President's Update - October 2024
Fellowship Exam Success
We all know the extent of the sacrifice required on behalf of yourselves, and your families, as you prepare for the final set of hurdles in demonstration of your readiness to practice independently. Enjoy this well-deserved moment of recognition, as you prepare yourselves for practice in your chosen field of Urology. As you start this next phase, recall the efforts of generations of Urologists who have forged systems and earned the trust and respect of the public. This requires nurturing by each of us and underpins our societal connection, and the future of our healthcare.
Congratulations to our colleagues who recently passed their Fellowship Exam:
- Dr Sankara Varun Bhoopathy (NSW)
- Dr Michael Chen and Dr Catriona Duncan (QLD)
- Dr Matthew Farag and Dr Niranjan Sathianathen (VIC)
- Dr Bridget Heijkoop (SA)
- Dr Jordan Mann (AoNZ)
Examiner Recognition
Our conjoint work with RACS includes examinations of the candidates to uphold standards of surgical care across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. As USANZ members, we are deeply grateful to the examiners for their role in the recent exams under the leadership of Senior Examiner Greg Malone.
Surgical Leaders Forum, 3 October
Action by the Medical Board of Australia
Previously, RACS Councils liaised with the Specialty Society (SS) Presidents at regular in-person meetings which ceased during the pandemic. Meetings have now been reinstated with a modified format. Importantly, RACS and SS senior office bearers and staff have gathered twice so far this year.
The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) is about to implement an expedited pathway for General Practice.
The MBA aims to establish a pathway that involves 6 months of supervision (with no examination, or assessment by Specialty Societies) with registration provided by the MBA, when applicants are trained in countries deemed to be ‘substantially comparable’. The potential outcome of this is a new class of SIMGs, disconnected from both the Societies and RACS.
Based upon my experience at a recent presentation with an MBA Board Member, the tone was not collaborative, rather, the MBA telling us what they intend to do. While the new process may address shortages across Australia, it became clear that the MBA feel their role is ‘registration not distribution’.
While there will be some tendency for these urologists to move to where the jobs are advertised, servicing areas of need, the majority have set up their practices in metropolitan areas. It is possible that, despite the risk, there may be no benefit to the communities in need.
To not have links to professional colleagues (being under the auspice of the MBA only) is a risk for these new colleagues, potentially putting them at risk of professional isolation in a culture that is different, possibly very different to their country of origin.
Specialty surgeons have acted as the surgical supervisors for SIMGs and are trained as such. There is an expectation by MBA that we will be willing to supervise SIMGs they register. In communities where SIMGs are needed to augment existing specialist personnel, it makes sense that our members will be motivated to offer that supervision. But what of other SIMGs registered by MBA outside areas of need?
RACS concedes it was slow to have an expedited pathway for low risk surgeons e.g. those who have substantially equivalent training and verified documentation. RACS President Kerin Fielding reflected on her discussions with international colleagues over the current status of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand trained surgeons. We are very well respected, and our system is widely envied. It is not news to members that our members are well received when training internationally. We have something that must be looked after.
RACS has started rolling out a social media campaign and many of you will have seen the media campaign by RACGP hitting the newspapers. I would welcome any feedback from Members about this issue, via email.
Work Health and Safety Update
Minter Ellison presented to the Surgical Leaders Forum on changes to WHS legislation. Historically, most workers compensation claims were related to physical injuries. Currently, more than 50% of claims are related to mental health disorders. New laws will come into effect in early 2025 which may affect all of us. It is worth noting that serious mental injury, will become notifiable.
My understanding is that our current practices are very WHS focused, and it should not change our supervision work significantly. Generally speaking, HR departments are the experts in this area and their advice should be sought early, if in doubt.
Member Achievements
Peter Gilling CNZM, MD, FRACS was the main guest at the Reed Nesbit Society Urological Society meeting at the University of Michigan. It was a meeting focused on BPH particularly HOLEP. Peter is Professor of Surgery at University of Auckland and heads the University’s teaching campus in Tauranga. Peter is a member of the District Leadership Team in the Bay of Plenty District and established, and leads, the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) for the region. Congratulations Peter on this recognition, as well as your Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Eric Chung has just been voted President-Elect of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), the peak global scientific organisation for Sexual Medicine comprising over 3500 members. Eric will be the President from 2027-2028. Congratulations Eric!
Best wishes,
Prof Helen O'Connell AO
President, USANZ