The Dandenong Hand Fellowship is a 12 month fellowship program based at Dandenong Hospital and includes both elective and trauma surgery and on call one week in every 6 weeks. The applicant must have specialist qualification in orthopaedic or plastic surgery recognised in Australia.

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The hospital is located  30 minutes from Melbourne and in an industrial area. We receive trauma patients from the South East area of Victoria.

 

The Hand Surgery program is part of the Orthopaedic Surgery unit. We anticipate a case load of between 20-30 per week and over the 12 months period, the fellow is typically involved in over 1200-1300 cases.

 

There are currently 6 hand surgeons in the program who cover all aspects of hand and wrist surgery, including reconstructive microsurgery, except congenital hand surgery. One surgeon also treats conditions of the elbow and one other the shoulder and elbow. The unit provides a very comprehensive service, with a strong focus on elective reconstructive hand and wrist surgery, including arthroscopy, sports medicine and reconstructive microsurgery. There is also extensive exposure to both bony and soft tissue hand and wrist trauma.

 

The fellow has commitments at Dandenong Hospital for on call, patient care and outpatient review. He/she is expected to contribute to teaching of registrars at Dandenong Hospital in the Australian Orthopaedic surgery advanced training program.

 

There is a fortnightly Journal Club and didactic teaching. The fellows are also encouraged to complete a research project ready for publication or presentation during their tenure. Laboratory research may be conducted in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne or at the Hand and Wrist Biomechanics Laboratory at the O'Brien Institute.

 

The surgical commitments at Dandenong Hospital are for 2-3 elective surgical lists each week with a consultant. These commitments will extend to seperate Fellow operating lists once competency has been established.

 

The fellow will also assist the consultant Hand Surgeons in 3-4 private surgical lists in hospitals other than Dandenong Hospital each week to broaden their exposure in elective hand surgical cases.

 

There will be approximately 2 free sessions (half days) each week for other commitments, including research.

 

A hospital stipend is available. This covers all on call and recall commitments at Dandenong Hospital. A further stipend is available from assisting the surgeons in private