>

World Changing

Notable People

View a list of Notable People

Sir Graham Teasdale

Neurosurgeon
Born 1940.

A leading neurosurgeon, with Bryan Jennet, he created the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).

Connection to the University of Glasgow: Professor

Discover more neurosurgeons on the University of Glasgow Story website

Achievements

The following achievement is associated with Sir Graham Teasdale:

Developing the Glasgow Coma Scale
Graham Teasdale and Bryan Jennett's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used in hospitals all over the world to provide a quick and reliable assessment of the conscious state of a patient with a suspected brain injury.

Honours

The following honours are associated with this person:

Biography

Sir Graham Teasdale is an Honorary Professor in Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Institute of Health and Wellbeing. He was previously Professor of Neurosurgery, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and Associate Dean for Medical Research. A graduate of the University of Durham (MB BS 1963) he held junior hospital posts in Newcastle upon Tyne, London and Birmingham before coming to Glasgow as a lecturer in Anatomy 1967. He held training posts in surgery and neurosurgery at the Southern General Hospital before becoming successively Senior Lecturer (1975), Reader, Professor and Head (1981–2003) of the University's Department of Neurosurgery.

Teasdale made a lasting, positive impression on his students. Dr Peter McKenzie, who was taught Anatomy by Teasdale in 1967, says, “He was an unforgettable teacher and had such charisma that I clearly remember him after all these years. I am not surprised at his eminent and distinguished career. No other person in my undergraduate career impressed me so much.”

Along with Brian Jennett, he created the Glasgow Coma Scale, or GCS, which is used in every hospital around the world to give a reliable, objective way of measuring the conscious state of a patient.

Sir Graham was President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow from 2003 until 2006. He was knighted in 2006 for his services to neurosurgery.