11 December 1925 -25 April 2015MBChB, Dip Obst., Dip Prof Ethics, FRCGP, FRNZCGP(Hons), FAFPHMIt is with great sadness that I write this account of the career of Associate Professor Rae West, general practitioner, researcher, epidemiologist, co-worker, mentor and friend, who died on 25 April, 2015.Rae was a leader in what might be termed the Family Practice Movement doctors who aligned themselves with this concept think not just of the individual as requiring medical care at a time of illness, but to think of the family as a whole as unwell, and endeavours to treat each member who may require a different approach, even if not overtly sick.At an even higher level, this care may extend into the community where, in a similar way, every member of the family, including the nominated patient, plays a part in the care of the member who is unwell; thus hopefully providing outstanding care of patients.Rae was the epitome of good general (or family) practice, seeking to provide the best possible treatment for his patients and marshalling community cooperation and care of a high order when that seemed appropriate.Rae qualified in 1948 and became first a House Officer in Christchurch and Masterton hospitals, and then worked as a family doctor in rural Waiuku, where he remained for 22 years. During this time, he coordinated the health-related services in that area. This included, from time-to-time, supervising final-year medical students during their 4-6 weeks apprenticeship to selected doctors. Students valued and enjoyed the opportunities for hands-on work and many considered it a mind changing experience.In 1971, Rae was awarded a Nuffield Travelling Fellowship and visited a number of countries, in particular the US, UK, Europe and Australia. He used these studies to produce a report on Post Graduate studies for family practitioners (Continuing Medical Education, SR West, 1971).Shortly after this, he accepted the position of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Preventative & Social Medicine at Otago University Medical School, followed by an appointment at Auckland Medical School in 1977, where he was appointed an Associate Professor in the Department of General Practice.Among many research projects conducted by Rae were several of international significance. An example of this was his interest in, and study of, health indicators and disease coding thereby facilitating research into disease incidence and exploring comparisons of different countries, climates, and diets.Raes interest in epidemiology was wide and one of the more fascinating involved an analysis of the cries of infants. Ever observant, he conducted a study of baby cries in the hope of establishing patterns occurring as an infant, which if developed, had the potential to aid in the diagnosis of deafness, earlier than before.Outside of medicine, his innovation was seen in the production of a small, written, AH Reeds Guide to Trees of New Zealand for lay people, using simple and easy methods of differentiation.Rae gave much time to helping establish the College of General Practitioners, later to become the Royal College. He served 6 years as the College representative on the Medical Education Committee of the New Zealand Medical Council. A year as President of the College was another example of an onerous and challenging job well done. It had always been the practice that the name of the President of the College should be nominated by the faculties in succession, but not so with Rae. He was nominated by a faculty to which he did not belong: a great tribute to his competence and popularity.As might be expected, with such a background, he served for some years on the Medical Research Council of the day. In addition to all this, he was Editor of the New Zealand Family Physician .In his retirement, Rae studied for, and passed, the Diploma of Medical Ethics examination. Family has always been very important for Rae. Over the years, he and Lilian worked together and had a fine reputation for their hospitality. They have 4 living children. We extend to the family the sincere condolences of the profession at the passing of this remarkable doctor.

11 December 1925 -25 April 2015MBChB, Dip Obst., Dip Prof Ethics, FRCGP, FRNZCGP(Hons), FAFPHMIt is with great sadness that I write this account of the career of Associate Professor Rae West, general practitioner, researcher, epidemiologist, co-worker, mentor and friend, who died on 25 April, 2015.Rae was a leader in what might be termed the Family Practice Movement doctors who aligned themselves with this concept think not just of the individual as requiring medical care at a time of illness, but to think of the family as a whole as unwell, and endeavours to treat each member who may require a different approach, even if not overtly sick.At an even higher level, this care may extend into the community where, in a similar way, every member of the family, including the nominated patient, plays a part in the care of the member who is unwell; thus hopefully providing outstanding care of patients.Rae was the epitome of good general (or family) practice, seeking to provide the best possible treatment for his patients and marshalling community cooperation and care of a high order when that seemed appropriate.Rae qualified in 1948 and became first a House Officer in Christchurch and Masterton hospitals, and then worked as a family doctor in rural Waiuku, where he remained for 22 years. During this time, he coordinated the health-related services in that area. This included, from time-to-time, supervising final-year medical students during their 4-6 weeks apprenticeship to selected doctors. Students valued and enjoyed the opportunities for hands-on work and many considered it a mind changing experience.In 1971, Rae was awarded a Nuffield Travelling Fellowship and visited a number of countries, in particular the US, UK, Europe and Australia. He used these studies to produce a report on Post Graduate studies for family practitioners (Continuing Medical Education, SR West, 1971).Shortly after this, he accepted the position of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Preventative & Social Medicine at Otago University Medical School, followed by an appointment at Auckland Medical School in 1977, where he was appointed an Associate Professor in the Department of General Practice.Among many research projects conducted by Rae were several of international significance. An example of this was his interest in, and study of, health indicators and disease coding thereby facilitating research into disease incidence and exploring comparisons of different countries, climates, and diets.Raes interest in epidemiology was wide and one of the more fascinating involved an analysis of the cries of infants. Ever observant, he conducted a study of baby cries in the hope of establishing patterns occurring as an infant, which if developed, had the potential to aid in the diagnosis of deafness, earlier than before.Outside of medicine, his innovation was seen in the production of a small, written, AH Reeds Guide to Trees of New Zealand for lay people, using simple and easy methods of differentiation.Rae gave much time to helping establish the College of General Practitioners, later to become the Royal College. He served 6 years as the College representative on the Medical Education Committee of the New Zealand Medical Council. A year as President of the College was another example of an onerous and challenging job well done. It had always been the practice that the name of the President of the College should be nominated by the faculties in succession, but not so with Rae. He was nominated by a faculty to which he did not belong: a great tribute to his competence and popularity.As might be expected, with such a background, he served for some years on the Medical Research Council of the day. In addition to all this, he was Editor of the New Zealand Family Physician .In his retirement, Rae studied for, and passed, the Diploma of Medical Ethics examination. Family has always been very important for Rae. Over the years, he and Lilian worked together and had a fine reputation for their hospitality. They have 4 living children. We extend to the family the sincere condolences of the profession at the passing of this remarkable doctor.