RANZCR: The Exchange of Information Never Stops The Rouse Travelling Fellowship

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)

Inside News March 2020

I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been chosen for the Rouse Travelling Fellowship 2019.

The Rouse Travelling Fellowship has been established as a vehicle for the continuing exchange of information and ideas between clinical radiologists and radiation oncologists of Australia and New Zealand and honours the memory of the late Edgar Rouse, an early College benefactor. The Fellowship enables a Fellow from Australia or New Zealand to attend and present at the College’s annual scientific meeting in the other country, and to visit and present in their field of interest in that country.

I was humbled to receive this fellowship from Dr Lance Lawler, president of RANZCR in the annual ceremony at the annual scientific meeting in Auckland in October 2019 in the presence of so many other award recipients, distinguished radiologists, and new Fellows from all over Australia and New Zealand, with so many of them being at the frontiers of radiology knowledge, experience and skills. It was a great experience for me both to meet and to catch up with so many colleagues that night. I was enlightened by many valuable and fascinating clinical and research tips they shared. It turned out that I did not even have to wait for the commencement of this travelling fellowship for information exchange opportunities to arise. I was amazed how naturally inclined and willing radiologists were to share what they knew.

Prof Ken Lau received the Rouse Travelling Fellowship award from Dr Lance Lawler, RANZCR president, at the annual ceremony in Auckland.

Thanks to the RANZCR ASM organising committee for giving me an opportunity to give a half hour presentation on ‘Advanced CT iterative reconstruction and its value’ during the scientific meeting, enabling me to share with conference attendees the indications, techniques and limitations of ultra-low dose CT at a radiation dose comparable to plain radiography.

I also took this opportunity to mention briefly how AI would help reduce CT radiation doses in the future.

I returned to New Zealand in November last year. I was grateful to so many radiologists there, in particular, Dr Rhian Miranda, Dr Graeme Anderson and Dr Jash Agarval, who facilitated my visits at their departments at Auckland District Hospital, Middlemore Hospital and North Shore Hospital.

I was so thrilled and delighted to have met so many eminent radiologists and enthusiastic trainees during these hospital visits. It was a highlight to see various departmental and workflow arrangements.

During these visits, I gave two presentations on ‘Imaging of extramedullary haematopoiesis in typical and atypical locations’ and ‘Musculoskeletal conditions in Chest Imaging’ at Auckland District Hospital, and another two presentations on ‘Advanced CT technologies in Chest and Abdominal Imaging’ and ‘Radiology Research’ at North Shore Hospital.

I enjoyed the inspirational discussions amongst radiologists and trainees after each of these presentations. In addition, North Shore Hospital was in a pristine location by the seaside, I was astonished by the outstanding views from the lecture room during the presentations.

I had a great learning opportunity at Middlemore Hospital by sitting in on the biggest chest radiology meetings I have ever seen, which took place in a full lecture theatre. I also attended their academic research meeting which was on anti-fibrotic drugs in interstitial lung fibrosis. Further, Dr Graeme Anderson was very enthusiastic in sharing with me all the interesting cases on soft tissue sarcomas.

I am very grateful to our College for this prestigious and meaningful Rouse Travelling Fellowship that has enabled me to visit different centres and meet so many radiology colleagues and trainees in New Zealand. The experience was tremendous: not only to share my areas of interest with radiology friends in New Zealand, but also to learn from their experiences and techniques. The meetings and discussions with colleagues in New Zealand were inspirational and thought provoking.

These mutual sharing and information exchanges did not stop here. It was only the beginning. I aim to go back to visit more New Zealand centres in future as radiology knowledge and new techniques are constantly evolving!

Prof Ken Lau Monash Health

Prof Ken Lau met Drs Graeme Anderson and Jennifer Donald at Middlemore hospital and was thrilled to be shown a collection of interesting soft tissue sarcomas.

For more information on how to apply for the Rouse Travelling Fellowship please visit: ranzcr.com/college/grants-and-awards or email gaps@ranzcr.edu.au