Cancer pioneer Nick Plowman retires
Consultant clinical oncologist Dr Nick Plowman has retired after 45 years at St Bartholomew’s, an impressive 5% of the hospital’s 900-year history.
As the hospital’s senior oncologist, Dr Plowman has played a major role in improving cancer treatment for thousands of patients.
His work has shaped how breast, prostate, and anal cancers are treated today.
He was involved in early trials of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, introduced adrenosuppression in prostate cancer care, and helped develop chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer, allowing many patients to avoid major surgery.
Dr Plowman was also a leader in radiotherapy innovations. He contributed to the development of high-dose, targeted radiotherapy techniques, helping to introduce and secure funding for equipment such as the Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, and HyperArc.
His work has also helped reduce radiation exposure to the eye's lens, preserving vision in patients with ocular cancer.
More recently, his focus has been on targeted radiotherapy and proton beam therapy, as well as advances in genomics.
Beyond his clinical work, Dr Plowman has trained and mentored hundreds of doctors, radiographers, and physicists, many of whom have gone on to be leaders in their fields.
In recent years, he has been a key member of the neuro-oncology and endocrine teams, as well as the radiotherapy department.
His colleague, fellow consultant clinical oncologist Dr Rachel Lewis, said: "Nick will be missed for his intellect, congeniality, mentorship, friendship and loyalty to Barts."
As a hospital, we thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his retirement.
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