Rate My Professor Kichu Nair

Professor Balakrishnan R. (Kichu) Nair AM is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health, specifically in Medical Education and Professional Development, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He holds qualifications including MBBS from Kerala University, MD from the University of Newcastle, FRACP, FRCPE (Edinburgh), FRCPG (Glasgow), FRCPI (Ireland), FANZSGM, and Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Newcastle, along with an Honorary Doctorate of Medicine from the same institution. Previously Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean in the School of Medicine and Public Health, Nair has an extensive career history featuring leadership roles such as Director of the Centre for Medical Professional Development at Hunter New England Local Health District since 2004, Senior Staff Specialist in Geriatric Medicine at John Hunter Hospital and Rankin Park Hospital since 1991, Lead Clinician of the Academy of Clinical Educators at the University of Newcastle, Director of the Certificate Course in Clinical Teaching and Supervision, Chair of Workplace Based Assessment for the Australian Medical Council since 2013, Discipline Head of Medicine from 2017 to 2024, and District Medical Director for the Health Education and Training Institute of NSW from 2012 to 2018. He has also served as Foundation Chair of the Hunter Institute of Ageing Research and Deputy Director of the Australian Community of Research in Dementia (ACcORD).

Nair's research specializations encompass geriatrics, patient safety, medical education, workplace-based assessment, and dementia research, with key projects like the ACcORD initiative attracting $10 million in funding. He has authored major publications including the textbooks “Geriatric Medicine: A Problem-Based Approach” (2018), “Clinical Examination: A Problem Based Approach” (2011), and “Problem Based Geriatric Medicine” (2017), as well as chapters on topics such as advance care planning, acute care and geriatric assessment, physiology of ageing, and dementia management, alongside over 120 peer-reviewed articles. His impact in medical education is evidenced by awards such as Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2009 for services to medical education, John Sands Medal from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2014, University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine Award for outstanding achievement in 2014, and ANZAME award for distinguished track record in medical education in 2017. Nair holds editorial positions including Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Education in Practice and Associate Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Medical Education and Practice, and has contributed to international faculty development workshops and examination panels for bodies like the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Australian Medical Council.