EYE2EYE 2The Magazine of the Leaders in Collaborative Eye Care

SUMMER 2016 VOLUME 19 ISSUE 4 EYE2EYE 2the magazine of the leaders in collaborative eye care IN THIS Highlights from New Fellows — the Collaborative care in Advocating for RANZCO 2016 next generation of diabetic retinopathy change: RANZCO NZ ISSUE: Congress ophthalmology Branch campaign 3 EYE2EYE 2the magazine of the leaders in collaborative eye care Contents Message from the President 4 Censor-in-Chief’s Update 8 CEO’s Corner 14 Membership Spotlight 15 RANZCO 48th Annual Scientific Congress 34 Indigenous Eye Health 46 Policy and Advocacy Matters 52 34 53 RANZCO Museum 60 Feature Article New Fellows 62 Branch Musings 68 Special Interest Groups 70 RANZCO Affiliates 72 Ophthal News 74 Scholarship Report 81 RANZCO Office 83 Calendar of Events 85 62 81 Classifieds 86 Cover picture: RANZCO 48th Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne 2016 Eye2Eye is published by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists as information for its members. The views expressed in the publication are those of the authors and not necessarily of the College. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute College endorsement of the products or services advertised. Editor: Laura Sefaj Design and layout: Francine Dutton The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists A.C.N 000 644 404 94-98 Chalmers Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Australia Ph: +61 2 9690 1001 Fax: +61 2 9690 1321 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ranzco.edu 4 Message from the President Message from the President Excited about the journey ahead Australian and New Zealand Cornea the pathology department so I was Society, Immediate Past Chair of the given a microscope for Christmas that Investment Advisory Committee year. Of course, as soon as I entered of ORIA and former Section Editor the hospital, that idea went out the and Board Member of Clinical & window as I experienced the highs Experimental Ophthalmology. and lows of working in health. Over His current appointments externally the years as a student, I had almost are Head of Corneal Clinic, Royal every job in a hospital from orderly Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital; Head and cleaner to serologist in the Blood of Surgical Research Unit, Centre for Bank and even a volunteer nurse Eye Research Australia, University of during the nurses’ strike. But it was Melbourne; and Honorary Professor at surgery that really appealed to me so Harbin University. as a junior doctor I tried each of the A/Prof Daniell is involved in teaching surgical specialties in turn. I was deeply ophthalmology to students, registrars impressed by the impact patients and Fellows and has been an examiner felt at the thought of losing their A/Prof Mark Daniell for ophthalmology (RANZCO Advanced sight and how effective eye surgery Clinical Examination) for over 10 years. Associate Professor Mark could be. After a research degree Daniell took up the role Q Can you tell us a little bit about in photodynamic therapy I was as RANZCO President in yourself and your family and your accepted into the training program path to ophthalmology? late November 2016 at at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) before heading to the College’s 48th Annual A I was always interested in science London to train for three more years Scientific Congress in at school and decided to work in medical research. My first taste of a lab at Moorfields Eye Hospital. In London Melbourne. was during work experience at school. I was lucky enough to work with both A/Prof Daniell has held a number of I was left with the impression that if the medical retina department and roles within the College including Vice I wanted to run a medical research the corneal service before returning President, Honorary Treasurer, Board lab, it was better to be a doctor rather to Melbourne to take up a position member and Chair of the Ophthalmic than try and do it as a scientist, so I in the corneal unit at the RVEEH and Research Institute of Australia (ORIA). applied for medicine. My family was the medical eye unit at the Royal He is also Inaugural Chair of the sure I would follow my grandfather into Melbourne Hospital. Eye2Eye Summer 2016 5 More recently, I decided to become Another challenge is addressing RANZCO is an educational more engaged professionally as well A the eye health inequalities suffered body and, as such, driving clinical as build up my research interests. by Indigenous people in Australia. standards in ophthalmology is always What started as a tap on the shoulder The recent National Eye Health Survey a priority. We also aim to promote to become Treasurer of ORIA has led published by Vision 2020 Australia and ophthalmology as a profession, to to a deep involvement with all aspects the Centre for Eye Research Australia raise awareness of the work that of our College and an understanding