William Taylor Ham

Life and Education

Ham was born in Chhapra, Bihar, to William Ham and Lucy Ham. After graduating from Episcopal High School, he attended the University of Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1931, an M.S.in Physics in 1933, and Ph.D. in Physics in 1935. From the University of Virginia, Ham went to Columbia University in 1936 for a year to teach physics. In 1940, Ham married Jean Stratton Anderson (b. 1913) of Aberdeen, Scotland. They had two children, Christina Duncan Anderson Ham and Elspeth Read Ham.

Professional Work

In 1938, Ham returned to the University of Virginia to assist Dr. Jesse Beams and Dr. Leland B. Snoddy. In 1940, he worked on the development of ultracentrifuges for the separation of uranium isotopes as part of the Manhattan Project.

During World War II, Ham served with the United States Marine Corp in the South Pacific. At the end of WWII, he was assigned as a radar officer to the 5th AA Battalion on Okinawa and reached the rank of Major. Ham subsequently left the Marine Corps in 1946 and returned to Charlottesville, Virginia to head the Division of Physics and Engineering at the Institute of Textile Technology. In 1948, Ham joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) as an associate professor. He worked with Dr. Everett I. Evans and his team to study the biological effects of thermal and ionizing radiation in nuclear warfare. In 1951, Ham participated in "Operation Ranger", conducted in Nevada. The data from the tests benefited studies on thermal flash burns, and assisted the U.S. military. In 1952, working with Dr. Everett I. Evans, Ham studied the ‘first hand’ effects of flash burns. Ham himself participated as a subject in the studies, and was able to improve the research methodology through these first person cause-and-effect results.[1]

In 1953, the Medical College of Virginia introduced the Department of Biophysics. Ham became the first chair and was promoted to full professor. He taught courses on biophysics and radiobiology, and continued research on retinal burns in rabbits. In 1956, Ham went to Japan with a five-man team on request from the National Research Council and the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. The team analyzed the data on the exact level of radiation exposure for each survivor of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The results of their findings became the "Project Ichiban".

Consultant Work

Laser Research

In the 1960s, as laser technology developed, Ham began to study the ocular effects of laser radiation and other light sources such as the sun. Ham researched the damaging effects of extended exposure to blue light and age-related macular degeneration.

Professor Emeritus

In 1976, Ham retired as chair of Biophysics and was named professor emeritus. He continued as an active researcher until 1989.

Awards and Honors

Health Physics Society

Professional Service

References

  1. ↑ Verlag, Franz Steiner. (2006). Man, Medicine, and the State: The Human Body as an Object of Government Sponsored Medical Research in the 20th Century. Decker and Bokor: Müchen, Germany. p.293.
  2. ↑ http://www.lia.org/PDF/WilkeningAwardWinnersList.pdf
  3. ↑ HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 403, (10 May 2000). On the death of William T. Ham, Jr. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?001+ful+HJ403ER

Notes