With John Feely’s death the medical profession, and the ranks of Clinical Pharmacology in particular, have lost an outstanding man who contributed much and inspired others following in his footsteps.
Born in Ireland and trained at the National University of Ireland he pursued his studies there before going to Dundee first as a Lecturer in Therapeutics then as an honorary Senior Registrar in Medicine / Therapeutics in Ninewells Hospital there. Between these appointments he was a Merck Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. On return to Ireland he became a Consultant Physician, St. James’ Hospital, Dublin and Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the University of Dublin.
A prolific researcher he published over 160 original papers on clinical pharmacology from reduction of liver blood flow and lidocaine clearance by cimetidine to calcium channel blockers, thyrotoxicosis, hepatic disorders, the diagnosis and assessment of Alzheimers, genetic polymorphism and much much more.
He served as Chairman of the committee on the use of drugs in biomedical research of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, sat on numerous prestigious editorial boards and was Registrar of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, a member of many learned societies and found time to advise the Irish Hospice Foundation Research Committee.
He was married with four children to all of whom we send condolences.