Thomas Reeve Obituary

Thomas Reeve, Professor of Surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital, passed away on 20th August 2023 just three months shy of reaching his hundredth birthday.

Tom was an outstanding surgeon, mentor, and scientist and his many contributions to Royal North Shore Hospital were acknowledged by the establishment of the Tom Reeve Academic Surgical Clinic at RNSH in 2019.

In 1963 Tom was appointed clinical consultant to the recently established Ultrasound Breast Imaging program undertaken by the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories. Jack Jellins joined this program in 1965 and with George Kossoff the three of them proceeded to develop equipment and diagnostic criteria for breast imaging by ultrasound. In 1969 the group introduced grey scale imaging of the breast which allowed accurate portrayal of breast tissues and were the first to publish this method in 1971. By comparing images with the surgical outcomes provided by Tom, the interpretation process became more accurate, and a greater reliance could be placed on ultrasonic breast imaging which today is an essential part of clinical practice.

Tom recognised that education and accreditation were essential to ensure that the use of the technology was proper and that adequate standards of practice were met not only for the breast but also in other areas of the body where ultrasound was in use. Tom and Dr William Garrett, together with staff of the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories undertook this responsibility which resulted in the foundation in 1970 of the Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (now the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine). Working within the Society this led to the establishment of the Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound for medical practitioners in 1976. Tom supported sonographer Kaye Griffith in the establishment of the Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography for sonographers in 1979. Both diplomas were world leaders and set standards of practice where none had existed hitherto. Tom’s standing and involvement were invaluable in giving the new diplomas considerable clout which facilitated their implementation and ready acceptance by health practitioners.

Tom gave strong support to ASUM from its inception to his retirement. He was a much-respected president from 1984 to 1986 during the WFUMB Congress held in Sydney. In 1995, when changes to the constitution to allow qualified sonographers to have full membership alongside medical practitioners were mooted, he gave it his full support which greatly helped get the changes through.

His ultrasound colleagues will remember him with gratitude.

To continue reading RealTime news, click here.