The 2014-2015 RANZCO Leadership Development Program commenced with the attendance of the RANZCO Council meeting in Sydney on 21 June, followed by a session at RANZCO HQ on 22 June. RANZCO LDP Director Cathy Green provided an overview on leadership and President Stephen Best welcomed the ten RANZCO LDP participants. Simon Abbott, Allergan Training Manager, ran the Insights Discovery workshop designed to provide a better understanding of one’s own communication preferences, a better appreciation of communication styles different to one’s own, and enhanced communication skills. The session involved individual reflection, interaction, robust discussion in groups and feedback. Participants attained self-knowledge and had lots of fun. Directors of the RANZCO Board participated as invited faculty.
RANZCO staff supported yet another important, ‘National Close the Gap’ Day, on Thursday 19 March.
There were several events planned and in the lead up to the day Adam Kiernan, Manager, E-Learning and Indigenous Health, gave a short presentation on some of the statistics relating to Indigenous eye health. Adam shared in his presentation that Indigenous Australians can expect to live 10-17 years less than non-Indigenous Australians and it was emphasised that vision loss accounts for 11% of the health gap. Currently blindness rates in Indigenous adults are 6 times the rate in mainstream with low vision rates at 2.8 times the rate in mainstream. 94% of vision loss is caused by preventable or treatable conditions (refractive error, cataract, diabetes and trachoma) and about a third of Indigenous adults have never had an eye examination. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being six times those of non-Indigenous Australians and vision loss being the equal third leading cause of ‘the gap’ after heart disease, diabetes and trauma, with stroke and alcoholism. Blindness rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are six times those of non-Indigenous Australians and vision loss is the equal third leading cause of ‘the gap’ after heart disease, diabetes and trauma, with stroke and alcoholism.
Staff members participated in a picnic in the park to show local support for this national event and there were photo opportunities and other activities including a signing of the ‘Close the Gap’ pledge, organisational pledge and writing a letter to the Prime Minister on Oxfam’s website. Later on in the day there was an opportunity to plant a hand in the ANTaR organised ‘sea of hands.’
The aim of the campaign is to work towards closing the overall health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in one generation (over a 25 year period). The campaign was started in 2005 so that leaves 15 years to achieve this goal. The Prime Minister’s 2015 Report on Closing the Gap indicated that there are areas where there has been substantial improvement but in contrast some areas are falling behind their projected targets.
The eye health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a priority for both the Government and the eye health and vision care sector.
The sector has endorsed the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision as a focus for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.
The second instalment of the RANZCO Leadership Development Program, developed by RANZCO Director Cathy Green, was held over three days from 30 January to 1 February in Melbourne, Australia. Aptly named the RANZCO LDP Masterclass, the session included immersive workshops, talks from RANZCO President Bradley Horsburgh, RANZCO Vice President Arthur Karagiannis, Director Neil Murray, and a special appearance by RANZCO CEO David Andrews.
The Masterclass walked participants through managing meetings, how to run successful campaigns, working in regions of diversity and many more. The session benefited greatly from external presenters. Marsheila De Van, a Communication Specialist, who has the ability to turn the most reluctant participant into an accomplished presenter, shared her expertise on interpersonal skills improvement, cultural diversity and meeting moderation. She spared no one and all had to front up and present on topics at short notice. Presentations were filmed and feedback was provided in a very constructive and interactive manner.
The second instalment of the RANZCO Leadership Development Program, developed by RANZCO Director Cathy Green, was held over three days from 30 January to 1 February in Melbourne, Australia. Aptly named the RANZCO LDP Masterclass, the session included immersive workshops, talks from RANZCO President Bradley Horsburgh, RANZCO Vice President Arthur Karagiannis, Director Neil Murray, and a special appearance by RANZCO CEO David Andrews.
The Masterclass walked participants through managing meetings, how to run successful campaigns, working in regions of diversity and many more. The session benefited greatly from external presenters. Marsheila De Van, a Communication Specialist, who has the ability to turn the most reluctant participant into an accomplished presenter, shared her expertise on interpersonal skills improvement, cultural diversity and meeting moderation. She spared no one and all had to front up and present on topics at short notice. Presentations were filmed and feedback was provided in a very constructive and interactive manner.
The 2014-2015 RANZCO Leadership Development Program commenced with the attendance of the RANZCO Council meeting in Sydney on 21 June, followed by a session at RANZCO HQ on 22 June. RANZCO LDP Director Cathy Green provided an overview on leadership and President Stephen Best welcomed the ten RANZCO LDP participants. Simon Abbott, Allergan Training Manager, ran the Insights Discovery workshop designed to provide a better understanding of one’s own communication preferences, a better appreciation of communication styles different to one’s own, and enhanced communication skills. The session involved individual reflection, interaction, robust discussion in groups and feedback. Participants attained self-knowledge and had lots of fun. Directors of the RANZCO Board participated as invited faculty.
The leaders in eye care, RANZCO, recommend caution when removing corks from champagne bottles after an incident involving tennis champion Novak Djokovic. After winning a tournament in Rome, The World Number 1 celebrated by opening a bottle of champagne, with the cork shooting upwards and narrowly missing his eye.
“Video footage of Djokovic and the champagne cork narrowly missing his eye should be a reminder to us all about the danger of opening champagne bottles. Always make sure you aim the bottle away from yourself and others when opening. These injuries could be very serious and even lead to blindness”, says Sydney ophthalmologist Dr Diana Semmonds. “The cork fits neatly into the orbit – the bony structure of the eye – and as a result at high speed will penetrate that area”.
“We see a quite a few injuries caused by these corks, and other similar devices such as hockey straps which have a tendency to flick back at high speed when pulled taut”, continues Dr Semmonds. The pressure inside a bottle is powerful enough to propel a cork at 50 miles per hour, which can shatter glass at this speed.
