Nelson Surgeon to Receive Colin McRae Medal

Nelson Surgeon to Receive Colin McRae Medal

Nelson Orthopaedic Surgeon Allan Panting is this year’s recipient of New Zealand’s most prestigious surgical award - the Colin McRae Medal.

Mr Panting, the third recipient of the honour, will be presented with the award at the Annual Scientific Conference of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) in Perth. The conference runs from May 9-13.

Allan Panting has worked as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Nelson Hospital for the past 23 years and is a trustee of the Wishbone Trust – set up to support Orthopaedic research in New Zealand.

During his career he has been very closely involved with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association – serving as the Association Secretary from 1988 to 1992 and subsequently as a member of the Executive and as President in 1998. He served on the education committee of the Association for a number of years and was involved in developing the Orthopaedic Training Programme. He has been the New Zealand Senior examiner of Orthopaedic Surgery since 2000.

In addition to his commitment to NZOA Alan has also made a significant contribution to RACS as a member of the NZ National Board in its days as the NZ Committee and as a member of the NZ Trauma Committee and an EMST instructor.

Recently elected as Chairman of the NZ Vietnam Health Trust Alan has been, and still is a leader in providing surgical aid to Vietnam. He has worked at the Qui Nhon hospital in Vietnam on three occasions and has helped establish orthopaedic facilities at the hospital as well as assisting with the provision of surgical equipment. Alan has sponsored a number of Vietnamese surgeons to visit New Zealand for educational purposes.

In Nominating Allan Panting for the medal Northland Orthopaedic Surgeon Bill Sanderson said he was: “recognized by his peers as having made an outstanding contribution to surgery in New Zealand. He is a Medical Advisor to the Health and Disability Commission and is frequently involved in the accreditation of orthopaedic departments and surgeons throughout the country. He is recognized by his colleagues at Nelson Hospital as an excellent clinician and a tireless worker with a great compassion for his patients.”

The Colin McRae Medal commemorates the life and work of the late Colin McRae, an outstanding New Zealand surgeon, and former President of RACS. The award recognizes and promotes the art and science of surgery and surgical leadership in New Zealand and honours those who have made outstanding contributions in this field.

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