John Cairney (anatomist)
Dr John Cairney | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 5th Director-General of Health | |
| In office February 1950 – October 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Ritchie |
| Succeeded by | Harold Turbott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 October 1898 Greymouth, New Zealand |
| Died | 5 August 1966 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Spouse |
Claris Dorothy Kempthorne
(m. 1920) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
John Cairney CMG (8 October 1898 – 5 August 1966) was the New Zealand Director-General of Health and Inspector-General of Hospitals, an anatomist, a medical superintendent and a writer and painter.
Cairney was born in Greymouth, New Zealand, on 8 October 1898.[1] He attended Greymouth District High School then medical school at the University of Otago where he graduated MBChB in 1922 and MD in 1925.[1]
Career
On graduating Cairney began his research and work in anatomy, studying in America from 1925 to 1926. On his return to New Zealand he was made the University of Otago medical school's first associate professor but soon after took up the position of medical superintendent of Hawera Hospital where he remained from 1927 to 1936.[1][2] He continued his career in administration moving to Wellington Hospital in 1936 as director of clinical services becoming medical superintendent in 1940.[1][2] In 1944 he became superintendent in chief of the Wellington Hospital Board when the Board expanded to include hospitals in the Hutt Valley and Silverstream.[1]
In 1950 Cairney was appointed as Director General of Health over Harold Turbott who had expected to take the position.[1][3] He was Director-General until 1959.[4]
As well as his administrative positions Cairney wrote several books on anatomy for medical students and student nurses, some co-authored with Professor W. P. Gowland and his son Dr John Cairney (jnr).[1][2] He taught at the Wellington School of Nursing.[1] He was also active in numerous medical organisations: the Hospital Boards' Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, the Medical Superintendents’ Association of New Zealand, the Medical Research Council and Senate of the University of New Zealand.[1][2]
Cairney died in Wellington on 5 August 1966.[1][2]
Honours and awards
In 1953, Cairney was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[5] In the 1960 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.[6]
Selected publications
- Gowland, W. P., & Cairney, J. (1941). Anatomy and physiology for nurses / by W. P. Gowland, M.D., F.R.C.S., Professor of Anatomy in the University of Otago, New Zealand, and John Cairney, M.D., Director of Clinical Services, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.
- Cairney, J. (1952). Surgery for students of nursing / by John Cairney ; with a foreword by M.I. Lambie. Peryer.
- Cairney, J., & Cairney, J. (1959). First studies in anatomy and physiology / by John Cairney and John Cairney. (2nd ed.). N.M. Peryer.
- Cairney, J., & Cairney, J. (1966). The human body : a survey of structure and function / by John Cairney and J. Cairney. N.M. Peryer.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dow, Derek A. "John Cairney". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Wright-St Clair, Rex (2013). Historia nunc vivat : medical practitioners in New Zealand, 1840 to 1930 (PDF). Christchurch: Cotter Medical History Trust. p. 76. ISBN 9780473240738.
- ^ Dow, Derek (14 March 2003). "The long locum: health propaganda in New Zealand" (PDF). New Zealand Medical Journal. 116.
- ^ "Cairney, John (Dr), 1898-1966". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Coronation Medal" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 37. 3 July 1953. pp. 1021–1035. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "No. 41911". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 1 January 1960. p. 41.
Further reading
- Obituary in NZ Medical Journal, 65:623-5 (1966)
- "Medical staff – WMHS". Wellington Medical Historical Society. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
External links
Media related to John Cairney (anatomist) at Wikimedia Commons- Photo of John Cairney and his family, 1949.