Vale Dr Bradley Power

It is with profound sadness that we inform of the death of Dr Brad Power, a Western Australian intensivist, after a long debilitating neurological illness. Brad was known and adored by so many, especially in his home state. The memory will not fade of his dry, and more notably, insightful-wit and his gentle, compassionate approach to both patients and colleagues. Brad was self-effacing, his enormous intellect was shielded from view by his humility and kind nature.

Throughout his career, Brad was always known for his indefatigable humour, sharp intellect and clinical brilliance that made the complex straightforward.  Generations of doctors and nurses are better clinicians and better communicators because of his teaching and mentorship. Every ward round was memorable for pearls of wisdom, decision-making that was incisive and insightful, and communicated with clarity, but interspersed with quips and aphorisms that always seemed to capture and highlight some underlying and important truth.

Brad was the WA Regional Committee chair and Board member of the Society from 2005 to 2009 and Medical Convenor for the bi-national ASM in 2002 and 2009. In the last 31 years only one other person (2016) has been medical convenor in Perth.

He was the WA representative on the Safety and Quality Committee for many years and in 2011 he presented the ANZICS Oration in Brisbane – a performance to rival the legendary Malcolm Fisher for humour, wit and poignancy. Brad was inducted onto the ANZICS Honour Roll in 2011.

His illness was diagnosed while Brad was Medical Convenor leading up to the ANZICS/ACCCN ASM in Perth in 2009, despite receiving the news that he had an illness that would result in progressive cognitive impairment he continued as Convenor and Perth hosted a superb ASM.  He served as Head of Department for ICU at both Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the Joondalup Health Campus. Sadly, his health caused him to retire from medical practice in 2013.

In retirement he was able to enjoy well-deserved travel, music, and opera. He also enjoyed going to the Federal Court to watch his wife Clare, a SC barrister, undertake cross-examination of witnesses.

Brad is survived by Clare, who has provided extraordinary love, support, and care, as well as three adult children.

We thank Ian Jenkins and Steve Webb for this contribution in memory of Dr Brad Power.