EIT’s Bruce Morrison Honored with David Dewhurst Award

Recognition for a Career of Service 

The David Dewhurst Award recognizes a distinguished biomedical engineer who has made significant contributions to the field. Morrison was named among the recipients at the Sydney 2026 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards. 

Engineers Australia highlighted his hospital leadership, development work through AusAID projects in more than a dozen countries, and Clinical Engineering Development Workshops supporting over 200 early-career professionals. 

Morrison’s career has taken him from working as a technician to leading a clinical engineering department, contributing to standards and teaching future biomedical engineering technicians. When asked what makes him proud, he points to his service to the profession, development aid work and involvement in the workshops, which he says have run almost every year since 1998. 

Throughout his responses, he also acknowledges the dedicated people he has worked alongside. 

Helping Hospitals Keep Equipment Working 

Some of Morrison’s most meaningful experiences came through working with local teams in the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. Where resources and technical support were limited, keeping medical equipment safe and reliable was particularly important. 

His focus was on sharing practical knowledge with biomedical engineering staff and helping doctors and nurses develop the skills needed to support their hospitals long after the training had ended. 

“The value extends well beyond a single repair, it helps build the capability to keep equipment working and available for patient care.” 

For Morrison, the purpose of that work remains consistent across very different healthcare settings. 

“Whether in a large Australian hospital or a small overseas facility, our work gives clinicians the tools and confidence they need to care for their patients.” 

Building Confidence Through Shared Experience 

The workshops grew from an idea shared by anesthetist Dr John Russell, who described the benefits of similar training for junior anesthetists. Morrison and his colleagues saw an opportunity to help clinical engineers and technicians learn from one another’s experiences. 

Technical knowledge was essential, but hospital work also demanded judgment. The workshops offered a place to discuss practical challenges, contribute ideas, and build professional connections beyond formal education. 

Morrison has watched many participants grow professionally, with some progressing into senior and managerial positions after completing the program. 

“Seeing the participants take those lessons back to their workplaces, and become more willing to take on responsibility, has made the effort worthwhile.” 

Bringing Hospital Decisions into EIT Teaching 

That same attention to practical judgment shapes Morrison’s teaching at EIT. He asks students to consider how equipment is used, what might go wrong, and how an engineering decision could affect patient safety. 

One teaching scenario involves an infusion pump with a reported fault. Students decide what to ask clinical staff, identify possible causes, and develop a systematic troubleshooting plan. 

They also consider when to remove the pump from service, when to seek assistance, and which tests and records are needed before returning it to use. The exercise connects technical understanding with the decisions students may face in a hospital. 

His advice to those entering the profession starts with listening: talk to the clinicians using the equipment, learn from experienced engineers and technicians, and ask questions. Investigate why a failure occurred, verify that the solution works and document the work. 

For EIT students learning from the David Dewhurst Award recipient, the lesson extends beyond the equipment on the bench. It is about understanding who depends on it, and taking responsibility for the decisions that keep it available. 

“Keep learning as technology changes, and be generous in sharing your knowledge.”