Vale: A/Prof Andrew Keegan

A/Prof Keegan passed away on 11 December, a year after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.

Inducted in 2010 into the AMA Roll of Fellows, A/Prof Keegan is remembered for his dedication to his profession, which he served with distinction.

A/Prof Keegan grew up in Wentworthville and graduated with MBBS (Honours) from the University of Sydney in 1980. He was elected to AMA (NSW) Council in 1999 and served on the Hospital Practice Committee and the Finance and Organisation Committee, as well as Chair of the Hospital Practice Committee.

In 2004, he stood as Vice President of AMA (NSW) and then served as President of the organisation from 2006 to 2008. His presidency coincided with both the Nile inquiry into the Royal North Shore Hospital and the subsequent Garling Inquiry into the NSW Health system. A/Prof Keegan was a significant voice during both, which helped shape the medical profession within NSW and across Australia.

A/Prof Keegan was also an important figure in the medical indemnity crisis and led initial negotiations regarding major amendments to the National Registration Scheme with the NSW Government.

He was a gastroenterologist with a distinguished record in practice, publications, teaching and presentations, and a member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association, the International Society of Biomedical Research on Alcoholism and the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

He worked as a visiting consultant gastroenterologist/hepatologist at Nepean Hospital and Nepean Private Hospital.

A/Prof Keegan was very involved in medical education and health administration and served as an Adjunct Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School Nepean at the University of Sydney.

Among his many local appointments, he was Chair of the Nepean Hospital Medical Staff Council and of the Wentworth Area Health Service Medical Staff Council.

In addition, he served on the Gastroenterology Executive of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation.

A/Prof Keegan was known for his love of Rugby Union and was a dedicated member of the management committee of Sydney University’s Rugby Club for many years.