Mike Fried

Mike Fried was a consultant anaesthetist at NHS Lothian and an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

Mike was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia to a Scottish mother and Czech father. He came to the UK as a 10-year-old not speaking English. Mike graduated in Pharmacology from the University of Edinburgh in 1977 before studying medicine at the University of London and graduating in 1982.

Mike worked as a consultant anaesthetist and an intensivist at St John’s Hospital, Livingston and the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. He retired from NHS Lothian and as a honorary senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh in 2019.

Now living in Matlock, Derbyshire Dales, at the beginning of the Covid pandemic Mike volunteered to help his local hospital. He is still working as a consultant anaesthetist at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and teaching clinical anaesthesia to medical students from the Universities of Sheffield and Nottingham.

Whilst teaching at Edinburgh, Mike was a director of studies for medical students for over 10 years. He was involved in developing and teaching the critical care module for medical students and also very involved in the undergraduate teaching of anaesthesia.

Many Edinburgh medical students were inspired by Mike’s enthusiasm and care for patients. His love for his work and eagerness to share knowledge was inspiring. A former student noted that their time spent with him had such a significant impact that they later pursued a career in anaesthesia, often reflecting on Mike’s influence.