world federation of societies of anaesthesiologists annual report 2006

IN MEMORIAMDr. John M. ZorabPast President 1988-1992It was with sadness that we heard of the passing of John Zorab recently. He was one of the greatest contributorsto international anaesthesia and the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists.John trained in anaesthesia with some of the greats of English anaesthesia (Sir Geoffrey Organe and Cyril Scurrat Westminster, Phillip Helliwell at Guys and Patrick Shackleton at Southhampton) before becoming a dynamicconsultant at Frenchay Hospital where he shared a small office with Peter Baskett and together they contributedto raising the standards of anaesthesia in Bristol. Latterly due to the high regard in which he was held there hebecame increasingly involved in the hospital's administration. John Zorab served the AAGBI on their Council andas Secretary, was on the Board of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons. Internationally hespent 6 months in Vietnam after the war and he also became involved in the European Regional Section of WFSABecoming Secretary General of the 1982 European Congress held in London and later became Chairman of ERSJohn Zorab was one of the founders of the European Academy and for a long time was involved in its Diplomaexaminations. He was a man of vision and an independent thinker. He served as a very progressive secretary ofthe WFSA. He produced a lecture series of books twice a year for four years, put forward the idea of Scholarshipsfor Eastern Block anaesthetitsts to visit a centre in the West for 3 months; several of the recipients becameleaders in their countries and served WFSA. Israel supplemented this programme enabling several Roumaniansto go there and later others went from Bulgaria and Moldova as well. This programme was magnificentlyorganised by Gaby Gurman for many years. He introduced the concept of WFSA courses, the first being held inNairobi. During the years 1988-92 when John Zorab was President of WFSA, Kester Brown Chairman of theEducation Committee with the help of Philippe Scherereel, Roger Eltringham and others our EducationCommittee sent teachers from 23 countries to 50 countries. This has continued and is a foremost contributionfrom the WFSA to the National Societies, along with the training centres that have developed and Update inAnaesthesia.John did not stop then. Despite having two cardiac arrests he contributed to the 'History of the First Fifty years ofWFSA', a volume all committee members should read so that they understand the background of theorganization. Then he produced an illustrated CD about all the World Congresses, which he presented in Paris. Itis an invaluable archive of the history of all the key players of the WFSA and the Congresses over the past halfcentury.John was supported by his wife Shirley who acted as his Secretary while he held the busy executive positions ofSecretary and President. Anaesthetists owe her much gratitude for all she did before the Federation had an office.Thank you, Shirley.John's passing saddens us but he led such a full life with so many worthwhile achievements that one cannot helpappreciating it and all he did for our specialty.Kester BrownImmediate Past President WFSADr Douglas D C HowatDouglas Howat was born on the 10 th January 1920 in the Scottish borders and brought up in London, where hisfather was a general practitioner. He studied medicine at King’s College, London, qualifying in 1943. Here he methis future wife Joan who was also a student. After service in the RAF he eventually became consultantanaesthetist to St George’s and the Royal Masonic Hospitals in London.He served on the Council of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) and when in1969 a Treasurer was due to be elected, someone was inspired to say ‘let’s make Dr-and-Mrs-Howat ourTreasurer’. He became Treasurer, with Joan’s help for she was always as much a part of his professional andpublic life as of his family life. Both contributed together.Later Douglas was elected to the Board of the Faculty of Anaesthetists where he served with competence onnumerous committees, as examiner for the Fellowship, and delivering the Frederick Hewitt lecture in 1977. WhenVice-Dean he breathed new life into what was then a rather vague post, whilst his contribution to surgical affairswas so effective that in 1984 the surgeons elected him FRCS. He was elected Honorary Member of AAGBI in1986.11