IETY O OC F O Volume 7 Number 2 Summer 2010 S TO N L IA A L R A Y R N T G S O U L A O

E G

H Y T Australian

H E Y A R D E A G N U R D N E C K S Otolaryngology A newsletter published for the benefit of all members of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

From your President

2010 has been a busy year for the Society with a number of developments - not least of which was Stuart Miller retiring as President.

Stuart stood down following the Surgical Leaders Forum March meeting of Council and handed A most valuable initiative in which I participate isthe over the chain of office at the Annual Surgical Leaders Forum co-ordinated by RACS. These Scientific Meeting Gala Dinner. On forums occur during RACS Council week on a Thursday behalf of everyone associated with morning. A selection of interesting relevant and topical the Society I thank Stuart for his issues are discussed with four or five guests invited to great contribution to the Society as speak. Transcripts of three of the talks are available from President. We are fortunate that he the Members section of the ASOHNS website and are well has chosen to remain on the Council so his wise counsel worthwhile perusing. is not lost. One issue which has gained some attention during these Diamond Jubilee ASM highlight forums has been Training in Private Practice. A workshop on surgical training and private practice was held and the Undoubtedly the highlight of the year was the Diamond outcomes were further presented at the Surgical Leaders Jubilee Annual Scientific Meeting held in Sydney in late Forum by Mark Hughes the censor-in-chief. There will March. Bringing together a fine array of international undoubtedly be pressure to better utilise this area of and local speakers, the meeting attracted more than 400 practice in a variety of ways in the future with regards delegates from the specialty, including 70 from overseas, training and education. Members will be kept informed providing a real international flavour to the meeting. of developments. The high quality of the international speakers and an appealing range of workshops ensured that delegates Australia honoured guest at American Academy meeting were provided with an excellent educational program. Away from the meeting itself, the Society Medals Those members considering attending the September presentation and NSW Senior members attending the American Academy Meeting will be pleased to learn that Gala Dinner courtesy of the NSW Division provided a great the American Academy has designated Australia as an sense of camaraderie. Congratulations to all involved, honoured guest country for the 2011 Annual Meeting in particularly Convenor Brian Williams. We all look forward San Francisco next year. For Australian Society Members, to the 2011 ASM in Melbourne next April. this will mean a US$100 reduction on the registration fee, recognition at the Opening Ceremony and invitations to three separate receptions put on by the Academy and hosted by the President J. Regan Thomas. On a broader scale there are a number of issues, which continue to concern the Council and the medical profession at large. ASOHNS Journal From a local perspective members will be disappointed AHPRA national registration to learn that the ASOHNS Journal supplement, which The national registration of the profession undertaken by we have worked very hard to reinvigorate, has struck a AHPRA has not been without its problems and controversy. hurdle. Owing to a number of reasons, the American Notwithstanding the delays in processing and mandatory Academy has withdrawn its support from the two-year reporting, a recent private members debate in the House trial arrangement of producing an Australian supplement. of Representatives questioning the transparency and Editor Simon Carney and other members, are currently processes involved in assessing IMGs, particularly with investigating the situation and examining possible options. regard to rural practitioners, also called for a review of The Journal is a valued aspect of ASOHNS membership the assessment practices of the specialist colleges. This and I am keen that this worthwhile resource will continue. involved not only IMGs but training and selection as well. Members will be kept informed of developments. More to come on that I’m sure. Continued page 2

www.asohns.org.au ASOHNS 1 Australian Otolaryngology Volume 7 Number 2 Summer 2010

From your President... continued. Council Meeting Update The ASOHNS Council met in early November this year Member Services and the following key issues were addressed: On the topic of member services, I am pleased to report that Council has doubled the capitation payment back to • Dr Rob Black, as Specialty Representative to state Divisions in order to better facilitate local education RACS, was appointed as an ex officio member initiatives and programs. I understand this decision has of Council been well received at the local level. Council is cognisant • SA Section Chair, Dr Darcy Economos, of continually looking at how better to provide services to presented a progress report on the restructure members or meet community needs within its jurisdiction of the Australian Day Surgery Council* and much time is given to considering how best to do this. Naturally, suggestions from members in these areas are • The Budget for 2011, presented by Hon. most welcome. Treasurer Dr Niell Boustred, was approved

• Nominations for the Society Awards for 2011 Vale were approved and recipients would be Finally it is with much sadness that I report the death of announced at next year’s ASM. our colleague and close friend Sam Robinson. Sam’s death • The Continuing Professional Development was particularly sad and distressing for us all. He had Report received from CPD Sub-Committee vast knowledge and experience in his highly specialised Chair, Dr Malcolm Baxter, noted the high level and challenging area of sleep surgery and his teaching, of member compliance. (Read this report on education and training of both colleagues and registrars page 10) will be sorely missed and very difficult to replace. I wrote to his wife and family expressing our sincerest sympathies. • From 2012 Senior Members would pay 50 per cent of the Ordinary Member registration fee Members will also be saddened to learn of the death of to attend the ASMs long-time Victorian member George Rayner in August. George was well known and delighted in wearing his • From 2011 Senior members and their partners ASOHNS tie each day to work as a sign of his pride in the from the ASM host state would be invited as Society. ASOHNS’ guests to the ASM Gala Dinner • President, Dr Michael Jay, presented an update on the direction of Training in Private I express my thanks to Mark Carmichael in particular, our Practice* attentive and diligent CEO. His pursuit and execution of all matters coming through the office is prompt, efficient and • A policy covering “Key Principles on Running highly professional. an ASM” was considered and adopted. I thank both Carole Gridley, Membership Officer and Kate • Approval was given for the Professional Elsegood, Surgical Education & Training Administrator, Conference Organiser to be engaged for the who ensure that all matters are handled in a professional 2012 and 2013 ASMs and pleasant fashion. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. • Both Queensland Section Chair, Dr Fiona Panizza, and WA Section Chair, Dr Philip Grey, were welcomed as new state representatives I take this opportunity to wish all members and their to Council families a happy Christmas and New Year period and I look forward to seeing you all in 2011. • ASOHNS’ protocol for handling complaints from external agencies was approved* Michael Jay President *For further information about these items please contact Mark Carmichael, CEO at ASOHNS

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CEO’s Message Meeting the Challenge in Education Information

PD e-bulletin meets member need Providing valuable and worthwhile services to you as members is fundamental to the rationale of the Society.

One of those services, which is much Members will have noticed that each meeting listed in demand, is providing information on contains a link to further information in the Events section professional education opportunities. of the ASOHNS website. This allows for easy access to the Hardly a week goes by when the necessary information for that meeting and also means Society is not asked to promote a information on other meetings is within easy view. conference, meeting or a workshop somewhere in Australia or overseas. These requests are The first PD Update e-bulletin was sent in May 2009 and entirely appropriate, as all of the activities are relevant included information on two meetings. For the remainder and providing such information is one of ASOHNS’ key of 2009 it was produced on a quarterly basis and listed 14 services. meetings in total.

Previously the challenge was determining how to bring all In 2010 the PD Update e-bulletin was distributed seven of those requests together and present them to members times and listed a total of 28 meetings. in a way that the information could be quickly read Importantly, we trust that this approach is working and and understood and facilitated access to more details that information that is relevant is reaching you. if required. At the same time this service needed to be provided in a coordinated fashion. In closing I thank everyone for your generous support throughout the year and I look forward to seeing you at Within the secretariat this has been addressed using the the 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne in April. technology of email and the website and by implementing the regular “Professional Development Update” e-bulletins, which have received a number of favourable Mark Carmichael comments from members. Chief Executive Officer

All information received pertaining to member-relevant meetings, training courses and workshops held in Australia and overseas is listed initially in the “Events” section of the ASOHNS website. Currently, the ASOHNS website runs at approximately 140 “hits” per day and a review of the hits indicates that the Events section is a popular area for members to visit.

Rather than inundate members with information and accompanying attachments about individual meetings it was decided that a regular PD Update e-bulletin, which included information on up to five activities per bulletin, would be a professional, concise and time-saving way of notifying members.

Each PD Update e-bulletin aims to include a mix of both international and Australian based meetings, as well as those representing different sub specialties.

So as to provide as broad a service as possible and meet the demand, meetings that are included in the PD Update e-bulletins are usually listed once only.

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Feature Professor Graeme Clark AC Awarded Prestigious Lister Medal

ASOHNS member Prof. Graeme Clark AC has been awarded the prestigious Lister Medal. He is only the third Australian to receive the medal since its inception in the 1920s. His lifetime work has culminated in the major discovery of multiple channel cochlear implants giving hearing to thousands of deaf people in more than 120 countries. Currently Prof. Clark is Distinguished Professor at La Trobe University, where he has opened the Centre for Bionic Ear and NeuroSensory Research, which spearheads the development of the next generation high-fidelity bionic ear.

Prof. Clark kindly agreed to respond to some questions submitted by ASOHNS about his work, the future of the bionic ear and some advice for his younger peers.

ASOHNS: How are you feeling about being ASOHNS: What, if anything, would you have awarded the Lister Medal for your achievements done differently in the development of the in the specialty of OHNS? bionic ear? PROF. CLARK: I feel greatly humbled but at the PROF. CLARK: In retrospect I endeavoured to be same time delighted that our surgical research conservative and ensure that everything done and endeavours in Australia have received was safe and at the same time surgically accurate. this recognition alongside that of many other It was difficult to fast track it from the early stages surgical achievements such as heart transplants, due to the intense criticism and opposition that antibiotics, hip replacement and the surgical one received. treatment of epilepsy. I am grateful to my general There was really no way to overcome that. surgical and otolaryngology mentors for their Furthermore I had to initiate a new department inspiration and also to my colleagues for their of otolaryngology, establish the first course in support over the many years of development audiology in Australia and do a number of other into the bionic ear. administrative activities. I would like to have been relieved of that responsibility, which made ASOHNS: Of all aspects of your work over the working on the research more difficult. past several decades, what can be learned for the future? PROF. CLARK: I consider that the most important “the most important lessons I have lessons I have learned are the need for close learned are the need for close relationships between clinical surgery and relationships between clinical surgery fundamental research. I believe it is most and fundamental research” important that they be combined – in other words, there is a need for the surgeon to understand and be actively involved in research But on the other hand, it did give one a more so they can lead an interdisciplinary team. Most general understanding of the important clinical research today is interdisciplinary and it needs aspects of the work which was essential in someone to head the team who has training in a relating that to the research. number of disciplines.

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“we are exploring the possibility of using many more electrodes to try and give the fine timing and spatial responses… needed for good sound perception”

ASOHNS: Please describe briefly the current status of the new generation bionic ear. PROF. CLARK: The Cochlear implant — or bionic ear — has led to far better results than I ever anticipated when I started. I don’t think I could have dreamed that it would give near normal speech understanding for severely deaf adults who had hearing before going deaf, or for that matter near normal spoken language for children born deaf — especially if operated on at a young age. Nevertheless, it is not perfect hearing, it is not hi-fidelity sound. Music does not sound good and that is the last major challenge with electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve pathways. At the Graeme Clark Centre for Bionic Ear and NeuroSensory Research — located at La Trobe University and in collaboration with the University of Wollongong — we are The Lister Medal exploring the possibility of using many more electrodes The Lister Medal is awarded triennially by the to try and give the fine timing and spatial responses we Royal College of Surgeons of England to recognise now know is needed for good sound perception. We are contributions to surgical science. Although it is not using advances in nano-technology, micro-electronics and always awarded to a surgeon, it is one of the most intelligent polymers, as well as signal processing in the prestigious accolades a surgeon can receive. hope to achieve that goal. The two other Australians to win the Medal were Sir Peter Morris in 1997 for transplant surgery and Sir Howard Florey in 1945 for the outstanding importance to surgical science of his work on “never give up on what you believe penicillin and its application. to be an important and good idea” The Medal is named after the English surgeon Joseph Lister (1827-1912), whose work on antiseptics established the basis of modern sterile surgery. ASOHNS: If there is one message you would like to convey to the younger members of the profession, what would it be? It originated in the Lister Memorial Fund, begun by the Royal Society, which was raised by public PROF. CLARK: I would like to encourage younger members subscription after Lister’s death, with the objective of showing a lasting mark of respect to his memory. of the profession to firstly realise that they are entering a very exciting era in medicine. In 1920, the Royal College of Surgeons of England became the trustees and administrators of the fund. I believe otolaryngology, head and neck surgery is a very They were entrusted with the task of awarding a important, challenging and wonderful discipline. I would monetary prize and a bronze medal, irrespective encourage people to be involved in research — if they feel of nationality, to those who had made outstanding contributions to surgical science. The award was that is a calling — and, if so, to strive for excellence. And decided by a committee representing the Royal my parting comment would be “never give up on what Society, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the you believe to be an important and good idea”. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Glasgow. As well as accepting the award, the medallist delivers the Lister Oration (sometimes called the Lister Memorial Lecture), not necessarily in the same year as the award. The first award and lecture took place in 1924. Source: Wikipedia

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75th Birthday Celebration for Prof. Clark A wide range of 170 guests, including family, friends and past associates, gathered to celebrate Professor Graeme Clark’s 75th birthday at a special dinner held at the University of Melbourne in September this year.

Before Prof. Clark rose at the end of the evening to say a few words, the guests had heard 24 speakers. They included former colleagues and students, former federal politicians (The Hon. Ian Macphee and Dr the Hon. Barry Jones), industry colleagues, implant recipients, members of several learned academies and members of Prof. Clark’s family.

Arguably, the highlight of the evening was listening to three child recipients of the Cochlear implant. It was moving to hear these impressive adults communicate their thoughts and feelings for Prof. Clark, and you could not help but imagine how different their lives would have been without this remarkable technology. Prof. Graeme Clark and guests

Chairman of Bionic Vision Australia, Professor David Penington, topped off the evening by presenting Prof. Clark with a letter from Her Majesty The Queen.

