Mary Burnell was an anaesthetist who worked with both adults and children. She is known for her work advocating for pediatric anaesthesia specialists.

Early life and education

Mary Taylor Angel was born on February 21, 1907, in Norwood, South Australia. For schooling she first attended the St Peters Collegiate Girls School. Upon graduated, she began at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...

where she first studied science before shifting to medicine. She received her degree in 1931.

Career

After graduation, she became a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1932 and 1933. She was the first woman to join the newly-founded Australian Society of Anaesthetists in 1935, and in 1937 she withdrew from medicine to focus on her domestic life. With the advent of World War II, she re-started her work in medicine at the

Royal Adelaide Hospital The Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), colloquially known by its initials or pronounced as "the Rah", is South Australia's largest hospital, owned by the state government as part of Australia's public health care system. The RAH provides tertiary hea ...

. During this time she was the only anaesthetist at the hospital. In 1953 Burnell was elected as president of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists and in 1966 she was named dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, the first woman to hold the position of dean.

Awards and honors

In 1955 she was elected to the

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and New Zealand. Known by its common acronym RACS, it is a not-for-profit organisation, supp ...

, where she would be named an honorary life member in 1973. In 1968, she was also awarded a fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists by the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...

in recognition of her efforts in fostering overseas connections.

Personal life

She married G.H. Burnell, one of her tutors in medicine at Adelaide University, in 1934.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnell, Mary 1907 births 1996 deaths University of Adelaide alumni Australian anaesthetists Women physicians Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons