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DR MICHAEL T A W A D R O U S V A S C U L A R
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DR MICHAEL TAWADROUS IS A NEW YOUNG VASCULAR SURGEON WHO HAS RECENTLY RELOCATED TO COFFS HARBOUR WITH HIS WIFE, NINA, AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
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hen and why did you first decide to become a doctor? That goes a way back, perhaps when I was at primary school ... I was fascinated by how the heart and circulation work, and kept telling my parents I wanted to be a doctor and a scientist ... from then on, they never stopped encouraging me ... Where did you study, and what brought you to Australia ... more importantly Coffs Harbour? I studied medicine in New Zealand and trained in vascular surgery in Australia and New Zealand. As part of the vascular surgery training program, we are asked to move between both countries to gain as much experience from different units as we can. My wife, kids and I loved Australia, its relaxed lifestyle and its people, so we decided to stay. We made the decision when we were in Adelaide a few years ago. Coffs Harbour hospital was in need of a vascular surgeon for many years, and the hospital invited me to come and see the area. The hospital staff were all the more welcoming, that it was just a delight dealing with everyone. We fell in love with the beaches, the sun and the lifestyle last summer ... and here we are! What do you recall as being some of the most important things you've learned since becoming a doctor? That medicine is not about the detail of the science behind any of the interventions we offer; it is about patients and joining their journey through the disease process ... in any area of medicine, communication and attention to detail are arguably the most important aspects. Along the way, I also learned how to operate, and how to fix vascular surgical problems. Describe how your career has tracked to date … I was the first candidate at Dunedin Medical school to undertake a PhD whilst finishing my medical studies. I researched the hepatic microcirculation and transplant rejection in vivo.
44 coffs coast focus.
I then went on to Auckland's Middlemore and North Shore hospitals to do my junior doctor years, learning how to care for patients on the wards. I got on the vascular surgical training program when I was a first year 'house surgeon' (intern as they are called in New Zealand) and did a few years of my I also operate surgical training on patients with at Auckland, rge bleeding from la is a Middelmore, It s. in ve arteries or pidly and Hamilton ra d an ng rewardi edicine m hospitals. I also evolving area of disabling strokes. On the din m did vascular that has seen other hand, abnormal e es in th surgery at the blowing advanc dilatations of blood vessels Royal Adelaide, last few years.” (called aneurysms) may go Liverpool, Concord unnoticed for many years and St. George before they rupture and cause Hospitals in Sydney. death. I treat these disease processes All the lovely staff at Coffs with traditional surgical techniques as well Base, Baringa Private Hospitals and I are as minimally invasive ones (involving the use of setting up the provision of vascular surgical wires and stents). I also treat and operate on services in Coffs Harbour, which is a challenge patients with varicose veins, blood clots in deep at this stage of my career. The latest vascular veins and those with diabetic feet to prevent surgical interventions available are being leg loss. A significant part of my practice is introduced to this area, on par with major providing vascular access to patients with tertiary hospitals in Australia. This will transform kidney failure (such that they start and maintain healthcare provision in Coffs Harbour. It is a dialysis) and those who require chemotherapy. working progress that could not have been I also operate on patients with bleeding from done without the enthusiasm and support from large arteries or veins. It is a rewarding and everyone involved. rapidly evolving area of medicine that has seen What's your speciality, and why did mind-blowing advances in the last few years. you decide to specialise in this area of The combination of techniques used, technical medicine? challenge and the variety of disease processes I am a vascular surgeon; that is, a doctor that are treated have attracted me to vascular who treats and operates on arteries and veins surgery. throughout the body. In developing countries, What inspires you to keep helping people? infection is of major importance, whereas The smile on patients' faces and simple in the western world, cardiovascular disease 'thank you' when it is time for their discharge. represents the main cause of death and Considering all of the advances that have disease. Narrowings, blockages of arteries and been made in medicine, is there anything blood clots in limbs may cause pain, swelling, you feel medical science/modern physicians ulceration and/or gangrene, and may lead to could be doing better? amputations. We can always do better in listening to Similarly, blockages of the arteries that patients and supporting them throughout their supply the bowel or kidneys may lead to journey through the hospital system. intestinal gangrene or kidney failure. In From a technical and surgical standpoint, the neck, narrowings of arteries may cause and I will only talk about vascular surgery here,
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there remains a number of problems that have not been worked out. For instance, better incorporation of stent grafts in large vessels, dealing with and preventing the body's reaction to stents and grafts within arteries and veins, and designing better branched stent-graft devices that would allow the treatment of major disease of arteries in the chest without the need for cutting the chest open, spring to mind. Also, there has been significant advance in newer anticoagulants that do not require any monitoring with blood tests; they, however, remain limited in their ability to be reversed if emergency surgery is at all required. This is an area of growing research. When you're not in your scrubs, what do you do in your spare time? Have you relocated with your family? I play, study and watch movies with my seven and six year old daughter and son, I also have a lot of coffee with Nina, my wife ... we all moved together and are still finding our feet in Coffs. Our big plans of exercise and everyday walks on the beach have not materialised as yet! Personally and professionally, what are you looking forward to in regards to calling Coffs Harbour home? Coffs Harbour is a beautiful growing city with all its amazing views and lovely people. To date, I have not met anyone who has not told me 'welcome', which makes it all the more worthwhile. My family and I would love to be a part of the growth of this city ... and yes, it takes 25 years to be a local, so we still have a bit to go! Thanks Dr. Tawadrous.