It was a wonderful celebration for a special Australian. Each speaker had contributed to a canvas that, by the end of the evening, gave all present a special portrait of someone who has done so much for the hearing impaired community.

Luan Ismahil ICT for Life Sciences Forum Convenor C/- Victoria Research Laboratory NICTA (National Information and Communications Prof. Graeme Clark and Margaret Clark with Cochlear implant recipients Technology Australia)

A 75th birthday celebration wouldn’t be one without a surprise or two. The dinner sponsors arranged a video of pre-recorded messages from friends who could not be present. They included the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser; Nobel Laureate, Professor Peter Doherty; the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Brumby and leading research biologist and Australian of the Year 2000, Sir Gustav Nossal.

The President of the Royal College of Surgeons in England, Mr John Black, sent a message of congratulations and Speakers included: also announced that Prof. Clark had been selected to Dr the Hon. Barry Jones, Minister for Science, Hawke Government (L); receive the Lister Medal, the highest award for surgery Hon. Ian Macphee, Minister for Productivity, Fraser Government (centre); in the United Kingdom. Dr Michael Jay FRACS, ASOHNS President (R)

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Surgical Education & Training Trainee Rep Report Greetings from Victoria from your new Trainee Representative.

I take this opportunity to thank my 3. Work out the geographical areas where you would go predecessor Dr Claire Iseli for her and, conversely, where you definitely would NOT go. fantastic job in this role over the last 4. Consider what your spouse/partner/family will be two years. Her development of the role doing during this time and what they are prepared/ means that now, more so than ever, not prepared to do when away for a year or more. there is a conduit for effective two- The old adage “a happy wife/husband/child, happy way feedback and action on behalf of life” is very applicable! trainees at the National Board level. Her efforts are duly noted and greatly 5. Decide if you are willing (or even able) to do an appreciated. unpaid fellowship year.

Being in Set 3 this year, I’ve begun thinking about where 6. Determine what the roster and potential on-call I will find myself in two to five years’ time. Specifically, commitments are before starting/applying. what fellowship (if any) will I do and how exactly does one 7. “It is often not what you know but who you know”. organise to do this said fellowship? With that in mind, I Local contacts are a great resource and they are approached some of the graduating class of 2009 who are often more than willing to make your introduction to currently doing fellowships overseas and asked for some the unit(s) that they worked for on your behalf. of their hottest tips for organising a fellowship year (or two). Their advice is as follows: 8. You will most likely have to visit your chosen institution in person at some stage to have a chance of getting 1. Fellowships are far easier to sort out than you might the job, so plan for that time and expenditure. think. However, you need to start early (up to two 9. The UK, Canada and the USA all have their years in advance for some fellowships) to arrange the idiosyncrasies with regards to their respective job and requisite paperwork/visas etc to be able to medical boards, visa requirements, licensing exams, work. job “matching” etc., so once you have considered 2. Fellowships strongly define your career and your the above and maybe even secured a job, you need capabilities as a surgeon. As such you need to to do all the paperwork to make it happen. think about what you want — not only out of the 10. Have a great time, as training is enough “punishment” fellowship but also the kind of career you envisage for a lifetime! for your future. All fellowships are different and have different case Happy hunting! loads, despite being generically listed as a Head and Thanks for your time and I look forward to the next two Neck fellowship, a Rhinology fellowship, etc. years working as your trainee representative. For example, many Head and Neck centres do their own reconstructions and there are opportunities Luke Reid for ENT fellows to be trained in microvascular SET 3, Victoria techniques. Trainee Representative Therefore it comes down to which skills you hope to acquire and the value you will bring back to your professional community when you return home.

Congratulations Fellowship Exam Passes The Society congratulates Dr Yi Chen Zhao (a Victorian The following trainees have passed their Surgeon Scientist) on being awarded the RACS Annual Fellowship Examination: Scientific Congress Surgeons as Educators Prize. Sharad CHAWLA (SA) He received the prize for his paper entitled “Does Ronald CHIN (NSW) virtual reality simulation training improve real life Daniel ROBINSON (NSW) performances? – Results from a randomised control”.