Potential eye injures from a flying cork include rupture of the eye wall, glaucoma, retinal detachment, bleeding, dislocation of the lens and damage to the eye’s surrounding bone structure. These injuries require emergency eye surgery or can lead to blindness in the damaged eye.
For more information or to discuss with an ophthalmologist, please contact Luke Vanem on 0426 842 121.
A team led by Christine Younan and consisting of Humayun Baig and Patrick Lockie visited Jakarta, Indonesia, to support the national exams as external examiners. This involved surgery video evaluation, MCQ preparation, written examination, standard setting and an OSCE and short cases. The external examiners reported that they were impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment to providing ophthalmic care to the Indonesian population.
RANZCO is supporting the Indonesian College of Ophthalmology through an examiner exchange program which includes:
- Indonesian examiners observe clinical ophthalmology exams in Australia, and
- Australian ophthalmologists participate in Indonesian clinical exams as external examiners.
In this way, knowledge and skills will be gained by Indonesian College of Ophthalmology to assist with the management of their national ophthalmology training program and to build the capacity of their teaching faculty. The exchange of examiners visiting Indonesia and Australia respectively will enhance the standard of eye care and provide an opportunity for Fellows of RANZCO and Fellows of the Indonesian College of Ophthalmology to participate in inter-College activities, allowing for development of networks and sharing of learning.
Blog Image: Examination team, Jakarta, Indonesia
In mid-September, A/Prof Alex P. Hunyor went to the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Suva for a week to participate in a teaching assignment (Retina) which had been organised by RANZCO and coordinated by Dr Roger Dethlefs (FRANZCO).
As a first time visitor to PEI, Alex said a highlight of his visit was working alongside a great group of motivated doctors and that in the long term it may be viable to establish a more comprehensive vitreoretinal service in Fiji. He found the PEI staff to be helpful and friendly and was impressed with the teaching facilities and library. The teaching that Alex undertook consisted of structured talks as well as informal teaching during clinics and the operating theatre with the objective being to give the students practical and clinically-relevant material in both medical and surgical retina.
As a supervisor/trainer of RANZCO Trainees, Alex was impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm of the PEI trainees,and believes the training program is well structured.
Comments from some of the Fijian Trainees:
“The sessions were extremely useful and practical. I enjoyed all of them.”
“Excellent sessions with hands-on experience”
![Cambodian Workshop – Workplace Based Assessment for Ophthalmology Trainees]()
Dr Humayun Baig, Ms Neridah Baker, from the College office, and myself led a workshop in Cambodia addressing “Workplace based assessment for ophthalmology trainees” as part of the East Asia Vision Program. Some of the Phnom Penh ophthalmologists, representatives of the University of Health Sciences, as well as all 12 trainees attended the meeting.
Neridah presented information regarding the best educational practice tools, which were endorsed by the university educationalist. Humayan and I led discussion on why we thought the various assessment tools RANZCO uses such as the “Intentions and achievements for term”, “Performance assessment”, “Surgical assessment” tools were useful to gauge trainee progress and importantly to promote direct feedback to trainees. Trainee induction programs and wet lab tasks and assessment, and the benefits in running a regular journal club were some of the other training activities that were reviewed. The Cambodian Ophthalmology Residency Training process uses some of these tools already but seemed interested in expanding their use.
A new tool – the Mini CEX – was also explored, as the university has introduced it in other subspecialty training programs. It could be adapted to the 3 different years of the training program. Parts of the new curriculum were used to demonstrate how these tools might be implemented.
It was great to gradually build up rapport with the members of the group. Follow up is now required to see if assistance can be given to formalize the expanded use of these assessment tools.
Image, L-R: Drs Humayun Baig and Richard Stawell
On Friday the 10th of May an annular solar eclipse will occur across Northern Australia passing through Tennant Creek and North of Cooktown. Unlike the total solar eclipse that was seen in Cairns in November 2012 the moon does not cover the sun completely in an annular eclipse, so almost all of Australia and New Zealand will experience a partial eclipse which is dangerous to the eyes. The eclipse occurs during the morning for a duration of up to 3 hours so check local times.
Ophthalmologist Dr Oben Candemir, warns that while looking directly at the sun at any time should never be done, it is especially dangerous during any phase of an annular eclipse. During partial eclipse phases our normal “aversion response” to the bright sun is reduced risking prolonged, unprotected, direct viewing and consequent eye damage.
It is important to recognise the dangers of looking directly at the sun during an eclipse. There are risks associated with all forms of direct viewing of the sun; solar filters, unprotected viewing or viewing through optical instruments.
Children and teenagers are most vulnerable to solar damage to their eyes due to the transmission characteristics of their eyes; their lack of experience in using solar filters properly and incomplete understanding of the dangers.
A 1999 UK study* of the solar eclipse in Europe, found that of those experiencing solar retinopathy, 56% of people received retinal burns when looking directly at the eclipse without protection, 30% received burns from homemade or nonstandard filters and 14% received burns when using commercially sold solar filter glasses.
Both the 2012 transit of Venus and the Curiosity Mars landing attracted huge audiences via internet live streaming on CSIRO and NASA websites.
This is an excellent, safe way to view the eclipse and several agencies are expected to provide this service. It provides a safe indoor environment for children while fostering an interest in science.
All forms of direct viewing are not recommended. “I strongly recommend you keep your back to the eclipse and either view it safely indoors on a computer or if an outdoor experience is necessary or desired, to use an indirect viewing method like a pinhole camera to project an image onto another surface.”
“You wouldn’t normally look directly at the sun, so don’t do it during an eclipse where the dangers are in many ways greater,” warns Dr Candemir.
The internet link to the live stream of the annular eclipse event is: http://www.space.com
