(1899– ).

Thoracic surgeon.

A new biography of Robb, George Douglas appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

George Douglas Robb was born at Mount Roskill, Auckland, on 29 April 1899 and educated at Auckland Grammar School and the University of Otago. From 1923 to 1928 he undertook postgraduate studies in London and, afterwards, returned to New Zealand and began to practise surgery in Auckland. He was vice-president of the Auckland Medical Foundation in 1940 and has been a member of the New Zealand Medical Council since 1941, of the New Zealand Medical Research Council since 1951, and president of the British Medical Association, 1961–62. Since 1942 he has been senior thoracic surgeon at Greenlane Hospital, Auckland. In 1938 he was elected to Auckland University College Council, later becoming its vice-president and pro-chancellor. From 1948 to 1961 Robb was a member of the University of New Zealand Senate and, since then, has been Chancellor of the University of Auckland. He received the C.M.G. in 1956 and was knighted in 1960. Sir Douglas is the author of the following publications: Medicine and Health in New Zealand (1947); Health Services or Doctors and Hospitals (1942); Hospital Reform in New Zealand (1949) (with S. B. Morris); and University Development in Auckland (1957).