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Board of OHNS, RACS During the last year there have been a number Board OHNS, RACS (from November 2010) of changes to the Board. Board Chair Dr Francis Lannigan NSW RTS Chair Dr Richard Gallagher These include: QLD RTS Chair Dr Jim Hallam Dr Francis Lannigan undertaking the role of Board Chair SA RTS Chair Dr Stephen Floreani Three new state chairs — Dr Jim Hallam (QLD), Dr VIC RTS Chair Dr Sherryl Wagstaff Stephen Floreani (SA) and Dr Philip Fisher (WA) WA RTS Chair Dr Philip Fisher Dr Glen Croxson becoming the Senior Examiner NZ RTS Chair Dr Allan Keast A/Prof. Stephen O’Leary taking on the role of Academic Representative Immediate Past Board Chair Mr Neil Vallance Dr Luke Reid as the new Trainee Representative ASOHNS President Dr Michael Jay NZSOHNS President Dr Bren Dorman There have also been two new positions added to Senior Examiner Dr Glen Croxson the Board — Dr Robert Black as our Specialty Elected Councillor and Dr Elizabeth Sigston as the Surgical Science Academic Representative A/Prof. Stephen O'Leary Exam Representative. Specialty Elected Councillor Dr Robert Black Surgical Science Exam Dr Elizabeth Sigston We sincerely thank the Board Members who have Representative stepped down from their Board positions for their time and hard work in the continuous improvement of the Trainee Representative Dr Luke Reid training program: Curriculum Officer Dr Wendy Crebbin Mr Neil Vallance (Board Chair) (EDRD Manager, RACS) Dr Ben Panizza (QLD RTS Chair) Board Support Prof. PJ Wormald (SA RTS Chair and Academic CEO, ASOHNS Mr Mark Carmichael Representative) SET Administrator, ASOHNS Mrs Kate Elsegood A/Prof. Vincent Cousins (Senior Examiner and VIC RTS Chair) OHNS Executive Officer, RACS Ms Fiona Bull Dr Claire Iseli (Trainee Representative) SET Executive Officer, RACS NZ Ms Linda Porter

Appeals and Monitoring Panel for Medicines Australia ASOHNS has received a request from Medicines Australia (representative body of pharmaceutical companies) inviting a member to be a point of contact and attendwhere necessary a meeting for: • An appeal pertaining to Otolaryngology – as needed • Monitoring Committee which reviews materials or activities relating to Otolaryngology – meeting scheduled for Monday June 20th, 2011

Meetings are held in Sydney.

If you are interested in learning more please contact Ms Sophie Hibburd on 02 6122 8590 or email [email protected]

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Cairns Career Opportunity Cairns is a great ENT opportunity for those looking to enjoy both a lifestyle in a beautiful part of Australia and the challenge of complex cases and expanding ENT services.

Well-trained ENT surgeons are needed in Cairns to help expand a basic ENT service into what could be a busy centre for four or more surgeons in private and public practice.

Cairns is in Far North Queensland, approx four hours’ drive north of Townsville, less than two hours’ flight to Brisbane and just over three hours’ flight to Melbourne. It has an international airport and is a busy tourist destination.

The tropical climate offers beautiful, generally stable weather in the low 20s from May to October and a hotter, humid wet season from December to April. The rainforests and gardens are lush and there are dozens of popular beaches south and north of Cairns right up to and above Port Douglas, which is about 45 minutes’ drive north.

There are many fine restaurants, good schools and a vast Outreach services to various regions in Cape York are also range of outdoor and sporting activities available. run out of Cairns, as well as the Deadly Ears program that runs out of Brisbane. ENT has good support from our The city’s population is about 130,000, with a regional director of surgical services. drainage area to Cairns Hospitals of more than 250,000. We need quality ENT surgeons to help maintain and There is a single campus public hospital facility (with more expand the service. I have a very busy private practice with than a dozen smaller community hospitals/ facilities) based waiting times for a new CAT 3 private patient extending in the centre of town. The current capacity is more than to more than six months. I see paediatric patients earlier. 320 beds but bed numbers will increase to just under 500. I am the only surgeon with an appointment at the public There are eight theatres that will expand to 12. The public hospital. There are two senior ENT surgeons who have a hospital has a busy and accessible 36-bed emergency private only practice in town. department. The waiting times for outpatients at the public hospital are The private hospital is a Ramsay Health Hospital of very long and we are really only providing a solid CAT 1/2 approximately 123 beds and is conveniently situated 200- service due to demand. Cairns could easily support three 300 metres from the public hospital. to four more surgeons in private and public practice even with our current workforce. The demand would be greater Both hospitals are quite accommodating regarding again once our two private surgeons begin winding down equipment required and maintaining theatre stock. We their practice, as they currently carry a good deal of the have all the latest Medtronic shavers and drills, Zeiss patient workload. microscopes, NIM monitoring (public and private) with drill tip stim probes, endoscrubs and high definition cameras There are locum positions available at the Cairns Base for the endoscopes and microscope (private and public). Hospital but we can always accommodate individuals keen We do not have image guidance but rent it when required. on settling up here. I offer my support, both privately and publically, to anyone interested in coming up and would Apart from general ENT, I do a lot of otology in the form of welcome the professional stimulation and chance for stapes and mastoid work. We see a lot of ME disease and expansion that would bring. I would be always available intra-temporal/intra-cranial complications are frequent. for any junior consultants thinking of making the move but Sinus disease in general, but especially fungal sinus unsure about the level of local support they would have disease, is also extremely common and FESS is a mainstay in gaining experience with some of the more challenging of the work up here. cases and setting up practice.

