August 8, 2022

Episode 29: Dr. Adrian Fung, MBBS (Hons1), MMed (Ophthal Sci), MMed (Clin Epi), FRANZCO

A discussion on

“An international partnership to impart lessons in retina - Vitreoretinal Surgery Online”

Dr. Adrian Fung, MBBS (Hons1), MMed (Ophthal Sci), MMed (Clin Epi), FRANZCO

Our long-awaited Australia segment is finally here, and we are pleased to host Dr. Adrian Fung, MBBS (Hons1), MMed (Ophthal Sci), MMed (Clin Epi), FRANZCO, one of Australia's leading vitreoretinal surgeon and medical retina specialist!

Dr. Fung is currently the head of vitreoretinal unit at Westmead hospital. He also serves as a professor at Macquarie University Hospital and is a clinical associate professor at the University of Sydney. Dr. Fung completed his masters degrees in Ophthalmic Science and Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Sydney. He then completed 4 international fellowships at institutions inclusive of the University of British Columbia, Manhattan Eye and Ear, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Wills Eye. Over the years, Dr. Fung has also published over 120 international peer-reviewed journal articles and 7 book/book chapters. As someone who invests heavily in education, he was also recognized with the RANZCO Teacher of Excellence Award in 2019. On the tech side, Dr. Fung is the PI for multiple innovative devices and projects such as the Bionic Eye Project, Golden Geographic Atrophy, and Velodrome Port Delivery System trails.

In this segment, we will not only learn about Dr. Fung's journey, the Australian medical system pertaining to ophthalmology, but also how Dr. Fung co-founded 'Vitreoretinal Surgery Online', an expansive online textbook addressing growing topics in retina with its international team of co-authors! Join us for this discussion and an opportunity to explore a new continent!

Key discussion points:

  • Inspiration for pursuing ophthalmology

  • Growing up in Canberra, Australia

  • Interest in Retina

    • Mayo clinic ophthalmology elective during medical education

  • International electives during medical education and for fellowships

    • Culture of conducting fellowships internationally

      • Useful to learn something different and bring back home

  • Australian ophthalmology residency

    • 5 years: the fifth year is usually reserved for fellowship

  • Medical school

    • 2 forms:

      • 6-year program: head straight from high school to medical school

      • The other is an undergraduate course in biomedical sciences then a 4-year medical school

  • Path to ophthalmology residency in Australia

    • Based on the British system

    • Unlike the US, the Australian system does not directly have candidates select into ophthalmology.

      • 1 year internship

      • 2 more years working in the general hospital

      • Then subspecialty selection occurs - ophthalmology is one of the most competitive

        • Applicants continue to apply until they get into a program

        • This is what is called registrar training program (5 years for ophthalmology) which is equated to US residency

  • Authoring “Vitreoretinal Surgery for trainees”

  • Initiation of an online textbook resource: Vitreoretinal Surgery Online

  • Having an international panel of authors

    • Cultural differences in the way people operate in different parts of the world

    • Recognizing that there is more than one way to achieving the solution to a presenting illness

    • Encourage trainees to see many different ways of doing the same thing

  • Story behind selection of an international panel of authors

    • Meeting with Dr. Nicolas Yannuzzi, MD and Dr. Sebastian M. Waldstein, MD PhD

    • Then branching to international connections

  • Aspects of retina education that are still being under-addressed

    • VR surgery is harder to teach because it is based on apprenticeship and is hands-on.

    • Very important to have multiple different mentors during fellowship training

    • It is a lifelong learning process to evolve over time and not fall behind

  • Significant mentors in retina

    • Dr. Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, MD

      • Builds people up. Makes younger trainees feel they could achieve something worthwhile in their career.

      • Makes patients comfortable and leaves them feeling better than when they came in

    • Dr. Peter McCluskey, AO MBBS, FRANZCO in Australia

  • Hobbies outside of ophthalmology in Australia

    • Cooking, scuba diving, used to salsa, family, traveling around the world!

Episode-based Resources:

Resources — Open Globe Talk with Rizul (openglobetk.com)

 
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