Dr Brigitta Brandner FRCA FFFPMRCA (1961-2023) - Obituary

Sadly, Dr Brigitta Brandner passed away on 19 July 2023 after several years of serious illness. True to her nature, she endured the illness with great optimism and stoicism. Nevertheless, she still found time for important research, clinical, and teaching projects. She worked for many years as a consultant at University College London Hospital (UCLH), where she was Head of Vascular Anaesthesia. She also developed considerable expertise in the management of chronic pain. She also ran the acute and chronic pain service at UCLH and the Acute Pain Research Group. Many of her trainees went on to become respected specialists in pain management. Her international reputation is underlined by her co-editorship of the Acute Pain – Oxford Pain Management Library. Brigitta was a key member of the Scientific Committee of Drug Science in the UK.

Brigitta was a dedicated clinician, teacher, and researcher throughout her life. Various teaching and research projects took Brigitta to many parts of the world. Numerous high-quality publications in the field of psychopharmacology and pharmacokinetics (e.g. research on cannabinoids and ketamine) testify to her lively research activity. Socially, Brigitta was involved in several charitable organisations. In the last phase of her life, for example, she helped to raise money for patients in Ukraine.

Brigitta was a central figure in the ESAIC examiner team for many years. She was an EDAIC Part II examiner from 2003. She later served as Senior Examiner and Chair on several occasions. As of 2015, Brigitta started to be actively involved in the hosting of the EDAIC Part I examination in London. She went on to run the Part I and Part II exams in London for several years. Her infectiously positive, warm, entertaining and people-pleasing nature made her a much-loved fixture within the ESAIC examiner group. Meeting Brigitta was always uplifting and inspiring. People who were lucky enough to meet Brigitta appreciated her creativity and intelligence, as well as her sense of humour. She had a gift for bringing together like-minded people from diverse backgrounds. Many close friendships and collaborations have developed beyond Europe thanks to her efforts.

We will miss Brigitta very much and will continue her legacy of “connecting people” and “developing projects together” in her spirit. Brigitta’s untimely death is extremely painful and a great personal and professional loss. She is deeply missed by her friends.

Our thoughts are with Brigitta’s family, especially her husband Alex and children Hanna, Max, and Ben.

May Brigitta rest in peace.

On behalf of the ESAIC Examiners

Peter Paal