‘Doctor’s cardiologist’ helped transform patient treatment

VERE DAVID URQUHART HUNT MBBS May 20, 1939-January 11, 2024

Dr David Hunt’s family history is a story in itself, so, too, was his contribution to medical science, and the practice of cardiology in particular.

Dr David Hunt derived most satisfaction by interacting directly with his patients.Credit: Cardiac Society of Australia and NZ

His death after a long battle with cancer brought down a curtain on a remarkable life that was perhaps too little recognised in a world where quiet achievement does not necessarily get noticed.

In a eulogy, his friend and professional colleague Professor James Tatoulis described David as a “master of rapid achievement”.

In1962, he graduated from the University of Melbourne medical school, where he topped his year with gold medals in medicine, surgery and obstetrics.

A doctorate of medicine from his alma mater followed.

David chose to be a cardiologist in a field that was to enjoy an extraordinary transformation in the treatment of cardio-vascular disease in the latter part of the 20th century.

In 1971, David began a long and exemplary career in the public health sector as assistant director, and then director of cardiology at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

As Professor Tatoulis observed, David “declined private practice in Collins Street and his life, both personal and professional, was richer for it”.

In his long service in Royal Melbourne Hospital’s cardiology department, 13 as director, David Hunt presided over an era of extraordinary change from modest beginnings of just a few beds. The department today occupies more than 12,000 square metres of floor space, employs hundreds of staff and enjoys a nationwide reputation for excellence.

Dr David Hunt enjoyed a long career as assistant director and then director of cardiology at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

All this might have been enough, but he also involved himself in an impressive range of professional bodies. This included his presidency of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. He was active internationally with numerous fellowships, among them the prestigious American College of Cardiology.

In his professional career, he contributed widely to academic journals. This included 122 research works. He was an active participant in international cardiology trials. In 2009, he published an anecdotal account of his years at the Royal Melbourne Hospital: The evolution of cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

David was, in the words of his Professor Tatoulis, a “doctor’s cardiologist” in the sense that he derived most satisfaction by interacting directly with his patients, rather than responsibilities that came with management.

Perhaps, I should mention here that David, who became a friend late in life, would be most animated in our conversations when describing locums in his specialisation in Mildura and Swan Hill after his retirement.

He would immerse himself happily in practice far removed from the rarefied atmosphere of the Royal Melbourne Hospital cardiac department.

David’s farm outside Melbourne satisfied for him a similar and enjoyable impulse to get away from it all, and a love of the Australian bush.

His early years moving back and forth between England and Australia no doubt contributed to a life on the move. This found expression in his zest for travel. He was proficient in German and Italian courtesy of his travels. This included a sabbatical year spent in Heidelberg in Germany in the 1980s.

Born in England in the shadow of war to an Australian mother and English father, David was transported to Australia at the war’s outset in a convoy at risk from German raiders.

David’s mother, Betty, was the granddaughter of H.V. McKay, founder of the Sunshine Harvester company, in its day the largest industrial enterprise in Australia.

When his intelligence officer father was posted to Sweden near the end of the war, David and his mother joined him, again on a risky voyage in which several in the convoy were sunk by German submarines.

The family spent its post-war years in England before the early death in 1952 of his father from heart attack.

Back in Australia after his father’s death, David was enrolled at Geelong Grammar, where he excelled in his studies. In his matriculation year, he won a general exhibition and a Commonwealth scholarship.

A career in medicine beckoned.

David served as a wing commander in the Royal Australian Air Force reserve to round out a career of service.

David Hunt is survived by his second wife Marie Therese, his brother Robin, four children with his first wife Julie, who died young, three step-children and eight grandchildren.