ACT quarterly updates

Welcome to Dr Martin Dempsey, the newly appointed chair of the ACT Regional Committee.

Dr Dempsey is a specialist cardiac and thoracic anaesthetist based in Canberra. He spent his pre-vocational training in Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and St Vincent's, Sydney before completing anaesthesia training at The Canberra Hospital. Subsequently, he completed fellowship training in aeromedical retrieval medicine with South Care ACT and Ambulance NSW. He then travelled to the UK where he completed fellowships in cardiothoracic anaesthesia at Harefield Hospital, London and Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge. He now has a mixed public and private practice in the ACT.  Martin regularly participates in registrar training activities at The Canberra Hospital and has been an active member of both ANZCA and the ASA over many years.

We sincerely thank Dr Jennifer Hartley who has stepped down from the role after three years as chair.

The ACT Trainee Committee are hosting a social event for trainees on Friday 27 June. Please join us at Hijinx Hotel for an evening of fun and games from 6.30pm. Registration is essential. 

In case you missed it – a feature article profiling anaesthesia in the ACT was included in Autumn edition of the ANZCA Bulletin. Thank you to our many fellows and trainees for your input to this wonderful article, and accompanying video. 

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Francis ‘Frank’ Lah on 4 April 2025. For so many Canberra anaesthetists, Dr Lah was an inspiration, a mentor, and a cherished colleague who will be greatly missed. Frank will be remembered as one of the most competent and knowledgeable anaesthetists of recent times. In his later years, while working in the ACT it was commonly said that “just because Frank can do it doesn’t mean you can”. He had a big influence on anaesthesia in the ACT and his techniques and teachings are still talked about by anaesthetists who trained with him during his years in Canberra.