Bond University has received a major gift from John Kearney

Major donor and doctor John Kearney is the second generation of his family to generously support Bond University.

Bond University Vice Chancellor Tim Brailsford with major donor Dr John Kearney

Bond University’s new gift from Gold Coast ophthalmologist John Kearney will fund a clinical skills fellowship in his name, anatomy and clinical skills laboratory equipment, laboratory training and research and programs to improve the clinical skills of staff, students and researchers.

Dr Kearney, founder of the Gold Coast Eye Clinic is an associate clinical professor at Bond. He is involved in training its medical students and wants them to prioritise establishing a good relationship with patients.

“I would like Bond’s medical graduates — before they even think about ordering any tests — to have listened to the patient, to have physically examined the patient and gained their trust,” Dr Kearney said.

“No one else can do that. The technicians can do the tests but they can’t take the history. They haven’t learned general communication skills which Bond is very good at teaching. We must arm our doctors well with these important basic skills.”

Bond vice-chancellor Tim Brailsford said Dr Kearney had dedicated his life to “improving the lives of others”. “His various contributions to this university and specifically the medical program are his shining beacon and serve as an inspiration to all of us,” Professor Brailsford said.

The amount of the gift has not been made public but Dr Kearney is one of the top five individual donors to the university and it has named its anatomy laboratory in his honour. His late parents, Drs John F and Alison Kearney, also major benefactors, are remembered in the John and Alison Kearney Library and the John and Alison Kearney Law Library.