Current Positions:
- Specialist Plastic, Hand and Wrist Surgeon
- President, Western Australia Society of Hand Surgeons
- Executive Board Member, Australian Hand Surgery Society
Practice Location:
Perth, Western Australia
Why did you join AHSS?
To stay connected with the wider hand surgery community and contribute to the ongoing evolution of hand surgery in Australia. It also offers a platform for mentorship, learning, and lifelong collegiality.
Do you have any particular areas of interest in hand surgery practice/research?
Hand and wrist trauma and their reconstruction, peripheral nerve surgery, wrist and distal radioulnar joint kinematics, pathologies, and ligament reconstructions.
Where did you do Fellowship/PFET training and what were the highlights?
I was fortunate to have been mentored by Professor Michael Tonkin and the fabulous team he led and developed at Royal North Shore Hospital during my first PFET fellowship. I completed my second PFET Fellowship under Professor Graham Gumley and his wonderful team at Macquarie University Hospital. They nurtured my passion for wrist surgery and shaped me into the surgeon I am today. I remain deeply humbled by the intricacies of wrist and DRUJ pathologies—forever a student.
How do you define success?
To be respected by your peers, trusted by your patients, and be able to practise your craft with integrity, humility, and passion.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
All my patients, teachers, and colleagues continue to inspire me to better my art every day. But my biggest inspiration is my mentor, Dr. Hanh Nguyen. He guided my path into plastic surgery and has been a consistent source of wisdom, knowledge, and integrity throughout my career. He not only taught me the science and craft of surgery, but also the values that underpin a meaningful and balanced life in medicine.
How has AHSS helped you throughout your career?
AHSS has played a pivotal role in the development of my career. It has provided a vital connection to the broader hand surgery community, fostering both professional and personal growth. Through AHSS, I’ve had access to a wealth of educational opportunities, including continuous professional development (CPD) sessions, conferences, and workshops that have allowed me to stay informed about the latest advances in hand surgery. Additionally, being involved in AHSS’s collaborative initiatives has allowed me to exchange knowledge and share experiences with colleagues, enriching my clinical practice.
As a member of the executive board, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the society and how AHSS is actively working to strengthen ties between Australian and international hand surgeons. This role has also helped me appreciate the importance of cohesive collaboration and mutual support within our community.
Furthermore, AHSS has provided me with a platform to mentor and be mentored, establishing long-lasting relationships with other professionals that have been invaluable in shaping my career. The society has helped nurture my passion for hand surgery, and its resources and networks have been crucial to my ongoing learning and practice improvement.
What have been your personal career highlights?
Establishing a strong and fulfilling clinical practice in hand and wrist surgery, mentoring trainees, and being part of complex reconstructions that restore not just function, but quality of life.
What advice would you give to new Members of AHSS?
Stay curious, stay humble. Never stop asking questions or learning from your peers. Hand surgery is a lifelong journey.
What advice would you give your younger post-fellowship self?
Life is a journey; enjoy the ride; this too shall pass. Don’t let people’s doubts define yourself.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
I’m actually an introvert and love nothing more than to just sit at home and do nothing.
