It is with great sadness that we record the passing of Max McCormick, a treasured friend and an eminent and greatly valued colleague.
Max was a larger-than-life charismatic character who was both loved and esteemed by the entire UK ENT community.
The son of a ship’s engineer, Max grew up in Belfast in the ‘fifties and ‘sixties. A brilliant student at Methodist College Grammar School, he arrived in Liverpool Medical School in 1968, and immediately knew that he had found his new niche in the city, now celebrating its role as the centre of a vibrant music and culture scene and the home of the Beatles, where he was to pursue his career. He met his wife Siobhan when he was a student, and while raising their young family they travelled to Oxford, Cape Town and back to Liverpool where Max was soon to be appointed as consultant at the Royal Liverpool and Arrowe Park Hospitals in 1985 and later to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Max, the charismatic and charming young surgeon quickly gained a reputation as a brilliant clinician with a unique rapport with patient and colleagues, but particularly with young trainees. He mentored and supported many ENT trainees, several of whom went on to prominent roles in British ORL.
In his early days in Liverpool he introduced innovative evening journal clubs - ‘at homes’ - where trainees and faculty in turn would host academic get-togethers in their homes, children and partners included. This was long before structured teaching and training sessions became the norm. The ‘at homes’ events helped establish a great sense of camaraderie with friendships that endure to this day and were very much family affairs that enabled trainees with young children to participate.
A skilled technical surgeon, Max was a generalist but developed a particular reputation for stapedectomies, for which he received many referrals from across the North of England. He established the first specialist voice clinic in Liverpool, had a particular interest in rehabilitation of facial palsy and intractable facial pain, the latter being the topic of his presidential address to the section of Laryngology and Rhinology at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM).
Professionally, Max was always seen as a leader, and had held several presidential positions, starting with the Liverpool Medical Student Society (LMSS) as an undergraduate, with more senior roles as president of the Laryngology and Rhinology section of the RSM, the Liverpool Medical Institution and the North of England Otolaryngology Society. He led the local organisation for a memorable British Academic Conference in Otolaryngology in Liverpool in 2009.
Max enjoyed a full and sociable life with his devoted family and with his many friends. He loved good food, wine, conversation and laughter and was a witty and mischievous raconteur and after-dinner speaker. He enjoyed golf and was a popular and respected member at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Max was always dedicated to his patients with whom he had a wonderful rapport, and although he continued some clinical work well into his senior years it was a great sadness to him and his patients that increasing difficulties with mobility due to his progressive illness curtailed him.
He leaves behind Siobhan and a very loving and supportive family. We will all miss a lovable, trusting and supportive colleague.
Andrew C Swift, Past-President ENT UK
Ray Clarke, President European Society Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ESPO).
