By
Leesha Furse
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Dr
Gordon Cable and Dr Bhupinder Singh.
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Photos
by LAC Casey Smith
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Aviation
training medical officer Dr Gordon Cable’s attendance at the largest
gathering of his peers was such a rewarding experience that it’s
impossible for him to choose the best of it.
He was bestowed two honours in his first time at the event, was
thrilled to meet a childhood hero and was inspired by an Army
aviator who has returned to flying after losing his legs.
“The paper that stood out for me was not so much scientific but
a personal experience of Glen Todhunter’s, who was an Army captain
at the time when he underwent a bilateral leg amputation and through
rehabilitation and management has returned to flying,” Dr Cable
said.
“That underpins the premise of aerospace medicine, which is to
keep people flying and that they are safe to do that.” Dr Cable’s
own work in the field was recognised at the recent Aerospace
Medicine Association 75th annual scientific meeting with the
Ellingson Award, which annually recognises the best paper published
by an AsMA Associate Fellow in the AsMA journal Aviation, Space
and Environmental Medicine.
He was awarded the prize for his article “In-Flight Hypoxia Incidents
in Military Aircraft: Causes and Implications for Training”. He
said the research on which the article was based confirmed the
ADF’s new style of hypoxia training was appropriate and effective.
“I think it validated the training and also highlighted areas
in our teaching which we needed to improve.
So we emphasise, for example, that aircrew check their oxygen
masks for leaks and that oxygen systems are working correctly,”
he said. “It was quite a proud moment for me because I met the
first doctor in space [American Joseph Kerwin, who presented
the award].
I always wanted to meet him. I remember when I was a four-year-old
watching man’s first step onto the moon and never realised that
in my life I would be able to meet the first doctor who flew
in space in the Skylab missions.”
His current area of research will look at the effects of rapid
decompression on neurological function. “Pilots need to have peak
brain function and cognitive performance when flying,” he said.
“Decompression can affect how they think, make decisions and fly aircraft.” Dr Cable and Dr Bhupinder Singh, both from the Institute
of Aviation Medicine at RAAF Base Edinburgh, were also made members
of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine at
the meeting.
It is an exclusive group of specialists who have made a significant contribution to the discipline of aerospace medicine over
the years. “It was terrific and a surprise; an honour.
Membership is only granted to a maximum of 250 aerospace medicine
doctors in the world – members are only replaced as members retire
and new members are sought out amongst the fraternity.”
Dr Cable was also nominated for the Space Medicine Branch’s Young
Investigator Award. Although he didn’t win the prize, he says
its still a great recognition just being a finalist.
Drs Singh and Cable were joined by Wing Commander Tracy Smart
and Dr John Newlands at the meeting. Eleven papers were presented
by the four AVMED medical officers. Twelve ADF personnel attended
and 21 papers were presented on ADF-related themes.