showed that, while progress is being ophthalmologists do and to achieve of the importance of professional made towards improving vision the best possible eye health outcomes societies in our medical system. and reducing avoidable blindness for people across Australia, New At home, I am kept grounded by in Australia, Indigenous people Zealand and more widely. There have my wife, Susan, and my three kids. My are three times more likely to have been a number of challenges to our eldest son Oscar has just finished his visual impairment or blindness than system, both from within and without, Masters of Ethics and is studying law. non-Indigenous people. and these need to be understood and Julian is in his final year of medicine We face an uncertain future addressed. We need to modernise and is trying to decide which way to from forces outside the profession. our education program, restructure, take his career. My youngest, Edward, The Medicare review could have a replace and improve where necessary. is just starting his Law Arts degree dramatic impact on the delivery of During my term as President, but seems to have enough time to services. The Medical Board seems I am keen that RANZCO remains keep me posted on all the footy certain to introduce some form of focused on continuously improving news. There is always a fair degree of standards in ophthalmology through revalidation. RANZCO’s role is to act as banter around the dinner table, with excellent education, innovation and the interface between the profession no quarter asked or given! advocacy. A particular goal is to and the regulators. We plan to assist in Q What did you like best about drive professional standards as well protecting Fellows from the excessive the many College roles you’ve held as clinical standards, ensuring that burden of regulation, ensuring that in the past? RANZCO Fellows are not just the best the system is sensible and practical. A One of my first roles in the College ophthalmologists they can be, but Q How do specialties like was as an examiner for the Part 2 (now also the best leaders and managers, ophthalmology navigate the rapid the RACE). I found I really enjoyed the the best collaborators and innovators changes that are occurring in our friendship and camaraderie of my and the best advocates for their healthcare environment (such as fellow examiners, who were passionate profession. those happening in the private about education and passing on Q What do you see as some of the health sector and with Medicare)? their knowledge. On the ORIA I came key challenges ahead? A Ophthalmology has been in contact with the academics and One of the biggest challenges quick to embrace change, rapidly scientists of the College, and on the A facing ophthalmology, as well as incorporating technological advances Board, the politicians and advocates. other medical specialties, in Australia such as phacemulsification for cataract, Ophthalmologists as a group tend to is workforce maldistribution. Overall intravitreal injections for AMD and be smart, dedicated and independent the supply of ophthalmologists is collagen cross linking for keratoconus. thinkers. We tend to work alone and about right in Australia, however the There is a constant need to evaluate solve most problems we face without vast majority of ophthalmologists these new technologies, encouraging needing to involve others. Despite our work in or around the major cities, the useful ones and discarding the many similarities, we all have our own meaning access to ophthalmology changes that do not pass muster. ideas and ways of doing things. So services is limited in rural and remote Data collection, analysis of outcomes, when we get together to share ideas, areas, as it is with other medical discussion and publication of the there are plenty of interesting things to specialists. results and development and talk about! Addressing this is a key priority for promotion of best practice are all I have been constantly impressed by RANZCO and for our Fellows. We seek essential activities. my colleagues’ diligence, dedication to do this both through innovative RANZCO constantly monitors and hard work for their patients and programs such as satellite clinics that the external environments that for the College. We all volunteer for have visiting ophthalmologists and by impact the delivery of eye health these committees and serve with advocating for government to create services and we seek to engage good grace and really try to make the policies that facilitate and encourage collaboratively and constructively system work better. specialists to operate in these areas. with government, regulators and the Q What do you see as your main This is one of the issues highlighted in wider industry. Through relevant role as RANZCO President for the our newly launched strategic plan for RANZCO committees we keep track next two years? 2017-2020.

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