Gavin Kenny

Gavin Kenny

"Persons of distinction who have contributed to the advancement of intravenous anaesthesia are eligible for election as Honorary Members on the nomination of the committee"

Professor Gavin NC Kenny, BSc (Hons), MD, FRCA, FANZCA

GNCK2006

At the 2006 AGM held in Chepstow, Professor Gavin Kenny came to the end of his term as President. In recognition of his enormous contribution to the Society over the previous decade, and to research, development and education in intravenous anaesthesia, he was awarded Honorary Membership at a ceremony that evening.

Gavin Nicolson Cleghorn Kenny was educated at Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School in Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, graduating MBChB in 1972. He had previously obtained an intercalated BSc (honours) degree in physiology in 1970. An interest in anaesthesia was stimulated by discussions with the late Professor AC Forrester, who arranged for Gavin to spend part of his student vacation in the operating theatres at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Following Junior House Officer posts in Stirling, he was Senior House Officer then Registrar in Anaesthesia at Glasgow Royal Infirmary between 1973 & 1976. During this time he was successful in both Primary and Final FFARCS, and in 1977 became Lecturer in the University Department of Anaesthesia at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He completed Higher Professional Training in 1981, and was awarded MD for his thesis on "The Application of Microcomputers to Anaesthesia and Intensive Care". He was appointed Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in 1982. In the ensuing years interests in Computer Assisted Learning, Automated Anaesthesia Record Systems, Networked Patient Data on the ITU, Closed Loop Control of Blood Pressure, Patient Controlled Analgesia and Auditory-Evoked Potentials were explored. From 1993-1996 he was Head of Anaesthesia at HCI International Medical Centre, Clydebank, Glasgow, before returning to Glasgow Royal Infirmary as Professor and Head of the University of Glasgow Department of Anaesthesia.

One of his most significant achievements was the development, in collaboration with Dr Martin White, of systems for Target-Controlled Infusion of Propofol, Alfentanil, Remifentanil and other Intravenous Drugs. Collaboration between the University of Glasgow, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and pump manufacturers resulted in the development of the commercial Diprifusor® systems for propofol, launched in the UK in 1996. These systems were subsequently approved for use in over 25 countries throughout the world.

In 1997 Professor Kenny was a founding member and committee member of the UK Society for Intravenous Anaesthesia, and President from 2002-2006.