Pam Taylor
German-Speaking Jewish Refugee Pediatricians in the UK Between 1933-1948: Their Life Experiences and Influences on Modern Medicine in Britain
2021 | Full access
The aim of this descriptive study was to introduce a new research methodology, that could be integrated into the existing historiography of medical refugees in Britain from 1933-1948. The research, qualitative and comparative in nature used a phenomenological method to explore in more depth the lives, careers, and migration paths of German-speaking pediatricians into Britain, in order to provide insight into the complexities of their lived experiences.
The use of a group biography approach illustrates the variety of the nature of human reaction and inter-reaction, and the development of professional identity in the face of severe life challenges. The group consisted of a homogenous, purposeful sample of twenty-four Jewish German-speaking pediatricians, qualified and working in the field of pediatrics before 1933, who left Nazi Europe between 1933-1941, and arrived in Britain, defined as medical refugees.
The data was obtained from both primary and secondary sources, including letters, documents, questionnaires, newspapers, journals, and books. Using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis, seventeen theme clusters emerged from the findings, which fell into five main chronological categories, reflecting the transnational and biographical nature of the data covering a period of several years. These were: “Pre-Nazi Rule; Persecution; A New Start; The War Years; and Post-War: Life in Britain”. The theme clusters encapsulated the variety of life experiences from achievement, status, and pioneering work to expulsion, loss, violence, flight, and non-recognition, and finally to renewed recognition and new opportunities in war service and medical work.
The study concluded that there were many varied experiences, both positive and negative, particularly in the years before and during the war; that gender and age did not necessarily adversely affect the opportunities that came during the war and afterwards, except in a few cases only. Finally, twelve of the group of twenty-four, did continue in various aspects of child healthcare in the new National Health Service following the war. Limitations of the study, and recommendations for further research were also discussed.
Supervisor:
Prof. Paul Weindling