ROTARY CLUB OF GLENORCHY

ROTARY MEDICAL FELLOWSHIP

The Rotary Hand Surgery Fellowship was established in 1992. Then District Governor Leigh Milburn, was interested in giving plastic surgery assistance to the people of the Pacific Basin and following discussions with Mr Miklos Pohl, Plastic and Reconstruction Cleft, Lip and Palate Surgeon, it was resolved that a fellowship be established to bring surgeons to Tasmania to undergo further training in hand surgery and to observe the physiotherapy required at the post operative period.

The Rotary Club of Glenorchy strongly supported the concept and donated $4,000.00 to a District fund known as the Rotary International Hand Surgery Fellowship Fund. This fund was supported by Rotary clubs in district 9830 (Tasmania) and by several orchestral concerts organised by Mr Phol. In 1998 the fund was handed over to the Rotary Club of Glenorchy for it to administer in light of the involvement of PDG Leigh Milburn and the Treasurer, PHF Kerry Bowerman.

The first fellow was Dr Kabwea Tiban from Kiribati and he was followed by doctors from Papua New Guinea, Eastern Micronesia, Cook Islands, the Solomons and Samoa. Nine doctors have taken up the fellowship and have found it quite worthwhile as they work with doctors who are specialists in plastic surgery. The visiting fellow also has the opportunity to observe latest techniques in other areas of surgery.

The most recent fellowship was to Dr Tala Taavao from Apia in Samoa.

The following guidelines apply to the fellowship:

• Fellowship is for 4 to 5 weeks – depending on the leave available to the visiting fellow.

• Economy class return air fare from home to Hobart, Tasmania. Tickets to be available for collection at point of departure in home country.

• Allowance up to $100 per week is paid to fellow.

• Fellow must obtain an Australian visa.

• Accommodation is provided through the Royal Hobart Hospital and the surgeon is placed in the care of Mr Pohl and other plastic surgeons.

• In order to be registered to practice locally in Tasmania, all accreditation to be available to enable such registration should be to hand.

• Fellows to submit a written report to the Fellowship Committee as soon as possible after conclusion of visit.

• It is a requirement that the fellow speaks to Rotary clubs in Tasmania to further international understanding.

With the last two fellowships, the Rotary Club of Glenorchy has generously covered the living expenses for the two doctors from its International Service budget.

As a related International project, we have co-ordinated the gathering and transport of medical instruments and equipment for the use in the hospitals of several of the visiting surgeons. It is evident that the resources available to some of them are very limited.

This addendum updates the earlier report prepared in 2002.

The Fellowship is now known as the Rotary Medical Fellowship following Dr Pohl’s relocation to Melbourne and the desire to widen the application of the Fellowship.

There is now a focus on anaesthesia following the dearth of applications since 2001. The last visitor was Dr Luke Nasedra from Suva, Fiji who spent a week in Hobart in March, 2005.

Since the inception of the project in 1992, we have provided for visitations by 10 different Fellows and outlaid total funding of $23,018.

KERRY BOWERMAN

CHAIRMAN - 02/07/2006

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