ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA today paid tribute to Dr Damian McMahon, Director of Shock Trauma Services for the Health Directorate.

"Sadly, I was informed yesterday of Dr McMahon's death," the Chief Minister said.

"Damian was a keen supporter of public hospitals and has worked tirelessly to improve the clinical services for the people of Canberra and the surrounding region."

Dr McMahon was instrumental in establishing the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Helicopter Service and was a passionate advocate of the service.  He was a Senior Staff Specialist in surgery and Co-Director of the Trauma and Orthopedic Research Unit at Canberra Hospital.

Dr McMahon was also the Director of the Clinical Skills Centre and Senior Lecturer in surgery at the Canberra clinical school, University of Sydney and the Australian National University Medical School.

Dr McMahon received his medical and surgical training in Melbourne where he specialised in Trauma Surgery.

He became Trauma Service Co-ordinator at Preston and Northcote Community Hospital in 1993. From 1994 until 1997, he worked as Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellow and Attending Traumatology surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA.

In 1997 Dr McMahon took up his position as co-joint academic/senior staff specialist at Canberra Hospital.

"He was a man of integrity with high professional standards whose passion for social justice was visible through his work," the Chief Minister said.

"Damian is survived by his wife Helen (better known as Della) and four sons. He will be sadly missed by many friends and colleagues and the numerous patients whose lives he helped save," the Chief Minister concluded.