Name: John Michael Gibbs
Qualifications:
MB, ChB, University of New Zealand (1958)
MD, University of Otago (1979)
FFARCS (1964)
FANZCA, 1992 (FFARACS, 1969)
Date of Birth: 28 July 1935
John Michael Gibbs was born in England in 1935, and his family relocated to Auckland, New Zealand after the Second World War. He graduated MB ChB from University of New Zealand in 1958, returning to England after commencing anaesthetic training, and gained his Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1964. Gibbs became a Board member of the Australian and New Zealand faculty, then a College councillor for the following ten years.
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John Michael Gibbs was born in England in 1935 and moved with his family to Auckland, New Zealand, in 1947. He graduated MB ChB from the University of New Zealand in 1958. As a medical student he had given a number of anaesthetics and worked in practical anaesthesia in Invercargill for the next three years. On his return to Dunedin he commenced his anaesthesia training, passing his Primary exam in 1962. Plans to go to England had been building and after successful completion of the Primary, he moved his family, and took up a position as the senior house officer at the Nuffield Department in Oxford, and passing his Final exam in London in July 1964. Soon after, he was given a promotion to Registrar and they stayed in Oxford for another year, until he was invited to return to Dunedin as a full time staff specialist.
Gibbs spent more than eight years as a senior staff member in Dunedin. During that time he became interested in undertaking an MD degree. On the prompting of friend and supporter Prof (now Sir) Keith Sykes, and with help from senior University staff, Gibbs spent a year working at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, under a British Council award. While in England, the Christchurch School of Medicine was being established. Gibbs was appointed to an academic position, which he took up on his return to New Zealand at the completion of his year with Sir Keith Sykes.
In 1969, Gibbs has become a Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In 1972 he had been invited to join the panel of examiners for the primary physiology examination. By 1974, and having returned to Christchurch, Gibbs become more active in the position. He also became a member of the New Zealand Committee of the Faculty in the same year, as well as being actively involved with the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists. He continued as an examiner until 1987.
In 1990, Gibbs was elected to the Board of the Faculty. With the development of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 1992, Gibbs transferred to become a member of the inaugural Council of the College. He remained on Council for a further ten years.
At the end of his time on Council, Gibbs continued his involvement with the College in his role as an Education Officer (1992 – 1995), a member of the Executive Committee of Council (1995 – 2000), an Assessor (1995 – 2001), member (ex officio) of the Queensland Regional Committee (1998 – 2002), and Chair of the Hospital Accreditation Committee (2001 – 2002).
Professor Gibbs completed an oral history interview in 2015, talking about many more aspects of his professional life. He is currently retired and living in Caboolture, Queensland.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Gilbert Brown Prize, Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (1972)
Meritorious Services Award, New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (1995)
Council Citation, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (2004)
ANZCA Medal, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, May (2004)
REFERENCES
The information in these biographies has been researched via the ANZCA Archives with the assistance of the individual Fellows.
IMAGES
- John Michael Gibbs, 1992