industrial Hygiene Legislation Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 4 no 1 January 1977
What is your job? Rhodesia Physiotherapy Association No 3 January 1977
Drugs youth and society The New Zealand nursing journal July 1977
Uses and hazards of asbestos Occupational Health, the journal of the Rhodesian Society of Occupational Health Vol 4 no 4 January 1978
Captafol dermatitis in the timber industry Contact Dermatitis No 5 1979
Undergraduate occupational health education at the University of Rhodesia Occupational Health Australia & New Zealand Vol 2 no 1 February 1980
Leptospirosis – a preventable occupational disease Journal of the General Practitioner Society No 49 May 1982
Occupational stress NZ Occupational health nurse Summer 1982
The future of occupational health in NZ NZ Occupational health nurse 1983
Health for all by the year 2000 – achieving the goal NZ Journal of Physiotherapy Vol 12 no 2 Aug 1984
Accidents: the modern plague Labour and Employment Gazette Vol 36 no 3 September 1986
Occupational health services in New Zealand: an overview WHO report from the Regional seminar on Occupational Health Services in Small-Scale industries Singapore August 1986
Occupational Health as related to Printing The official journal of the New Zealand occupational health nurses association No 16 Winter 1986
Occupational Health – Why, Wherefore and Whither New Zealand Health Review Vol 6 nos 2 & 3 1986
The prevention of occupational lung disease in New Zealand NZ Occupational health nurse Vol 15 Summer 1986
Occupational health for all by the year 2000 – achieving the goal by the guidelines The official journal of the New Zealand occupational health nurses association Vol 5 no 17 Summer 1987
Occupational health in New Zealand: a review of the current situation WHO report from the Regional Working Group on Occupational Health Manila March 1991
Health for all by the year 2000 in rural areas – a challenge Annals of Agricultural and Environmental medicine Vol 1 no 2 1994

Co-author or citation

The public health implications of growth promoters in food (co-author with John Reeve)
Cited as a member of the Asbestos Advisory Committee (Convenor, Management and Disposal of Asbestos Working Party) in Report of the Asbestos Advisory Committee to the Minister of Labour, April 1991, and in Asbestos exposure and disease – notes for medical practitioners, July 1995
Acknowledged in Occupational Overuse Syndrome, Treatment and Rehabilitation – A Practitioner's Guide He also contributed to many pamphlets issued by the New Zealand Department of Health, relating to occupational health matters.

Family

Wife: Bernice Josephine Stoke, 1928–2007. Children (with years of birth): Mike Stoke (1955), Alan Stoke (1957-2014), Stephen Stoke (1961), John Stoke (1962), Mark Stoke (1967)

References

  1. Agricultural Medicine & Rural Health, vol 20 no 1, 1996, page 10
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