Volume 8 Issue 3 - Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine

OBITUARYJames Robert Syme MD, FRACP, DDR, FRCR, FRANZCR, DDU, HonMIRDMU EXAMINATIONSMatt Byron tel +61 2 9958 7655email dmu@asum.com.auwill answer your questions aboutthe DMUDDU EXAMINATIONSMarie Cawoodtel +61 2 9958 7655 email ddu@asum.com.auwill answer your questions aboutthe DDUJim Syme, a much respected member ofASUM for some 30 years and a formerChairman of the Board of Examinersof the Diploma of DiagnosticUltrasound, died in Melbourne onNovember 30, 2004, at the age of 76years. Throughout his membership, hewas a strong supporter of and a tirelessworker for the Society. He was electedto Life Membership at the Society’sAnnual General Meeting in 2001, towidespread acclaim.A Queenslander by birth, Jim’s parentswere first generation Australians.His father was of Scottish extractionand his mother’s parents werePrussian.His intellectual prowess was revealedearly on. He was dux of SandgateState School, Brisbane, in 1941 and in1945 was dux of Brisbane State HighSchool. Jim graduated MBBS from theUniversity of Queensland in 1951 havinggained five distinctions and six creditsduring the medical course.Postgraduate qualifications followedwith an MD (University ofMelbourne) in 1959; Membershipof the Royal Australasian Collegeof Physicians in 1959 (Fellowship,1971); Diploma of DiagnosticRadiology (University of Melbourne)in 1961; Fellowship of the now RoyalCollege of Radiologists, London, in1964; Membership of the now RoyalAustralian and New Zealand Collegeof Radiologists in 1962 (Fellowship,1969); Diploma of DiagnosticUltrasound (ASUM) in 1982.Radiology became Jim’s chosenspecialty and a distinguished careerfollowed during which time he heldmany offices within The RoyalAustralian and New Zealand Collegeof Radiologists. He was the recipientof several notable honours fromthe College. He was the ThomasBaker Memorial Fellow in 1964,Rohan Williams Travelling Professorin 1979, received the Gold Medal ofthe College in 1984 and was elected toLife Membership in 1993.Jim was a member of the RANZCRCouncil from 1968 to 1991 and wasPresident of the College from 1989 to1990. He was Warden of the membershipof the RANZCR from 1970 to1988.His interest in ultrasound waskindled during a sabbatical tour ofNorth America in 1972 when he metand observed the work of two notablepioneers in ultrasound – GeorgeLeopold in general ultrasound andRaymond Gramiak in echocardiography.He became involved personallyin the practice of ultrasound in thelate 1970s.Jim was a member of the ASUMCouncil from 1984 to 1987 and representedASUM on the UltrasoundLiaison Committee from 1984 to1987. He was a member of the Boardof Examiners of the DDU from 1987to 2000. He succeeded the late DrPeter Verco as Chairman of that Boardin 1989 and held the position until2000 when he handed over to Dr ChrisWriedt.The appointment of a person ofJim Syme’s make-up and considerableadministrative and clinical experienceto the chairmanship of the DDUBoard was a fortunate one for ASUM.During his time as Chairman, Jimconsolidated the widespread respectfor the DDU both as a diploma worthhaving and for the rigour of its administrativeprocesses and conduct of theactual examination. During his timeas Chairman the DDU was awarded to136 medical practitioners.In 1957, Jim married HelenFitzgerald, a radiographer, and theyhad two sons, David and Cameron.He was a devoted family man whodoted on his two grandchildren. Hewas also a religious man to whomchurch life meant a lot. From Lutheranorigins, he joined the Anglican Churchafter he married and for many yearswas the ‘welcoming committee’ at the8 am Sunday service at his church.Jim collected stamps from childhoodand was very interested in coinageand history (especially Australianand European). But his real passion inlife was medical imaging in all areasand ASUM was very much a beneficiaryof this passion.His work for the DDU Board wascarried out in his own time with thewilling support and help of Helento whom the Society is also greatlyin debt. In both his private and professionallife he was a perfectionist,intensely loyal, had a healthy reserveand could be counted on never tobetray a confidence.Jim was a shy person but washappy to go to meetings where heknew people – he never missed aCollege or ASUM Annual ScientificMeeting. Despite his incapacitatingterminal illness he registered for boththe ASUM and RANZCR ASMs inlate 2004 but in the end was too ill toattend.An icon of probity, Jim Syme wasa giant in medical imaging in Australiaand New Zealand. The internationalreputation of the DDU was underpinnedduring his stewardship and successivepresidents of the Society feltprivileged to have had ready access tohis advices and experience as ASUM’saffairs became more sophisticated andinternational.To Helen and her family, the membershipof ASUM extends its sinceresympathy.48 ASUM Ultrasound Bulletin 2005 August; 8 (3)