News

Dr Prakash Sitoula

It was my privilege to be part of the Complex Spine Fellowship Program with Dr Brian Hsu and Dr Bhisham Singh from February 2021 to January 2023.

As a consultant orthopaedic surgeon working in Nepal with couple of short-term trainings in spine surgery, I was looking for an opportunity to spend some more time in surgical training in spine surgery for a more focused practice in this orthopaedic subspecialty. This comprehensive and high clinical volume fellowship program provided me with an unparalleled opportunity to mature as a spine surgeon.

This fellowship program offered me with a good blend of hands-on surgical training and academics. The weekly fellows meetings at Macquarie University Hospital to discuss the preoperative cases for the following week as well as to discuss any challenging cases that need opinion of a team have sharpened my clinical acumen and decision-making process. There was a similar learning experience with the monthly scoliosis meetings at St. George’s Private Hospital, Kogarah moderated by Dr Hsu and Dr Ashish Diwan where a fellow had the opportunity to examine patients with scoliosis and complex spinal issues, study their imaging, formulate a treatment plan and present it to the consultants for discussion. Friday morning journal clubs with Dr Singh kept the fellows updated about the recent developments.

Dr Hsu arranges regular cadaveric workshops for the fellows. This provided me with ample opportunity to understand the spinal anatomy and sharpen my clinical skills before working in the operation theatre.

Working with the highly efficient, dedicated and friendly office team and operation theatre staff was the highlight of this fellowship. With the informal friendly vibe as part of the work culture, it was easy for me to integrate into the system. I always felt at home with the team.

Overall, it has been two wonderful formative years for me where I matured not only as a spine surgeon but as an individual as well. I would like to thank my mentors and their entire team for providing me with this opportunity.

Dr Clint Guitarte

I am an Orthopaedic Surgeon from Cagayan de Oro City. With a specialist interest in spine surgery, I was fortunate to have been awarded the Macquarie University Hospital and New South Wales Spine Specialists fellowship. I arrived here in Sydney, Australia last December 2021. It was my first time here in Australia. I was lucky that upon my arrival, the mandatory quarantine period was already lifted. Also, there were no more lockdowns, giving me opportunities to explore the sights here in Sydney.

My yearlong fellowship was very productive. I was exposed to a wide array of spine procedures from injections, cervical and lumbar decompression and fusions, lumbar endoscopic procedures, to complex paediatric and adult spine deformity surgeries. I also had the chance to participate in spine conferences and cadaveric courses such as the DDU Spine Deformity Conference held in Sydney and the SRS Cadaveric Course in Spinal Deformities held in Singapore. The regular case discussions and scoliosis meetings with other fellows and consultants were high yield too. I have learned significantly from my mentors including the consultants and all hospital and clinical staff. They were not only my mentors, they became my friends too.

Upon my return to the Philippines, I plan to resume my orthopaedic and spine surgery practice in my hometown (Cagayan de Oro City). There, I will be involved in spine surgery education and training wherein the learnings from my fellowship training will come in handy.