We offer a diagnostic and staging Head and Neck Cancer Please feel free to contact me directly on my mobile after service (we do minor oral cavity resections and all hours or via email if you have any queries. Mobile 0410 salivary gland work) and then send patients to Brisbane 678 000 or email [email protected] or Townsville. With a radio-oncology service set to open in the future, Cairns would be a good location for anyone Dr Philip Jumeau MBBS FRACS ENT who is interested in Head and Neck. I do not do this as I am Head and Neck Consultant the only ENT and the demand for this service is very high. Cairns Region FNQ We can barely keep up with diagnostic services.

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CPD Update CPD Report 2009 Compliance Members are again reminded that National Registration makes it imperative that all medical practitioners fulfil their CPD obligations, which in our case means completing the RACS annual CPD accreditation requirements. As of mid- September 2010, 63 members had either failed to submit their annual returns or were otherwise non-compliant. These members were all contacted and by mid October MELBOURNE | 3-9 April 2011 the numbers which were non-compliant had reduced to 19. These members will be contacted further. International Faculty Members should be aware that the RACS aims to increase Prof. Petra Ambrosh MD the audit rate for CPD returns to 3.5 per cent of Fellows Prof. Dennis Kraus MD for the next triennium, 2010-2012. These will be randomly Dr Thomas Somers MD PhD selected by computer and relate to one particular aspect Dr Peak Woo MD of the return, e.g. the Fellow’s own audit program.

Opening Address Semi-Retired Members Prof. Douglas Hilton One of our semi-retired members had problems meeting Director, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute his requirements, as his own portfolio was initially rejected. I am happy to say this has been resolved but Pre-Conference Workshop members (Fellows) who are no longer in full time practice are reminded that they still have a CPD obligation if Sunday April 3 & Monday April 4 undertaking any kind of medical or surgical work, including Diagnostic & Operative Laryngology Dysphagia medico-legal only. As these members usually have This Pre-Meeting Workshop will cover: different circumstances from the full time practitioner (e.g. no longer having an accredited hospital attachment) • All aspects of the diagnosis of benign there is a provision for them to submit individual portfolios laryngeal conditions, including stroboscopy, for approval for their CPD requirements. It is essential EMG, endoscopy and voice analysis. that such members get prior approval from the RACS CPD • Surgical management including phonomicro- board and that they carefully document all activities. surgery, injection laryngoplasty, office procedures and other techniques for the Malcolm Baxter management of benign laryngeal conditions. Chair CPD Sub-Committee • Aspects of the assessment and management Representative to RACS PDSB of dysphagia including reflux and transnasal oesophagoscopy. • New directions in laryngology.

Scientific Meeting NSW CPD Meetings — Tuesday April 5 to Thursday April 7 Accredited by RACS The ASOHNS NSW Section CPD meetings are now Post Conference Workshops formally approved for credit in RACS Continuing Friday April 8 Professional Development (CPD) Program. Laser Safety Course – Half Day Each meeting qualifies for two (2) credit points in Category 4: Maintenance of Clinical Knowledge Friday April 8 & Saturday April 9 and Skills. Laser ENT Course NSW members will need to sign and date a Register For more information visit of Attendance, which will be available at the meetings http://www.asohns.consec.com.au/ then returned to ASOHNS’ office for filing.

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Medical Board of Australia Update*

