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Associate Professor David Cherry

Adelaide

Director Pain Management Unit, Flinders Medical Centre 19822008. Unit was internationally recognized for its research into opioid pharmacology and membrane stabilizing agents in the management of neuropathic pain. Multiple international lectures on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of opioids (methadone, sustained release morphine, pethidine and fentanyl) and membrane stabilizing drugs (gabapentin and pregabalin). Recognized for showing the relationship between opioid blood levels and pain relief and utilizing the concept of minimum effective concentration (MEC) of opioid drugs – making the prescription of opioid drugs a science rather than an art. Involved in the development of the slow release morphine preparation Kapanol with F H Faulding (a South Australian Company). After leaving FMC in 2008, became the Convenor of Medical Panels SA – a Government organization set up to assess whole person impairment and/or work capacity in injured workers. My role was to determine what were the appropriate medical specialties which included general practice, to assess those workers and to ensure that the worker received and fair, unbiased and non intimidatory assessment. MPSA was shut down by the Government in 2015 and I then became an Independent Medical Examiner in my area of Pain Medicine. Outside interests – married with 4 children and 10 grandchildren – golf as a player and administrator and the card game bridge.