His schooling and medical undergraduate education were at St Andrews following which he embarked at an early stage on an academic career, winning a scholarship to pursue research at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. After further research at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London he served in World War II as a surgical specialist with the Eighth Army in North Africa and was seconded from military duties to serve as Professor of Surgery in Baghdad. As professor of Surgery in St Andrews and Dundee, he developed research interests in wound healing and the design of operating theatres.