Mandatory Reporting Registration Standards The Medical Board of Australia is aware that there is The National Law requires the National Medical a significant level of concern about the mandatory Boards to develop registration standards about reporting provisions of the National Law. The Board requirements for: encourages medical practitioners and students, I. Professional Indemnity Insurance whose health are impaired, to seek and receive good medical care. This will also reduce the II. Criminal history checks likelihood of, or need for, a mandatory notification. III. Continuing Professional Development IV. English language skills and Impaired Health - It is only necessary for another V. Recency of practice health practitioner or employer to notify the Board if a practitioner has: All registered medical practitioners must comply with • practised the profession while intoxicated by these registration standards, which have been approved alcohol or drugs; OR by the Ministerial Council. Non-compliance with the • placed the public at risk of substantial harm in the standards is grounds for further action, including practice of the profession because the practitioner refusal to renew registration or action under the health, has an impairment performance and conduct provisions of the National Law. Impairment or poor health are not sufficient grounds to trigger a mandatory report. A practitioner who recognises The full details of the standards are published on the that he or she has an impairment and who obtains Board’s website at http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/ appropriate treatment or stops practising voluntarily Registration-Standards.aspx before it affects practice does not need to be reported to The Board encourages all practitioners who are uncertain the Board. about their obligations to read the full standard. The Board has published guidelines for mandatory notifications. These are available at http://www. medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-and-Guidelines.aspx Mandatory Notifications by health practitioners – Registered practitioners must report to AHPRA if, in Registered health practitioners, employers and the course of practising their profession, they form the education providers have obligations to report under belief that: the National Law. • another registered practitioner has engaged in The Western Australian Parliament has amended the “notifiable conduct”; OR National Law in relation to mandatory reporting in that • a student has an impairment that, in the course state only. Only in WA, practitioners who are in a treating of that student undertaking clinical training, may relationship with another practitioner are not required to place the public at substantial risk of harm make a mandatory notification to the Board. Mandatory Notifications by employers – Employers Notifiable Conduct – in relation to registered health have a mandatory obligation to report an employee if practitioners - means the practitioner has: they believe that their employee (a registered health • practised the profession while intoxicated by alcohol practitioner) has behaved in a way that constitutes or drugs; OR notifiable conduct. • engaged in sexual misconduct in connection with the practice of the profession; OR Immunity from making a mandatory report – The • placed the public at risk of substantial harm in the National Law provides protection from civil, criminal and practice of the profession because the practitioner administrative liability for persons who make a notification has an impairment; OR in good faith. • placed the public at risk of harm because the practitioner has practised the profession in a way that constitutes a significant departure from accepted professional standards * Source Medical Board of Australia Update October 2010

For more information on this and other matters visit www.medicalboard.gov.au

www.asohns.org.au ASOHNS 11 Australian Otolaryngology Volume 7 Number 2 Summer 2010

State Section Reports

New South Wales Dr Tom Kertesz stepped down as the The bi-monthly Continuing Professional Development ASOHNS NSW Section Chair during 2010. meetings, under Dr Glen Croxson’s supervision was, as Dr Michael Taplin was elected as the new Chair at the always, well supported by members. Importantly, this Annual General Meeting held in March. program has been accredited by RACS for CPD points, which adds to its value. The highlight of the year for NSW was hosting the 2010 Diamond Jubilee Annual Scientific Meeting at NSW has been particularly well served by its Regional the Darling Harbour Convention Centre. The meeting Training Chair, Dr Richard Gallagher. Managing the drew more than 400 members of the specialty — both training program is a major undertaking and the work young and older — and served as a wonderful learning done by Richard and all of the supervisors is imperative and social opportunity. to the well being of the profession.

Queensland Dr Fiona Panizza succeeded Dr Jim Hallam medicine and is not one that ASOHNS can influence in as the ASOHNS Queensland Section Chair the short term. during the year. On the legislative front, members will recall that Work has begun on the Queensland Children’s in November 2008 the Public Health Act 2005 was Hospital, which promises to be a major development. amended, following input from a number of groups including ASOHNS, to place limitations on provision of ASOHNS has actively supported the “Deadly Ears cosmetic procedures on children within Queensland. Program” in its submission for additional funding from As a follow up the Queensland Government has the Commonwealth Government and its proposal advised that should anyone wish to lodge a complaint to fund further resources for ENT Outreach to rural regarding possible inappropriate provision of cosmetic and remote indigenous communities throughout procedures on a child, the appropriate body to direct Queensland. such complaints is the Division of the Chief Health Officer, Queensland Health. As always, manpower issues are a concern throughout the state, however, this is a matter for all areas of

South Australia A high level of activity was again seen during and ASOHNS SA Section was represented in this the year in South Australia. development.

An SA Health proposal for Federal funding During the year two Continuing Professional for a model to address otological disease Development meetings for consultants were well in indigenous children in northern South attended. An Annual Meeting for presentation of Australia sought opinion from ASOHNS research papers by registrars and surgeon scientists SA Section members, and was widely from the academic department was scheduled for supported. Further advice was provided and formal November, culminating in the presentation of the Ron consultation with ASOHNS was encouraged. Gristwood Medal for most outstanding paper.

SA Health also endorsed establishing a clinical-led Prof. PJ Wormald presented the popular “Functional Surgical Services Taskforce to provide advice to the Endoscopic Sinus” and “Endoscopic Skull Base” State Department of Health in order to improve workshops. the quality of surgical services in South Australia, South Australia Section continued page 13

12 ASOHNS www.asohns.org.au Volume 7 Number 2 Summer 2010 Australian Otolaryngology

Prof. Simon Carney, who has taken up a full academic be staged in Adelaide from Saturday March 31 to professorial position at Flinders Medical Centre, Wednesday April 4, is well advanced in its planning. presented a “Coblation in ENT” course in November. Four international keynote speakers have confirmed their attendance and with satellite courses in As well, the biannual temporal bone courses were Rhinoplasty, Rhinology, Robotics and Cochlear Implant conducted once again at the Modbury Private Hospital. Surgery the meeting is shaping well. Looking ahead, the convening committee for the 2012 ASOHNS Annual Scientific Meeting, which will

