page_title: Edward McCombie McGirr
section_title: Early life and career
hierarchical_section_title: Edward McCombie McGirr / Early life and career
caption_attribution_description: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, from across Castle Street
context_page_description: Edward McCombie McGirr CBE FRSE was Muirhead professor of medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, a former President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Dean of Faculties at the University of Glasgow.
context_section_description: Born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 15 June 1916 and educated at the prestigious Hamilton Academy school from which he won a bursary to attend the University of Glasgow which he entered in 1934, McGirr graduated BSc in 1937 and MB ChB with honours in 1940.
  Following house posts in medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and in surgery at Glasgow Western Infirmary McGirr entered the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) (1941–46) largely serving overseas, in India, Burma, Siam and Indochina. Brigadier Max Rosenheim (Max Rosenheim, Baron Rosenheim) noted his potential which led to McGirr's promotion to specialist rank (honorary major.) Demobilised in 1947, McGirr returned to the Department of Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he was highly instrumental in the change of the department from a teaching department to one involved in clinical research, this leading to the award of MD with honours and the Bellahouston Medal by Glasgow University.
caption: Glasgow Royal Infirmary
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