Early Life and Education

Geoffrey Kaye was born Geoffrey Kornblum in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia in 1903. He was educated in England, and studied medicine at the University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...

. In the late 1920s he had determined to apply his energies to the relatively field of anaesthesia

Anesthesia

Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...

 which was then poorly represented at an academic level in Australia.

Anaesthesia

After travelling abroad extensively in 1930, Kaye devoted time to establishing the Australian Society of Anaesthetists

Australian Society of Anaesthetists

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists is an association that seeks to further the best interests ofanaesthesia and anaesthetists.-History:...

, a goal that reached fruition in 1934 at an anaesthetic congress in Hobart. Before World War II he served as its first secretary.

Wartime

Dr Kaye served in the Middle East during World War II, providing anaesthetic advice to the Infantry Corps.

Legacy

Dr Kaye died in Melbourne in 1986. He is memorialised by the Geoffrey Kaye Oration at the Australian Society of Anaesthetists

Australian Society of Anaesthetists

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists is an association that seeks to further the best interests ofanaesthesia and anaesthetists.-History:...

 annual meeting and by the Geoffrey Kaye Museum at the headquarters of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists

Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is responsible for examining and qualifying anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand. The College maintains standards of practice in anaesthesia.-Membership:...

. Many of his non-medical collectables such as porcelain items are held at the Ian Potter Museum at the University of Melbourne.