Victoria Dr Bernie Lyons took over as the ASOHNS retirement of A/Prof. Vincent Cousins who did an Victoria Section Chair after Dr Peter outstanding job in this capacity. We are fortunate to Thomson retired from the role. have someone so capable take on such an important role within the Society. The Victoria Section is looking forward to hosting the ASM in 2011. Under the direction of Anthony A highlight of the year was the dinner held early Guiney and his hard working committee, an excellent in November to recognise the work of long time academic and social program is being planned and ASOHNS member Dr Jack Kennedy who is retiring the Victorian Division looks forward to welcoming as from practice. The dinner, which was attended by many members as possible next year. more than 150 people, was a fitting tribute to the great contribution Jack has made to both the Society Dr Sherryl Wagstaff continued in the role of and the profession at large. Victorian Regional Training Chair following last year’s

Western Australia During the year Dr Phil Fisher retired as Centre. Already one international guest, Ricardo the ASOHNS WA Section Chair and was Carran — a well known skull base surgeon from USA succeeded by Dr Phil Grey. — has confirmed his attendance at the meeting. The organising committee will keep members informed as ASOHNS WA Section welcomed new more information comes to hand. member Prof. Peter Friedland from South Africa. Peter has a fulltime position at Sir Charles Gairdner The quarterly dinner meetings with invited speakers Hospital where he is a most welcome addition to the continue to be well attended. This year the annual department. Western Australian Scientific Meeting was staged at Bunker Bay in the Margaret River wine district in Within the state manpower remains an issue, as October. John Rudka from Toronto was the invited the demands on surgeons workwise continue. The guest and added greatly to the meeting. government and its departments are scrambling to get surgeons to do additional clinics in the far reaches In addition to the scientific meeting, the social of Western Australia, which does create issues. activities were top class. A highlight was a sea kayak Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this situation. trip which took participants within 20 metres of a pod of whales migrating south at the time. For all present Looking ahead it is exciting that Perth will host the it was a breathtaking experience. 2013 ASOHNS Annual Scientific meeting. The dates have been set for March 17-20 at the Perth Convention

www.asohns.org.au ASOHNS 13 Australian Otolaryngology Volume 7 Number 2 Summer 2010

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE President Dr Michael JAY New Members 2010 Vice President Dr John CUROTTA Adam BLOND (QLD) Treasurer Dr Niell BOUSTRED Peter FRIEDLAND (WA) Secretary Dr Michael DOBSON Eng OOI (SA) Advisor to the Executive Dr Cameron BRACKS Committee Immediate Past President Dr Stuart MILLER Specialty Selected Councillor Dr Robert BLACK Chair, OHNS Board, RACS Dr Francis LANNIGAN Vale George RAYNOR Sam ROBINSON STATE SECTION EXECUTIVES New South Wales Section Chair Dr Michael TAPLIN Vice Chair Dr Larry KALISH Secretary Dr Nirmal PATEL Treasurer Dr Brian WILLIAMS Upcoming Meetings Queensland Section listed on ASOHNS website Events section Chair Dr Fiona PANIZZA Neurorhinology Workshop Vice Chair Dr Andrew LOMAS 29 Jan 2011 Secretary & Treasurer Dr Roger GRIGG St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney http://www.asohns.org.au/events/neurorhinology- South Australia Section workshop Chair Dr Darcy ECONOMOS Vice Chair Dr Kym DIAMANTIS Dunedin Rhinoplasty & ESS Course Secretary Dr Leslie SHAW 31 Jan - 4 Feb 2011 Treasurer Dr David WABNITZ School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand http://www.asohns.org.au/events/dunedin-rhinoplasty- Tasmania Section ess-course Chair vacant Secretary & Treasurer Dr David MERRY 2nd Master Course Cochlear Hearing Implantation Techniques and Middle Cranial Fossa Surgery Victoria Section 25-26 Feb 2011 Chair Mr Bernard LYONS Perth, Western Australia Secretary Mr Simon PURSER http://www.asohns.org.au/events/2nd-master-course- Treasurer Mr Anthony GUINEY in-implantation-techniques-feb-2011-1

Western Australia Section Open Structured Rhinoplasty Workshop Chair Dr Philip GREY 26 Feb 2011 Secretary Dr Paul YUEN St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Treasurer Dr Richard LEWIS http://www.asohns.org.au/events/open-structured- rhinoplasty-workshop-2

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Editor: Stuart Miller | Chief Executive Officer: Mark Carmichael

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