Professor Ralph John Marshall 1929 – 2022

We are sad to report the death of the pioneering medical photographer Professor Ralph Marshall at the age of 93. Ralph began his career as a trainee in London before moving to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary where he established a medical illustration department to serve the needs of the Welsh National School of Medicine and United Cardiff Hospitals. In 1971 he moved the bulk of the department to the newly built University Hospital of Wales. There, through the 1980s, he developed strong links with the medical academics, working with them to deliver curriculum via video and telecommunications to postgraduate centres around Wales. Ralph was also known for his personal research into clinical application of infrared and ultraviolet photography, which led to his PhD. In the late 1960’s he established a fully funded training scheme for medical photographers in Cardiff which, though various manifestations, is still running today.

In 1986, in recognition of his achievements in a life dedicated to his profession and service to the University of Wales, he was awarded a personal academic chair, so becoming Professor Ralph J. Marshall.

A full obituary will appear in the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine later in the year.

Paul Crompton

3^rd April 2022