LSTM bid a fond farewell to Mr Rick Young, Laboratory Supervisor, who retired after more than 31 years of service.
Rick began working at LSTM in December 1984 in Tropical Paediatrics and carried out lab research under Professor Ralf Hendrickse. The main research was in the field of Aflatoxins, poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals produced by certain molds, with large numbers of specimens arriving from Nigeria and India.
Initially Rick undertook a small amount of teaching on the Diploma in Tropical Child Health, which formed the basis for the current MSc Programme in Tropical Paediatrics. However after four years Professor Hendrickse was very keen that his team became more involved in teaching and Rick trained so that he was able to teach on LSTM’s flag ship course, the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H).
Following Professor Hendrickse’s retirement Rick worked under Professor Bernard Brabin with the research shifting to micro-nutrients, particularly Vitamin A, with studies taking place in local maternity units. At this time he also assisted a PhD student carrying out research into childhood asthma, visiting local primary schools. This work included a short time spent researching in Bangladesh to assist the student, who is now Professor Yvonne Kelly at University College London.
From 2001 Rick worked full time in LSTM’s main teaching laboratory, the Dagnall Laboratory, before joining the safety team in 2010. As Laboratory Supervisor Rick was responsible for delivering the health and safety talks to new staff and students, and his ability to hold his audience’s attention was something that LSTM’s Director, Professor Janet Hemingway, made reference to as she thanked him for his years of service, by saying: “This is a very sad day as we say goodbye to a very active member of our team and we thank him for his significant contribution throughout his more than 30 years at LSTM.”