Passionate RBWH anaesthetist makes King’s Birthday Honours List

Associate Professor Michael Steyn between cases.

Queensland has rolled out the red carpet for its King’s Birthday Honours List recipients, and our very own Associate Professor Michael Steyn has been recognised.

The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital anaesthetist, who trained as a rural GP in Scotland and admits he ‘fell into anaesthetics’, has received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division this week.

Dr Steyn was honoured for significant service to anaesthesiology and peri-operative medicine, as well as health leadership – an area he says he’s been passionate about since he arrived at RBWH in 2003.

“I was involved in setting up SWAPNET, the State network supporting our rural and regional colleagues,” Dr Steyn said.

“I’ve been at RBWH since I moved to Australia, but I’ve always been involved in supporting people across the State and further afield.”

In 2011, Michael had to temporarily hang up his scrubs as he was cared for as a patient, after learning he had bowel cancer.

“I was very ill – this hospital did all my imaging, and they did a great job,” he said.

“I was able to return to work, and I feel very privileged to work with a wonderful group of colleagues from all disciplines.

“As anaesthetists, we work throughout the hospital, not just in theatre, but in helping patients to cope with all areas of their healthcare journey, as we work as part of a multidisciplinary team.”

Michael said he was humbled by the title, admitting it was a big surprise, and he still does not know who nominated him.