Honour for icon '˜Lefty' Lett

Dr Zoltan Lett was given ultimate recognition by the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists when he was awarded Honorary Fellowship.

This was presented to him by Past President Dr J.Ronald Lo.

Dr Lo gave a citation in which he outlined the 94 year old’s contribution and described him as a ‘lynchpin’ in the development of Hong Kong’s clinical excellence.

He said: “It is no exaggeration that Dr. Lett has been an icon in the Hong Kong anaesthetic and medical scene. He is known as Lefty to many of his friends.”

Dr. Lett completed medical training at the University College Hospital in London and was decorated in World War 2.

He then settled to civilian anaesthetic practice little knowing that he would spend the rest of his career outside the U.K.

In 1954 he was recruited and appointed first ever government specialist anaesthetist in Hong Kong with the task of establishing the anaesthetic services of the government hospitals and teach in the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong.

When he retired he joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Hong Kong and served as lecturer, then reader, in Anaesthetics and as a research associate.

Dr Lo said: “Lefty was not only an administrator, clinician, and teacher, he was also a mentor and friend to many anaesthetists – a mentor that many anaesthetists who trained in Hong Kong warm to. He was also an author with several books to his name – notably a textbook in anaesthetics and two about the history of anaesthesia and intensive care in Hong Kong. He encouraged clinical research and published in peer reviewed journals.

“Dr. Lett was the lynch pin in bringing Hong Kong anaesthesia from a primitive state after the Second World War to the sophisticated system with a high standard of clinical care that we have today.

“He served Hong Kong for over 40 years in the specialty he dedicated himself to, and he served it well.”