Geoffrey Kaye (1903–1986) was an Australian anaesthetist.

Early life and education

Geoffrey Kaye was born Geoffrey Alfred Kornblum in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia in 1903, the son of Rosetta Levison and Alfred Kornblum. He was educated in England, and studied medicine at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

, graduating

MBBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery ( la, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae; abbreviated most commonly MBBS), is the primary medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United King ...

in 1926. As Resident Medical Officer at Melbourne's

Alfred Hospital The Alfred Hospital, also known as The Alfred or Alfred Hospital, is a leading tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. It is the second oldest hospital in Victoria, and the oldest Melbourne hospital still operating on its original site ...

in 1927, he was assigned to anaesthetics and quickly developed an affinity for the practice. He was appointed Honorary Anaesthetist to the Alfred Hospital in 1930. At this time, he was one of a small number of full-time anaesthetists in Australia.

Anaesthesia

After graduation, Kaye was in the fortunate position of being able to travel widely at a time when few could. During his travels he took the opportunity to meet with, and learn from, anaesthetists in the UK, US, Germany and Scandinavia. On return to Australia, he began experimenting with anaesthetic equipment, engineering equipment for personal use and, later, for the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

. Additionally, Kaye worked with other anaesthesia staff from the Alfred Hospital to produce Australia's first textbook on anaesthesia. ''Practical Anaesthesia'' was published in 1932, and included a foreword by Francis McMechan, Secretary General,

International Anesthesia Research Society The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) is an international, professional medical society dedicated to improving clinical care, education and research in anesthesia, pain management, and perioperative medicine. It was founded in 1922 ...

. During his travels he had become aware of the collegiate nature of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and was determined to create something similar in Australia. In 1934 he successfully established the

Australian Society of Anaesthetists The Australian Society of Anaesthetists is an association that seeks to further the best interests of anaesthesia and anaesthetists. History The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) was founded in 1934 by Geoffrey Kaye. It was established a ...

, which launched at an anaesthetic congress in

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

, Tasmania. At that time, its headquarters was at 49 Mathoura Road, Toorak. Before World War II he served as its first secretary. He was a major figure in the attempt to convert anaesthesia in Australia from a trade to an academic discipline.

Wartime

Dr Kaye served in the Middle East during World War II, providing anaesthetic advice to the Infantry Corps. Kaye was also a contributor and editor to a second Australian publication on anaesthesia, ''Anaesthetic Methods'' in 1946, along with Robert Orton and Douglas Renton.

Legacy

Dr Kaye died in Melbourne in 1986. He is memorialised by the Geoffrey Kaye Oration at the

annual meeting and by the Geoffrey Kaye Museum at the headquarters of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Many of his non-medical collectables such as porcelain items are held at the Ian Potter Museum at the University of Melbourne.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaye, Geoffrey 1903 births 1986 deaths Australian anaesthetists Medical doctors from Melbourne University of Melbourne alumni Australian military personnel of World War II Military personnel from Melbourne