Rate My Professor David Brewster

Professor David Brewster is a professor in the Department of Medicine, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. He is the Head of the Cabrini Department of ICU and Anaesthesia Research and Director of Academic Programs at Cabrini Hospital for Monash University's Department of Medicine. Additionally, he serves as Deputy Director of Intensive Care at Cabrini Health and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Medicine, Alfred Hospital. A graduate of Monash University, Brewster is dual-trained in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education and is completing a PhD in medical education under Professor Charlotte Rees. He has been involved in undergraduate teaching at Monash University since 2006 and is a strong advocate for student well-being and collegiality in medical education.

Brewster is an internationally recognised expert on airway management in both intensive care and anaesthesia. His research interests encompass universal airway practices, airway education, and leadership within the ICU. He authored the textbook and course "BEYOND BASIC: Airway management," which has been taught in over 20 countries. Key contributions include leading the development of national guidelines for airway management of COVID-19 patients (Medical Journal of Australia, 2020, over 300 citations) and serving as national lead for Australia and New Zealand in the INTUBE study, the largest multicentre observational study on tracheal intubation in critically ill adults (JAMA, 2021). With over 75 peer-reviewed publications and more than 2,675 citations, his research has influenced global practices, including the FDA's decision to outlaw aerosol boxes. He participates in major trials such as BALANCE, TEAM, SPRINT-SARI, and COVID RECOVERY. Awards include Best Airway Paper 2020 (2nd place, Anaesthesia journal), Christie Cameron Memorial Teaching Award (2015), Most Read Paper (ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2018), Top 10 Article (5th place, Anaesthesia, 2021), and Top Cited Article 2020 (Medical Journal of Australia). Brewster serves on the executive board of the Safe Airway Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Airway Leads committee for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and international groups like the Difficult Airway Task Force for the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists. He delivers plenary lectures on airway strategies in ICU worldwide and acts as a peer reviewer for the Medical Journal of Australia.