About Us
Mission Statement
The Australian Hand Surgery Society promotes the pursuit of excellence in hand surgery by:
- Conducting Scientific Meetings
- Promoting Fellowship
- Liaising with National and International Surgical Bodies
- Undertaking Hand Surgery Teaching
Current Executive
Prof Mark Ross
President
A/Prof David McCombe
Immediate Past President
Dr Jennifer Green
Secretary
Dr Libby Anderson
Treasurer
Prof Gregory Bain
President Elect
Dr Tanya Burgess
Board Director
Dr Sharon Chu
Board Director
Dr Sarah Tolerton
Board Director
Our History
In Sydney interested surgeons had formed an association to discuss hand surgery clinical cases and this group had started regular meetings in 1961. Crawford McKellar was an enthusiastic and active person whose endeavours led to the formation of the New South Wales Hand Surgery Association in 1963. This group held regular meetings, and had some interstate members, including John Hueston of Melbourne, and Peter Millroy from Brisbane.
This New South Wales Hand Surgery Association has continued to prosper, and holds four or five clinical meetings a year, sometimes with an overseas guest professor.
In 1970, and again in 1971, John Hueston invited members of the NSW Hand Surgery Association to Melbourne, for informal discussion of hand surgery cases, and demonstrations of his surgical expertise. At this time the concept of a nationwide hand surgery society was discussed, and amongst the members of the NSW Hand Surgery Association a draft constitution was prepared and a mechanism for setting up an inaugural meeting considered.
In March 1972 Sir Benjamin Rank came to Sydney and was met by the office bearers of the NSW Hand Surgery Association, Alan McJannet, Frank Harvey, Richard Honner and John Allman. After discussion of the objects of the group he agreed to support the concept of a National Hand Surgery Society, and to chair the meeting required for its formation.
The foundation meeting was held on 1 July 1972 in the hall of the British Medical Association building in Macquarie Street, Sydney, with 47 surgeons from around the country in attendance.
The draft constitution was discussed and eventually accepted, and the organisation was named The Australian Hand Club.
Australian State Hand Surgery Societies
NEW SOUTH WALES
President: Bryce Meads
E: brycemeads@gmail.com
Secretary: David Bradshaw
E: davidabradshaw@gmail.com
Treasurer: Anna Watson
E: reception@drawatson.com.au
Website: nswhand.org
QUEENSLAND
President: Christopher Blenkin
E: reception@blenkin.com.au
Secretary & Treasurer: Angelo Rondo
E: secretary@qhss.com.au
Website: qhss.com.au
VICTORIA
President: Peter Maloney
E: Peter.maloney@vhsa.com.au
Secretary/Treasurer: David Syme
E: david@davidsyme.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
President: Sharon Chu
E: drsharonchu@gmail.com
Secretary: Angus Keogh
E: anguskeogh@gmail.com
Website: washs.com.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
President: John White
E: john.white2@sa.gov.au
Secretary & Treasurer: Oscar Brumby-Rendell
E: oscar.br@me.com
Hand Surgery Directory
Committees/Advisory Groups
Education Committee
Members
Education Committee Chair: Tanya Burgess
PFET Coordinators: Alexa Potter & Andrew Mayo
AHSS President: Mark Ross
General Members: Abhinav Aggarwal
Travelling Fellowship Committee Chair: Greg Bain
Annual Conference Convenors: Paul Jarrett & Sharon Chu
Responsibilities
PFET – selection and assessment
Journal clubs
Review/rectify Hand Fellowship programs
Registrar/Fellow meeting content
Work with RACS for member CME
Chairperson Conference Convenor – AHSS, AOA, RACS, PSC
Travelling Fellowship
Travelling Fellowship Selection Committee
Chair – Travelling Fellowship Coordinator: Greg Bain
AHSS President: Mark Ross
Education Committee Chair: Tanya Burgess
PFET Chair: Alexa Potter & Andrew Mayo
A Former AHSS Travelling Fellow (who is not an AHSS Board Member)
An International Guest Speaker
Research Committee
Chair Research Committee: Mark Ross
Outreach Committee
Chair: David Graham
Members: Sarah Coll, Richard Lawson
Section 11 Advisory Group
Chair: Mark Baker
Members: Jeff Ecker, Mark Ross, David McCombe, Tony Berger, Libby Anderson, Michael Sandow, Ian Hargreaves, Sharon Chu, Sarah Coll, Nick Smith (ADL) & Steven Tham
Communications Committee
Newsletter Editor: Jennifer Green
Social Media Editor: Sarah Tolerton
Website Editors: Sarah Tolerton & Abhinav Aggarwal
Other AHSS Roles
APFSSH Representative: Jennifer Green
IFFSH Representative: Roland Hicks
AHSS Archivist: Roland Hicks