David Innes Williams

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Sir David Innes Williams (12 June 1919 – 3 May 2013) was a British paediatric urologist who is considered the founder of modern paediatric urology. Born in London, he studied at Sherborne School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1945 to 1948 as a Surgical Specialist. After the army, he trained in urology at St Peter's Hospital for Stone in London. In 1948 he faced a case of a child with urinary retention and realized there was little knowledge or literature in paediatric urology, so he began work on a book with Twistington Higgins and DF Ellison Nash. The Urology of Childhood, published in 1951, became a landmark. Williams continued to write and expand the field. In 1952 he became senior genito-urinary surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital and in 1963 he founded the Society for Paediatric Urologists, now an international group. He was knighted in 1985 for his contributions. His leadership roles included Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of London (1985–87), Chairman of Council of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (1982–1991), President of the British Medical Association (1988–89), and President of the Royal Society of Medicine (1990–92). He was awarded the St Peter's Medal by BAUS in 1967. He passed away on 3 May 2013.