he was then admitted to the university of edinburgh medical school in scotland, and qualified with an mb chb in 1960. internship was at the edinburgh royal infirmary, followed by a year as senior house officer; and he received a wellcome trust research grant under professor ronald girdwood, when he investigated megaloblastic anaemias associated with gastrointestinal malabsorption. he passed the examination for membership of the royal college of physicians (mrcp) in both internal medicine and haematology in 1964, and spent a further year taking the diploma course in 'practical haematology' with professor sir john dacie at the royal postgraduate medical school in london. ala was elected fellow of the royal college of physicians (frcp) in 1970, and fellow of the royal college of pathologists (frcpath) in 1991.