Developing sustainable health systems worldwide

For more than three decades, RACS has invested generously towards the longevity of human societies through its scholarship programs. The aim is to support the development of sustainable and resilient health systems worldwide.

Scholarships like the Rowan Nicks and Weary Dunlop Boon Pong Fellowships are vital in providing valuable training to future leaders in health and improving the delivery of care. This is done through increased localisation of skills development and regional capacity building.

The recently formed Global Health Scholarships team is supporting Fellows and scholars to continue the tradition of ‘teaching the teacher to teach others’. Since 2022, RACS Fellows have welcomed new inflows of talent to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to study under their guidance.

Rowan Nicks scholar, Dr Tika Ram Adhikari from Bhutan recently joined the

Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery department at John Hunter Hospital in New South Wales. His supervisor was Professor Kelvin Kong, Fellow and New South Wales nominee for Australian of the Year.

With limited opportunities for otology training in Bhutan, Dr Adhikari has been impressed with Australia’s advanced Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) technology after observing unique surgeries and engaging in research activities for cochlear ear implants.

Currently, Bhutan has no early intervention services. Most children with ENT problems become permanently hearing-impaired with longstanding developmental issues.

In five to 10 years, Dr Adhikari will introduce universal hearing screening, cochlear ear implants for children born deaf, and adult rehabilitation services. This will profoundly impact patients’ capacity to become fully participating members of Bhutanese society.

Dr Payothorn Decharin from Thailand is the latest Weary Dunlop Boon Pong Fellowship recipient and recently completed his Fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital neurosurgery unit. His supervisor was Professor Kate Drummond, AM, MD, MBBS, FRACS.

Dr Decharin observed awake cranial surgeries, and after learning about Australia’s brain cancer biobank, has been inspired to establish comprehensive brain tumour centres in Thailand in the next couple of years.

Dr Decharin’s dream is to implement this initiative in collaboration with neighbouring countries like Laos and Myanmar. Patient care will improve with updated specimens and data collected from local and international clinics— yielding sustained progressive research into the future.

Such stories would not be possible without the efforts of Associate Professor Hamish Ewing, MBBS, FRACS, who has been overseeing Rowan Nicks scholars since 2015. Associate Professor Ewing is closely acquainted with the Nicks family. He says, “the scholarship is something dear to my heart.”

In spite of the COVID-19 lockdowns and international travel restrictions, Associate Professor Ewing facilitated supervisory arrangements between suitable Fellows and scholars. This entails factoring in the scholar’s skillset and future potential plus the supervisor’s capacity to provide optimal learning environments.

Associate Professor Ewing has also been instrumental in the establishment and facilitation of the Global Health

Scholarships Panel, of which he is a member. The panel intends to engage the Fellowship and rejuvenate scholarship supervisory activities above prepandemic levels. He said, “While it will take time to get the show on the road, it is imperative it gets going again. We look forward to ongoing support from our surgical colleagues.”

Dr Adhikari and Dr Payothorn are just two examples of the positive impact RACS Fellows have on developing nations. Through the transfer of expertise, these scholarships assist to empower their societies to sustain the wellbeing of future generations.