Obituary - Dr Jerzy Jacek Misiewicz BSc MB BS FRCP  

 Dr Jerzy Jacek Misiewicz, known as George, a retired consultant physician and gastroenterologist from the Central Middlesex Hospital, died on 10^th February 2026 aged 95. Over 4 decades he made major contributions to our knowledge of luminal gastroenterology especially to our understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of peptic ulcer disease. He was a prodigious clinical researcher, editor, author, teacher, supervisor and clinician.

George was born on 28 March 1930 in Lviv, Poland. His Father was a Professor of Radiology. Shortly after the Second World War ended, he was sent to live with close family in England and was educated at Lord Weymouth’s Grammer School in Warminster where he was head boy. Afterwards he attended St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School and graduated in 1956 having previously taken an Honours BSc degree from the University of London.  

His intellect and inquiring mind were apparent to Sir Francis Avery Jones and he became a member of the Medical Research Council’s Gastroenterology Research Unit at the Central Middlesex Hospital. Following Sir Francis’s retirement, George became Consultant Physician at the Central Middlesex Hospital until his retired from the NHS in 1996.

Dr Misiewicz has made major contributions to our knowledge of luminal gastroenterology over 4 decades. He was an outstanding clinical researcher and ran a highly productive research unit at “the Central”.

In 1964-5, whilst working under the supervision of the Sir Francis Avery Jones, George investigated the role of topical  and oral steroids in patients with ulcerative colitis.  A few years later, he moved his research activities “upstream” and studied colonic motility and the ileal-brake in health and disease.

In the 1970’s, he played a key role in the early clinical trials of cimetidine, the first commercially available histamine H2-receptor antagonist, specifically studying its effectiveness in controlling gastric acid production and treating gastric and duodenal ulcers.

His interest in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers and gastric acidity was stimulated further by the discovery of Helicobacter pylori. With the late Hugh Baron, consultant gastroenterologist at St Mary’s Hospital, Parkside Helicobacter pylori Study Group was established. Pioneering research followed on the ¹³C urea breath test, H pylori eradication therapies and the role of gastric acid production in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer disease.

Many of George’s ex-research fellows from “the Central” became leaders in their own departments and continued to contribute towards luminal gastroenterology research.

In addition to original research, George was a very successful Editor. He was Editor of Gut from 1981-88 and during his tenure he introduced a new computer based system to record the progress of papers through the editorial system. In 1989, he became the first Editor of European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.  George built and secured the Journal's standing over two decades.

He was President of the BSG 1987-88 and instigated New Perspectives Lecturers.

Dr Misiewicz was co-editor (with Roy Pounder and CW Venables) of the Diseases of the Gut and Pancreas  (first published in 1987). The book provided a practical account of common clinical problems and was well received by trainees, consultant gastroenterologists and surgeons. A second edition followed in1993.

Whilst at “the Central,”, he taught a generation of students from the Middlesex and St Mary’s Hospitals. He encouraged listening to the patient and then a gentle inquisitive approach to the clinical problems.  

George was a gentle, quiet, kind man with a good sense of humour and quick wit. He had wide cultural interests especially for classical music. He was a keen sailor and often crewed for friends with yachts.

He met Marjorie Sisman in the late 1960s and they were married in 1970 becoming a benevolent stepfather to two teenage children, Adam and Lucy. They had a long and happy marriage before she died in 2010.

Adam Harris MD FRCP
Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, London