In 1970-71 I worked for Jan Stern as a biochemistry technician, when Queen Mary’s hospital for children, Carshalton Beeches, south London, had just taken delivery of an automated amino acid analyser. This helped detect the condition of phenylketonuria in newborn babies and facilitated other research into levels of essential amino acids.
Jan introduced me to the idea that physicists could work in hospitals and sent me to other ones to learn more. I left to study for a master’s before working at Northampton general hospital, and was grateful for his guidance.
