Professor Linda Cardozo, OBE, MB ChB, MD, FRCOG

Linda Cardozo, fondly known to everyone simply as Linda, was a force of nature, who touched the lives of hundreds of doctors and thousands of patients. She was a passionate advocate of women’s health, a leader within urogynaecology, a gifted clinician and highly skilled surgeon, a mentor, and a friend.

Linda, daughter of Olga and Felix, was delivered in Queen Charlotte’s Hospital on 15.09.50 by Mr Michael Brudenell and, after growing up in Northwest London, moved to Liverpool, where she studied Medicine, graduating MB ChB in 1974. Her graduation was a double celebration, as it was also the day of her wedding to Mr Stuart Hutcheson, whom she met at Liverpool University when he was studying dentistry.

Her year as a House Surgeon and House Physician were spent at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, although it was her first post at Mill Road Maternity Hospital with Mr Robert Atlay that ignited her career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

In 1976, she moved back to London and began a 2-year research fellowship with Mr Stuart Stanton at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. Under his mentorship she developed her interest in urodynamics and lower urinary tract dysfunction and was awarded an MD thesis entitled "The investigation and treatment of detrusor instability in women". This time with Mr Stanton inspired her great interest in the field of urogynaecology and led to a lifelong passion for research, innovation and education.

After leaving St George’s Hospital she moved to King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, in 1979 and was appointed as a registrar to Mr John Studd, Mr Michael Brudenell and Mr Charles Rodeck. In 1981, she was appointed as a Senior Registrar to Sir Rustam Feroze and Mr Michael Brudenell at King's College and Dulwich Hospitals before completing her senior registrar rotation at Greenwich and Lewisham Hospitals.

In 1985, she was appointed as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at King's College Hospital and head of the Urogynaecology Unit. In 1994 she was appointed as the first Professor of Urogynaecology in the UK.

Linda has been a supervisor and mentor to over 60 research fellows, who trained under her guidance at King's and have now been appointed as consultants across the world ensuring that the ‘King's Family’, of which she was so proud, extends to all corners of the globe. In addition, she welcomed many visitors and observers to the department, leading to long-standing collaborations and friendships across countries and continents.

As a teacher and academic she has supervised 15 MD theses and one PhD. Her own research output was phenomenal, with an H-Index of 75, over 750 original papers, 25 books, and 130 book chapters. Furthermore, she is the Co-Editor of the award-winning Textbook of Female Urology and Urogynaecology, which has recently been published in its fifth edition.

As a clinician she has always put women’s health first. Initially working as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, she published widely in obstetrics and on labour ward management, before focusing predominantly on urogynaecology. In 1996, King’s received recognition from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) to become the second subspecialty training centre for urogynaecology in the UK and Linda trained eight subspecialty trainees, all of whom were appointed as subspecialists within the UK.

As a leader, Linda was President of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health (1995), Chairman of the Continence Foundation (1998), Chairman of the British Menopause Association (2001–2003) and President of the Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Society of Medicine (2001–2002). Linda was also integral in the establishment of the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) in the UK and was the founding Chairman of BSUG (2001–2006). Throughout her career Linda was an active and committed member of the RCOG and was an MRCOG examiner, an Editor of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and also a member of the RCOG College Council.

Her interests and influence extended far from the shores of the UK. As a gifted communicator, she lectured throughout the world, promoting urogynaecology, and was a passionate teacher and trainer. She was the President of the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA; 1998—2000), Education Chair for the International Continence Society (ICS; 2001–2005) and Advisory Board Member (1996–2005). Subsequently, she was Co-Chair of the International Consultation on Incontinence (1999–2023) and recently published the 7th Report. In addition, she was the Chairman of the European Urogynaecology Association (EUGA; 2011–2014) and subsequently steered the EUGA advisory board.

In recognition of her dedication to urogynaecology she has received lifetime achievement awards from the ICS, the IUGA and the BSUG. In 2016, she was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Athens.

Her commitment to Women’s Health and Urogynaecology were recognised by Her Majesty the Queen in 2014, when she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to Urogynaecology.

Outside medicine, Linda lived a full life and had a true enthusiasm and infectious energy. In her years as a junior doctor, she trained as a pilot, gaining her licence and specialising in aerobatic flying. After meeting Stuart, she became an accomplished skier and scuba diver and had a particular love of travel and adventure. Closer to home she had a love of the theatre and music and a great passion for food and friendship. She was a generous host and relished being surrounded by her family, friends and colleagues.

Although Linda’s ‘Urogynaecology Family’ extends around the world, she has been supported throughout her remarkable career by her husband, Stuart, and her three children, Melissa, Marius and Juliet.

Linda was a true advocate for women and women’s health and a global leader in urogynaecology. She was a dedicated and highly skilled doctor, who touched the hearts and minds of everyone she met. A devoted wife and mother, she was also a mentor to all those she trained and just as importantly, a friend. The world, and our profession, are diminished by her loss but strengthened by the legacy that she leaves behind.