Obituaries December 2024

It is with great sadness we acknowledge the deaths of CICM Fellows, Drs Alistair (Millar) Forbes, Marta Kot and Shekhar Dhanvijay and Professor Luciano Gattinoni, one of the most influential intensivists of our time.

On behalf of the College Fellows, Trainees and staff, we send our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. Please read more about them and their important contributions to Intensive Care Medicine below. Thank you to those who have contributed to the below obituaries.

Dr Alistair (Millar) Forbes, born in Scotland was a respected intensivist and anesthetist from Perth, Western Australia. Millar was a pioneer of intensive care, shaping the specialty in its early days. He was a highly respected physician, anaesthetist and intensivist, and who always maintained that, as intensive care clinicians, 'we should be all three'. Millar’s roles included being the head of department for Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital ICU and Anaesthesia, King Edward Memorial Hospital Anaesthesia and Hollywood Hospital ICU, and Medical Director of DonateWest. He was a strong advocate for post-graduate medical education and one of the founders and first Board members of the journal ‘Anaesthesia and Intensive Care’. Millar was an inspirational teacher, mentor and role model to so many and was a living example of integrity, honesty and hard work throughout his career.

Dr Shekhar Dhanvijay who was away in Perth, Australia at the time of his passing, was deeply cherished by all who had the privilege to know him. Our thoughts are with his family — his wife Snehal, his children Samar and Tanvi as they navigate this unimaginable loss. We extend our deepest condolences to them during this incredibly difficult time. 

Having trained in India, Shekhar immigrated to Australia working in Canberra and Queensland, and completed his CICM fellowship in 2014, a journey that shaped his approach to medicine, one that was rooted in expertise, kindness, humility, and a deep sense of duty to his patients and colleagues. 

In 2015, Shekar moved to the newly opened Ng Teng Fong General hospital in Jurong, Singapore as a consultant. In his role as Clinical Director, in addition to his contribution to the clinical service, leadership, and teaching in Singapore, he played a pivotal role in the development of the ICU’s education program including the CICM Fellowship in Singapore, in particular the first part teaching. His recent appointment to the First part examination panel for CICM was a testament to his dedication to advancing the field. Shekhar also contributed immensely to the education of colleagues in New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, and India through informal teaching and through his massive contribution to the BASIC courses and setting up Current Concepts in Critical Care (Brisbane) course in Singapore. 

He was a passionate teacher, a mentor, and an inspiration to countless junior doctors, many of whom were touched by his calm demeanour, infectious enthusiasm for teaching, and his unwavering commitment to excellence. Shekhar was known for his boundless generosity with his time, his knowledge, and his warmth. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand or offer guidance to those around him. Shekar's office was a welcoming space, often transformed into an impromptu gathering place for colleagues to share ideas, catch up over coffee, or discuss the challenges of patient care. 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Shekhar was a loving husband and father, deeply dedicated to his family. He balanced the demands of a high-stress career with an unyielding devotion to his loved ones, always eager to return home to spend time with his family after a long day’s work. His commitment to his family was matched only by his passion for health and fitness, a pursuit he took on in order to stay fit and live a full, active life for his wife and children. 

Shekar's colleagues and trainees have shared countless memories of his guidance, support, and the joy he brought to the ICU floor. His leadership, both in clinical care and in education, will be remembered with deep gratitude. His memory will live on through the many lives he touched, and we are all the better for having known him. 

Dr Marta Kot was an intensivist at Canberra Hospital and was a passionate advocate for point of care ultrasound. Heralding from Argentina, Dr. Kot qualified in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and General Clinical Ultrasound in Buenos Aires. Marta was a respected doctor, teacher and friend. 

Professor Luciano Gattinoni worked at the University of Milan and was Chief of Intensive Care at Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico. Over many decades, his ground-breaking work, particularly in the area of CT scan assessment in ARDS, and the subsequent description of the concept of the “baby lung”, studies of protective lung ventilation and prone positioning shaped our understanding in this area, and undoubtedly saved many lives. Luciano was a friend and mentor to many, in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.