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20 June 2008
Top surgeons honoured at overseas ceremony
The ingenuity and skill of two South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health (SESIH)
surgeons has been recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
at a recent award ceremony in Hong Kong.
Dr Michael Baldwin, a specialist in reconstructive microsurgery and craniofacial
surgery at The Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospitals, and Associate
Professor Bruce Conolly, a specialist hand surgeon at Sydney Hospital, were both
honoured with awards last month.
Dr Baldwin, a recipient of the ESR Hughes Award, was recognised for his
distinguished contribution to the field of surgery, and particularly his
pioneering work in microvascular flap free surgery.
Dr Baldwin attended the award ceremony and said his interest in microsurgery had
stemmed from his long association with Prince of Wales.
"When I joined Prince of Wales as a VMO (Visiting Medical Officer) in 1977 it
was the only hospital doing microsurgery in the state," Dr Baldwin said.
"I'm proud of what I've been able to achieve and that I have been able to make a
difference to the lives of my patients, but it’s a different and special sense
of pride one gets from being recognised by your peers like this."
Since joining The Prince of Wales Hospital as a registrar in 1969, Dr Baldwin
has played an integral role in the establishment of multidisciplinary clinics
for the management of head and neck cancer, skin oncology, soft tissue tumours
and craniofacial disorders.
Dr Baldwin has also donated his time and skills to training surgeons in Papua
New Guinea, in addition to providing regular training for visiting surgeons from
developing countries.
Similarly, fellow award recipient, A/Prof Conolly has worked extensively
overseas with disadvantage communities which would otherwise have been unable to
access the expertise of a specialist hand surgeon and therapist.
The veteran surgeon of more than 40 years said he was honoured to be presented
with the Excellence in Surgery Award in recognition of his outstanding clinical
career.
"To be a recipient of a prestigious award given by one’s own specialist college
in the presence of mentors and former teachers and surgeons I have taught was a
particularly special honour," A/Prof Conolly said.
A/Prof Conolly has also been presented with the highly prestigious "Pioneer in
Hand Surgery" title by the International Federation of Societies for Surgeries of
the Hand, one of only four Australian hand surgeons to receive the award.
He is also responsible for founding the Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, the state’s
first specialist referral service for hand injuries.
"It’s extremely rewarding to see how the Hand Unit at Sydney Hospital has grown
and how highly regarded it is both nationally and internationally," A/Prof
Conolly said.
"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to teach, research and work with
surgeons of remarkable skill, dedicated to ensuring the best care possible for
their patients."
Media Enquiries: Samantha Norris, 9382 8226 or 0421 618 793.
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