Shirley Tonkin | |
---|---|
Born | Shirley Lyford Curtis 6 June 1921
Stratford, New Zealand |
Died | 27 January 2016
Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 94)
Alma mater | University of Otago |
Known for | Sudden infant death syndrome research |
Spouse |
John Carvossoe Stephen Tonkin
(
m. 1947; died 1988) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Paediatrics |
Shirley Lyford Tonkin OBE (née Curtis, 6 June 1921 – 27 January 2016) was a New Zealand paediatrican and sudden infant death syndrome researcher.
Born in Stratford on 6 June 1921,[ citation needed] Tonkin was the younger daughter of Nora Bessie Curtis (née Lyford) and her husband, Leslie Ralfe Curtis. [1] She was educated at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Wellington from 1937 to 1938. [2] She then studied medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1946. [3]
She married John Carvossoe Stephen Tonkin on 5 April 1947. The couple had two children. [1]
After a residency at New Plymouth Hospital between 1945 and 1947, Tonkin then worked in the accident and emergency department at Napier Hospital from 1947 to 1950.[ citation needed] A period as a general practitioner from 1950 to 1952, was followed by study at the Institute of Child Health in London, where she completed a Diploma of Child Health. [2] Returning to New Zealand, Tonkin worked as a medical officer at the Department of Health in Auckland from 1954 to 1978.[ citation needed]
Tonkin researched cot death for 30 years, and was recognised as an international expert in the field. [4] Her work resulted in the formulation of national guidelines for babies' sleeping conditions. [2] She was the founder of the New Zealand Cot Death Association in 1979, and was credited with renaming "cot death" as "sudden infant death syndrome". A child safety advocate, Tonkin was one of the three researchers who developed a foam insert for children's car seats to reduce the risk of choking to infants. [4]
In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, Tonkin was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to medicine and welfare. [5]
Tonkin died at her home in Auckland on 27 January 2016. [4]
Shirley Tonkin | |
---|---|
Born | Shirley Lyford Curtis 6 June 1921
Stratford, New Zealand |
Died | 27 January 2016
Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 94)
Alma mater | University of Otago |
Known for | Sudden infant death syndrome research |
Spouse |
John Carvossoe Stephen Tonkin
(
m. 1947; died 1988) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Paediatrics |
Shirley Lyford Tonkin OBE (née Curtis, 6 June 1921 – 27 January 2016) was a New Zealand paediatrican and sudden infant death syndrome researcher.
Born in Stratford on 6 June 1921,[ citation needed] Tonkin was the younger daughter of Nora Bessie Curtis (née Lyford) and her husband, Leslie Ralfe Curtis. [1] She was educated at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Wellington from 1937 to 1938. [2] She then studied medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1946. [3]
She married John Carvossoe Stephen Tonkin on 5 April 1947. The couple had two children. [1]
After a residency at New Plymouth Hospital between 1945 and 1947, Tonkin then worked in the accident and emergency department at Napier Hospital from 1947 to 1950.[ citation needed] A period as a general practitioner from 1950 to 1952, was followed by study at the Institute of Child Health in London, where she completed a Diploma of Child Health. [2] Returning to New Zealand, Tonkin worked as a medical officer at the Department of Health in Auckland from 1954 to 1978.[ citation needed]
Tonkin researched cot death for 30 years, and was recognised as an international expert in the field. [4] Her work resulted in the formulation of national guidelines for babies' sleeping conditions. [2] She was the founder of the New Zealand Cot Death Association in 1979, and was credited with renaming "cot death" as "sudden infant death syndrome". A child safety advocate, Tonkin was one of the three researchers who developed a foam insert for children's car seats to reduce the risk of choking to infants. [4]
In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, Tonkin was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to medicine and welfare. [5]
Tonkin died at her home in Auckland on 27 January 2016. [4]