Allan MacLeod Cormack

Allan MacLeod Cormack

Allan MacLeod Cormack was a South African-born American physicist who is best known for his pioneering work in the development of computed tomography (CT) scanning. His contributions to medical imaging have had a profound impact on diagnostic medicine.

Early Life and Education

Allan Cormack was born on February 23, 1924, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He attended Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town and later studied at the University of Cape Town, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physics. Cormack continued his studies at the same university, obtaining a Master of Science degree.

In 1947, Cormack moved to the United Kingdom to pursue further studies at St John's College, Cambridge. He completed his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Cambridge, focusing on nuclear physics.

Career

After completing his doctorate, Cormack returned to South Africa, where he joined the faculty at the University of Cape Town. During his time there, he became interested in the problem of reconstructing a three-dimensional image from two-dimensional X-ray images, a concept that would later become central to CT scanning.

In 1956, Cormack moved to the United States and joined the faculty at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. It was during his tenure at Tufts that he conducted much of his groundbreaking research on computed tomography.

Contributions to Computed Tomography

Cormack's work on computed tomography began in the 1950s. He developed mathematical techniques to reconstruct cross-sectional images of an object from X-ray data taken at different angles. This work laid the foundation for the development of the first practical CT scanner.

Although Cormack's initial publications on the subject in the 1960s received little attention, his work was later recognized as a critical component in the development of CT technology. The first commercial CT scanner was built by Godfrey Hounsfield in 1971, and Cormack's theoretical contributions were instrumental in its success.

Nobel Prize

In 1979, Allan Cormack and Godfrey Hounsfield were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to the development of computed tomography. This recognition highlighted the significance of their work in revolutionizing medical diagnostics.

Later Life and Legacy

Cormack continued to work at Tufts University until his retirement. He passed away on May 7, 1998, in Winchester, Massachusetts.

Allan Cormack's legacy lives on through the widespread use of CT scanning in medical practice. His work has saved countless lives by enabling early and accurate diagnosis of various medical conditions.

Related Pages

• Computed tomography
• Godfrey Hounsfield
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine