Project China - Achievement through Collaboration

PROJECT CHINA
Achievement Through Collaboration
1988-2013
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
CONTENTS
3.
Project China–1988-2013. A Review
6.
The Oral English Program
6.
The Sino-Australia/New Zealand Conferences in Surgical Oncology
Gordon Low (
) and Rosie Low (
)
Bronwen Ronan
CHEN Gong (
7.
)
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou
SHAO Yan (
)
8. Education Exchange Program: Pain Management and Anaesthesia
9.
Alex Konstantatos
China-Australia Medical and Cultural Educational Exchange
John Reeves
10.
News From Xiang-Ya Hospital, Changsha
11.
A Tale of Two Surgeons
ZHANG Pihong (
12.
)
CHEN Jie (
)
LONG Jianhong (
Gordon Low
)
The Bridge
JIANG Zexi (
)
13.Epilogue
Michael Henderson
14.
Acknowledgements
14.
Map of China
15.
Project China Delegates: 1993-2013
3
Project China: 1988-2013
A review
Dr Gordon Low (
) & Mrs Rosie Low (
)
September 2013
T
he sharing of ideas is the essence of progress.
The sharing of resources and technologies
between parties promotes mutual respect and
reliance between the parties. The aim of Project
China is to facilitate the conduits for the sharing
of the resources of a large population in China
with the scientific excellence in medical research
in Australia/New Zealand. 25 years ago, we were
not aware of any major systematic exchange visits for colleagues in the medical sciences between
these countries. In Guangzhou, previously called
Canton, we were aware of a program of neurological science founded by Dr WEN Hsiang–Lai (
1
) , a neurosurgeon from Hong Kong. He was
an inspiration, and we approached him for ideas.
He introduced us to Professor LU Guang-qi (
)2, President of the Sun Yat-sen University
of Medical Sciences. After a period of gestation,
and with the encouragement and guidance from
Presidents Tom Reeve and John Hanrahan, we
boldly sent 2 spine surgeons, Ian Torode and Peter Turner in 1993 to the Second Affiliated (Memorial) Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University.
They worked together for 1 month, financed totally by ourselves. Later that year, 2 urologic surgeons, one from Western Australia and the other
from Queensland, spent 2 weeks in Guangzhou,
followed by the visit of a Chinese urologist to
Australia. That was the start of Project Guangzhou, later Project China.
Our pioneer surgeons had done a very good
job and news of Project China spread quickly by
word of mouth. We visited a number of hospitals
in various cities all over China, including Beijing,
we explored the needs of the various hospitals. A
number of them wanted to send their surgeons to
Australia for further experience, this set the pattern of the work before us, that was: to respond
to the needs of the hospitals in China and act ac-
cordingly. More Fellows of the College went to
China and more visitors from China came to our
hospitals.
All of these activities required financial support. Although the College was able to provide a
fair amount of administrative support, no additional money was available to sponsor Chinese
surgeons to come to Australia / New Zealand, or
to provide fares for our own Fellows to travel to
China. We had to find money to finance our objectives, and were fortunate in having many generous friends and relatives from Australia, Britain,
Canada and Hong Kong, who willingly donated
large amounts to support our activities. Two of
these philanthropists created the Hui Yin-Fong
Travel Grant to facilitate the sponsorship of visits
of colleagues between China and Australia/New
Zealand. The late Mr Colin Martin3, through the
Rotary Club also supported a number of doctors
to come to Australia to further their experience.
The progress of Project China has paralleled the great economic resurgence of the People’s Republic of China. This is an achievement
of enormous dimensions involving political,
cultural, economic and scientific developments,
with implications affecting the financial balance
of the whole world. Any visitor to China three or
four years ago will find the situation quite different today. The gradual availability of funds in
China for hospital building, research and for the
medical workforce to go abroad has encouraged
more overseas contacts. These essentials coupled
with a thirst for knowledge and new technologies
resulted in a massive progress on all fronts of
the medical and health horizons. Technological
advances in some fields in China have overtaken
those in Australia. The major teaching hospitals
can afford to purchase the best available equipment in ultrasound, x-ray, magnetic resonance
“
Sharing of
resources and
technologies
betweeen
parties
promotes
mutual respect
and reliance
”
Royal Australasian College of
Surgeons, Melbourne
4
Mrs Rosie Low & Mr Gordon Low
and positron emission tomography machines for
diagnosis. By 2003, requests for financial assistance for Chinese doctors and nurses to travel to
Australia dwindled, but were available when required. Most of the visits by Fellows of the College to China were of one week duration. There
would be lectures, workshops and operations.
Accommodation and meals would be paid for by
the host hospitals. Up to 1998, every Australian
colleague going to China received funding. This
was considered unnecessary by our Fellows, and
since then, every visitor to China under Project
China would receive an honorarium on return.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test of English proficiency. Its application is widespread in many English
speaking countries. This test was introduced to
Australia and New Zealand about 10 years ago
and has been used by academic institutions as an
entry prerequisite to courses of studies. There are
4 sections to the test, and a score of 7/9 in each
section is usually considered adequate to pursue
tertiary education in Australia. This is not an easy
task for Chinese academic aspirants. All Chinese
visitors who previously came to our shores under the auspices of Project China were allowed to
assist at operations. The IELTS barrier removed
this privilege. Furthermore, IELTS generated
much fear and concern for just about everybody
wanting to go to English speaking countries for
any type of continuing education. It has therefore
dampened the enthusiasm of the Chinese doctors
to go overseas, including our Countries.
From time to time, particularly in the early
period of our venture, we would send to China
equipment and instruments that would assist the
Chinese hospitals. We have sent to China diathermy machines, bench-top autoclaves, a Bair
hugger and even hospital beds. The moderate
standard of spoken English has been a handicap
for many doctors and nurses who intend to go
abroad. For this reason we introduced the Oral
English Program for Chinese doctors and nurses
in 2006. Mrs Bronwen Ronan, a retired English teacher, is the coordinator of the Program.
She would recruit other retired teachers to go to
Chinese hospitals for this mission. They would
stay in the designated hospitals for 3 months,
and write their own curricula. This program has
been welcomed by a few Chinese hospitals and
we are struggling to find teachers to fill the roles.
All expenses including air fares are paid by the
host hospitals. This enterprise has in some way
allayed the threat of the IELTS. In honour of the
work of Mr Colin Martin and his wife Dorothy
in Project China, the Rotary Club of Balwyn has
set up a Bursary under their names in 2010. The
sum was $4000 per year for 3 years. This grant
is ear-marked for the Oral English program. On
completion of each assignment, every teacher is
paid an honorarium of $400.
It is inevitable that Project China would
be approached by other specialties of medicine
in China. For this reason, there have been exchange visits by anaesthetists, intensivists, physicians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, oncologists, research scientists and nurses, particularly
operating theatre and pain management nurses.
The surgical input included dentistry, maxillofacial and cranio-facial surgery, ophthalmology,
orthopaedic, chest, heart, head and neck/ENT,
urology, vascular, paediatric, plastic and neuro-
“
It is inevitable
that Project
China would be
approached by
other specialties
of medicine in
China
”
Below: Doctors from Changsha
(L-R) LONG Jianhong, TAO
Lijian, Gordon Low, Rosie Low,
CHEN Jie, ZHANG Pihong
5
Left: Doctors from Wuhan
Children’s Hospital. Back
(L-R) ZHONG Liang, XU
Yang, SUN Zhipeng, XIA
Zhongfang; Front (L-R) Rosie
Low, Gordon Low, JIANG
Zexi
surgery. There have been visits for a single topic/
technique such as cochlear implant, and also by
delegations to observe the Australian/New Zealand health systems.
The work of Project China has not been
confined to just trips for the participants. An
example is the biennial conference on Surgical
Oncology between the College and the Cancer
Hospital in Guangzhou since 2000. There is a
program to enlarge the scope of plastic surgery
at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou.
Dr Alex Konstantatos, an anaesthetist from the
Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, has conducted
courses on Pain Management and Peri-Operative
Medicine. Dr John Reeves, an intensivist from
the Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne, has ongoing
programs of monitoring the performance of Intensive Care Units in China.
The retrospectoscope tells us there have
been 120 visits by surgeons and related specialists to China under the auspices of Project China.
80 of these were Fellows of the College. The
others were made up of dentists, maxillo-facial
surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and physiotherapists (these figures do not include English teachers). Some colleagues have made multiple visits
to China; others have established programs of
their own. Past Chairman, Associate Professor
Vincent Cousins made multiple trips to China
over 4 years to share his knowledge in Skull Base
Surgery with his Chinese counterparts. Similarly,
90 Chinese visitors have come to our shores. Of
these, 60 of them were surgeons, and other specialities made up the numbers. Some Chinese colleagues who had made transient or one-day visits
are not in the list.
It has been enormous fun running Project
China over the past 25 years. We hope we have in
a small way stimulated mutual understanding and
appreciation between colleagues in China and in
Australia and New Zealand. We have made many
new friends both here and abroad and we hope
that we have left a legacy of trust and respect for
both the Orientals and the Occidentals. It is hard
work to break down the language barrier in order
to achieve communication, but we must keep on
trying. Not only will China become the dominant
economic power in the 21st Century but the centre
of scientific and technological advances, including medicine. Let us not forego this opportunity.
Dr WEN Hsiang-Lai is a neurosurgeon from Hong
Kong. He had extensive contacts in China. With his
understanding and foresight, he had guided the College and the formation of Project Guangzhou through
many difficult negotiations with the authorities. Project China would have floundered very early on but
for his energy and industry to bring the concept of the
Project to fruition. He now lives in Boston, USA.
1
Professor LU Guang-qi was President of the Sun YatSen University of Medical Sciences, later the Sun YatSen University Medical School. It is the best known
and most influential Medical School in southern China. Professor Lu was a physiologist and had received
training in the United States. It is his foresight that
launched the Project China program at the Memorial
Hospital of his University.
2
Mr Colin Martin, a District 9800 past Governor, of the
Rotary Club of Balwyn, Vic., had been a stalwart of Project China. He was a Committee Member and contributed much to the vision of the Project. He died in 2006.
3
“
It has been
enormous fun
running Project
China over the
past 25 years. We
hope we have
in a small way
stimulated mutual
understanding
and appreciation
between
colleagues in
China and in
Australia and New
Zealand
”
6
The Oral English Program
Mrs Bronwen Ronan
Senior English Teacher and Coordinator - Oral English Program
September 2013
P
Bronwen Ronan
roject China has provided oral English
courses to a number of Chinese hospitals
in recent years, with the aim to assist Chinese
doctors and nurses to achieve a high level of
proficiency in spoken English. This ability is
particularly important when they go to English speaking countries for study or training,
and gives them confidence when applying for
overseas medical and hospital appointments.
Since 2006, Project China has sent 11 qualified
English teachers to various cities across China.
For each assignment, the teacher spent
3 months in the designated hospital. Formal
evening classes were established usually as 2
classes of 20 students. Such an environment
provided avenues for the participants to learn
about each other, and break down apprehension. The curriculum is designed at the discretion of the teacher, and varies from time to
time. Outside of the classroom, participation
in organised social activities helps to improve
students’ English communication skills.
Although many participants have a basic knowledge of English, most have not had
direct contact with Westerners. They are often reluctant, through embarrassment or shyness to speak English. For some, their teacher
has been very successful at addressing this
problem. Without exception, the participants
reported that they were no longer hesitant to
speak English with a foreigner. Whilst improved competency varies, depending on individuals’ past experiences and natural language
ability, most make remarkable progress and
are able to converse in English towards the end
of the course.
Undoubtedly, the interactions between
these teachers of Project China and those with
whom they have met as a consequence have
had far-reaching effects, and have led to a betterment of Sino-Australian good-will and understanding.
THE Sino-Australia/New Zealand (RACS)
Conferences in Surgical Oncology
Professor CHEN Gong （
September 2013
P
Professor CHEN Gong
), Department of Abdominal Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou
rofessor WAN Desen of the Tumor Hospital
and Cancer Center of Guangzhou is one of
the leaders in establishing an exchange program
in oncology between China and Australia/
New Zealand. Early in 2000, Professor Wan,
together with Professor Glyn Jamieson of South
Australia and Dr Gordon Low, co-ordinator of
“Project China” from the Royal Australasian
College of Surgeons held a Conference in
Surgical Oncology in Guangzhou. About
10 surgeons from Australia attended the
Conference. The topics included cancer of the
large bowel and laparoscopic techniques in
7
large bowel surgery. A “bridge of exchange”
has now been established. Since then, about 10
colleagues from Guangzhou have crossed that
bridge, each spending between 1 to 18 months
in each assignment. Another important sequel
was the start of a series of biennial conferences
in surgical oncology between our Countries.
These conferences were usually one-day
meetings and alternate between Guangzhou and
one of the capital cities in Australia. Up to the
present, 7 such conferences have been held.
City of Guangzhou
Plastic and reconstructive surgery at the
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
Dr SHAO Yan (
), Senior Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou
September 2013
I
n 2010, the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
(SRRSH) approached Dr Gordon and Mrs
Rosie Low to see if they were able to assist our
department in improving our repertoire in Reconstructive Surgery, particularly reconstructive surgery of the breast after mastectomy. Our
scope in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery was also limited and we had hoped that the capacity of this
aspect of plastic surgery could increase.
Early in 2011, Dr Low arranged the visit
of Dr Richard Bloom and Dr Howard Webster
to our hospital. Both are experienced plastic
surgeons from Melbourne, and have their own
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery partnership.
During the week that they were here, they operated on 3 patients who required major breast
reconstruction. 2 of these patients had DIEP
(Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flaps. The
third patient required fat injection. They also
gave lectures on reconstructive and aesthetic
surgery. These lectures provided the bases of
understanding the principles of this specialty of
surgery.
Above: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
8
The next step was for me to observe how
plastic surgery is done in Australia. My visit
was facilitated by Dr and Mrs Low, and I spent
5 weeks in Melbourne in October 2012 with Drs
Bloom and Webster, watching many operations
performed by themselves and their colleagues,
in breast augmentation and reduction procedures, and cosmetic surgery operations of the
face and other parts of the body. The experience
gave me much confidence to start this type of
surgery in Hangzhou.
It is always a daunting task to start a new
field or endeavour, because there is often a gap
between what you have seen and how you can
put that experience into practice. We needed an
additional boost to our confidence before we
could embark on such ventures. To this end,
Dr and Mrs Low sent Drs Dean Trotter, Derek
Neoh and Eldon Mah to our hospital in August,
2012. They gave lectures and demonstrated the
finer points in plastic surgery and emphasized
the importance of good micro-anastomosis techniques.
In March, this year, we created history in
our hospital by doing the first non-pedicle composite graft of a breast reconstruction, that is,
the free TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominus
Myocutaneous) flap. Since then, our department
has performed a number of operations using the
lessons we have learned in micro-vascular anastomosis. We have also refined our techniques in
fat injections.
We are deeply grateful to Dr and Mrs
Low, coordinators of Project China, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and the surgical
colleagues they have sent to our Hospital to help
us to develop this branch of surgery. It is our
aim to utilize this knowledge to the benefit of
the patients of Zhejiang Province and beyond.
From left: Dr Webster, Dr Shao
& Dr Trotter
Education Exchange Program: pain management
and anaesthesia
Dr Alex Konstantatos, Department of Anaesthesia & Peri-operative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne
Visiting Professor, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
September 2013
I
Alex Konstantatos
n 2006, Gordon and Rosie Low requested I
visit the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH)
in Eastern China. I found the experience so
rewarding, that I have continued visiting
SRRSH yearly or twice yearly since that time,
and am currently a visiting Professor with the
Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
Over this time, many innovations have
taken place in pain medicine. I have now collaborated on numerous projects with this hospital,
aiming to provide the citizens of Zhejiang Province with high quality care. One avenue to reach
these targets has been to facilitate educational
visits for the doctors and nurses of SRRSH to
observe the practice of Acute and Chronic Pain
Management in Australia, and from 2007 – 2009
we welcomed the visits of Dr Stevie WANG
(2007), Associate Professor TONG Ying Ge
(2008) and Associate Professor TIAN Suming
(2009) to the Alfred and Cabrini Hospitals in
Melbourne. SRRSH has also contributed to this
program by appointing a Head of Pain Services
and 2 Pain Liaison nurses. A basic policy framework of pain protocols and methods of quality
assurance has also been developed.
In the field of anaesthesia, many new developments from Western practice have been
shared with SRRSH including the use of ultrasound techniques to guide neural blockade
and vascular access. Concepts of Intraoperative
Trans-esophageal Echocardiography and Perioperative Trans-thoracic Echocardiography were
introduced in 2012 and will be further developed over the coming years.
Educational activities within the hospital,
such as bedside teaching, have been supplemented by symposia and conferences, many of
which take place during SRRSH’s annual “Academic Week”. A conference in Perioperative
Medicine was included in the 2012 Academic
9
“
I found the
experience so
rewarding, that I
have
continued visiting
SRRSH yearly or
twice yearly
”
Week, and was well attended by delegates from
SRRSH and surrounding hospitals in Zhejiang
Province.
Pain research within the hospital has been
fostered with several publications arising from
special collaborations between myself and doctors and nurses from SRRSH. Two notable publications in peer reviewed international journals
have resulted from the collaborations:
1. Tong YG, Konstantatos AH, Zhang CF, Hu
JY, Ye AF, Boyd D. A cross sectional exploratory survey of knowledge, attitudes and daily selfreported pain assessment practice among nurses
in Mainland China. Pain Medicine. March 2013.
2. Konstantatos AH, Imberger G, Ang-
liss M, Hong Ki Cheng C, Meng A, Chan
MTV. A prospective cohort comparing early
opioid requirement between Chinese from
Hong Kong and Caucasian Australians after
major abdominal surgery. British Journal of
Anaesthesia. November, 2012.
I will continue working closely with
SRRSH and Monash University to enhance
relationships with the respective departments
of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, as well
as facilitating relationships with other health
disciplines. These enterprises will create better
understanding between the medical colleagues
of China and Australia/New Zealand and will
serve to improve international goodwill.
China-Australia medical & cultural
educational exchange
Dr John Reeves, Director of Intensive Care, Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne
Visiting Anaesthetist, Alfred Hosptial, Melbourne
September 2013
I
n 2007, I was invited by Mr and Mrs Gordon
Low through Dr Alex Konstantatos, an anaesthetist at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, to take
part in an educational exchange with the Sir
Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) in Hangzhou,
China, under the aegis of Project China. I was to
provide lectures to the Departments of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, and conduct daily ward
rounds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). During
my first visit, I was able to look over these departments and assess the potential, and began to
“
I was able to
look over these
departments
and assess the
potential, and
began to plan
an education
program for the
future
Participants of the first BASIC course at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (June 2012)
”
plan an education program for the future. In 2008
and 2009 I returned to continue teaching and further build upon friendship and understanding.
In 2010, I assisted Project China to host a
high level delegation from the SRRSH to Melbourne. The officials included the President He
Chao, and Ms Sherry Sun, Director of the Center
for International Collaboration. They met a number of health bureaucrats, including senior government officials, private Health Insurers and
operators of large private and public hospitals.
During this visit, President He and Mr Michael
Walsh, Chief Executive of Cabrini Health, agreed
to form a lasting relationship between the two
hospitals to foster educational and cultural exchange. Through this process, a number of clinicians have had exchange travels between Hangzhou and Melbourne, and have learned, taught
and observed health care in the sister hospitals in
different environments.
In 2011, I returned to Hangzhou, to continue teaching and to plan new initiatives, one of
which was an ICU database to measure the quality of care. After visiting Hangzhou, I travelled
with Professor Michele Levinson, Professor of
Medicine at Monash University, to the Zhujiang
Hospital, Guangzhou, to look at the ICU arrangements there. Different programs are planned for
this Hospital.
10
Above Top: Dr Zhou Jian-Cang
(SRRSH) and Dr John Reeves
(2011)
Bottom: Participants at the
BASIC course
In 2012, I assisted in a major educational
advance for the SRRSH ICU. The ICU hosted
the Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care (BASIC) Course – a train-the-trainer
course, first developed in Hong Kong by Dr
Charles Gomersall of the Chinese University
of Hong Kong, but now translated into more
than 20 languages, including Chinese. The format is a mix of didactic lectures and hands-on
small group tutorials. Pre- and post-course exams track knowledge acquisition. The first time
that “BASIC” is run at a new centre, external
trainers come from other BASIC centres and
train the local lecturers. After a cohort of local
lecturers is created, the course becomes selfsufficient. The Chinese University of Hong
Kong generously provides all of the teaching
materials.
The first students for BASIC at SRRSH
consisted of ICU residents, nurses, respiratory
therapists and medical students. The lecturers
were ICU consultants and senior fellows. It
was a great success. The course has been run
successfully by the SRRSH ICU a number of
times since and a total of more than 100 students have benefitted.
During our visit to SRRSH in 2012, we
convened a symposium on mentoring for the
senior staff. Around 150 senior medical staff
attended the symposium and it stimulated
much discussion about how SRRSH should
support their junior medical staff.
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital is a modern
teaching Hospital. The care they provide equals
international best practice in many areas. The
challenge now is to continue to find areas in
which visiting clinicians can contribute. I plan
to remain involved with SRRSH at a personal
level, hosting visitors from Hangzhou, encouraging teaching and research, and, at an
organisational level, fostering the relationship
between Cabrini and SRRSH.
News from Xiang-ya Hospital, Changsha
Dr Zhang Pihong （
）. Consultant and Head of Unit. Plastic and Burns Unit
Xiang-Ya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province
November 2013
Dear Mr and Mrs Low,
Zhang Pihong
I trust both of you are keeping well. It was a delight
to receive your e-mail. My initial duty is to thank
you for your care and assistance some 12 years ago
when both of you had given me the opportunity to
come to Melbourne to further my experience in surgery. In the short period of 3 months, Mr Michael
Leung had shown me a wide range of surgery of the
integument and plastic surgery procedures. In addition, he also introduced me to many operations in
cosmetic surgery. After my return to China, I began
to appreciate all that I had learnt in restorative surgery and the results I had achieved were very satisfactory. For all my progress, I deeply appreciate the
help and guidance from yourselves and Mr Michael
Leung. I reiterate my gratitude to you all for all my
achievements at the Xiang Ya Hospital.
Yours respectfully,
ZHANG Pihong
Consultant and Head of Unit
Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit
Xiang-Ya Hospital
Changsha, Hunan Province
11
A Tale of Two Surgeons
LONG Jianhong, CHEN Jie and Gordon Low
December 2013
T
his is an account of two Chinese
surgeons
who
had
worked
in
Melbourne about the turn of the century.
CHEN Jie is a Head and Neck surgeon from the
central Chinese city of Changsha. He works
in the Hunan Province Tumor Hospital. He
was sponsored by Project China to spend three
months at the ENT/Head and Neck Department
of the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne under Associate
Professor Vince Cousins and Mr Peter Thomson in
2003. One of the procedures which impressed him
was the management of cancers of the mouth and
surrounding structures in the neck. These tumours
were removed by the Head and Neck surgeon,
and the defect was made good by the Plastic and
Reconstructive surgeons.
Prior to his visit, LONG Jianhong, a plastic
surgeon from the prestigious Xiang Ya Hospital
(Hunan/Yale-in-China Hospital) in Changsha,
and also sponsored by Project China, had visited
the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Micro-Surgery,
Melbourne in 1998. LONG had spent three
months under the tutelage of Professor Wayne A.
Morrison. Along with observing many new sur-
LONG Jianhong
gical procedures, he learnt the techniques of micro-anastemosis and tissue transfer, and their applications in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Both CHEN and LONG had returned to Changsha.
CHEN had a number of patients with tumours of
the neck and mouth that needed radical surgery.
He was aware of the experience of LONG’s, and
discussed with LONG methods to treat such
patients. Collaborative procedures by doctors from
different hospitals for patient management were
unusual at that time. In 2004, after overcoming
bureaucratic obstacles, LONG was invited to
CHEN’s hospital, and together managed such
patients with good outcomes. These events became
widely known and practiced in the Hunan Province.
Such procedures lifted the profiles of both hospitals
in the management of head and neck malignancies
by surgery. A new name emerged as a consequence
of this venture – Plastic Oncological Surgery! In the
past 10 years, the scope of surgical procedures and
the number of patients treated in the Department of
Head and Neck Surgery of the Tumor Hospital have
greatly increased. Much of this improvement is the
combined efforts of Drs. CHEN and LONG.
LONG Jianhong, MD
Professor and Chief of
Service
Department of
Cosmetic & Plastic
Surgery
Xiang Ya Hospital
South Central
University
Changsha, Hunan
Province
“
In the past 10
years, the scope
of surgical
procedures and
the number of
patients treated
in the Department
of Head and Neck
Surgery of the
Tumor Hospital
have greatly
increased
”
12
CHEN, Jie MD
Chief of Service
Head & Neck
Department
Hunan Province
Tumor Hospital
Changsha, Hunan
Province
The Bridge
JIANG Zexi（
）Professor & Senior Surgeon, Wuhan Children’s Hospital
Wuhan Medical & Health Center for Women and Children, China
December 2013
T
JIANG Zexi
he year was 2004 when I first met Professor
Gordon Low and Mrs Rosie Low. It was
during an Annual Scientific Congress of the
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. I was
impressed by their sincerity in wishing to widen
the experience of Chinese medical personnel.
Their aim was to establish a bridge so that there
can be an exchange of medical colleagues between
my Hospital and the specialists in Australia/New
Zealand. Professor and Mrs Low visited Wuhan
the following year. Since then, 19 specialists of
various disciplines have been to my hospital. They
included neonatology, paediatric general surgery,
orthopaedics, neurology, cardiology, dermatology,
upper G-I surgery, pathology, anaesthesia, obstetrics
and urology. At the same time, 6 of our colleagues
have been to Australia for varying periods. These
were in the disciplines of anaesthesia, general
surgery, orthopaedics and ENT surgery. Professor
and Mrs Low also sent 5 English teachers to
Wuhan to conduct Oral English classes to improve
the ability of my staff to converse in English.
The Children’s Hospital in Wuhan is the main
institution in the central area of China dealing
with children’s problems. Within the precincts
of this Hospital, we provide obstetric services for
mothers and for newborn babies. There is also a
gynaecology service. I am the senior surgeon of this
conglomerate.
The contributions of Professor and Mrs Low
to my Hospital have been immense. They have
improved the standard of many departments and
have also given encouragement to more than 240
members of the hospital to speak English with
confidence. For all their kindness and generosity,
my hospital administration and I are deeply grateful.
13
Epilogue
Professor Michael Henderson, Division of Cancer Surgery
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrew’s Place, East Melbourne
December 2013
P
Michael Henderson
“
The whole idea of this
Project seems so natural,
so important and so
worthwhile for an
organisation such as the
College that it is easy to
take it for granted
”
roject China has been one of the premier outreach programs of the Royal Australasian
College of Surgeons (RACS) for 25 years. Looking back over this time, the whole
idea of this Project seems so natural, so important and so worthwhile for an organisation
such as the College that it is easy to take it for granted. The reality however is that
Project China, like all great endeavours, had humble beginnings, small triumphs and
many setbacks, but was consistently led by people who were committed, passionate and
dedicated to the idea of supporting surgeons and surgical practice in China. The College
has never provided funding for Project China but has been most gracious in its support
for the ideals of Project China, and a succession of presidents, CEOs and others have
had a personal interest in the success of the Project. Project China was overseen by a
committee of the College Council and included in its membership members of Council.
In the early years, surgeons visited centres within China to provide teaching and
support to local surgical teams. Together with colleagues from other disciplines including
anaesthesia and pain medicine, the programs were tailored to the requirements of centres.
The importance of English to clinicians was recognised early on, and an amazing team of
English teachers was assembled, and English-language programs aimed at English speaking were undertaken in a number of centres. With the maturing of the relationship, Chinese
surgical teams visited centres of excellence in Australia and New Zealand and a number of
Chinese surgeons received surgical training in Australia. These exchanges have been uniformly successful and rewarding for both the surgeons and local surgical teams while promoting enormous goodwill and developing lasting relationships with Chinese colleagues. There are many people who have played a role in the success story of Project
China, but without doubt, the importance of Mr Gordon Low, a Fellow of the College
and his wife Rosie, cannot in any way be underestimated. Gordon and Rosie understand what is required by the Chinese, have the contacts to facilitate exchanges and a
gentle way of convincing anyone who need to be convinced! Dozens of surgeons have
participated in Project China’s programs and it is extraordinary that many have done
so repeatedly. Many relate the kindness and appreciation of their hosts and the unique
opportunity they have received to be embedded in another culture and experience medicine in a different country. A common response of many visitors is an almost embarrassed admission they benefited more from the experience than their Chinese hosts!
What of the future? The original aims of Project China have largely been met as China progresses towards the ranks of the first world. Relationships have developed and with the opening up of China, greater engagement between Australia and New Zealand and China can be expected. Project
China has been a very public demonstration of the broader role of surgeons in society and is something of which the College and its Fellows can be enormously proud.
It is only appropriate in finishing that I declare my conflict of interest in
Project China. Having been persuaded by Gordon Low to visit Guangzhou several
years ago, I was further persuaded to join the Project China Committee and have
participated in and organised one of the Sino-Australian Surgical Oncology Meetings
in Melbourne as well as hosted a number of surgical visitors and returned to China
last year. Next year one of the surgical oncology fellows at my institution, the Peter
MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne will be a young surgeon I met in Guangzhou
several years ago. I wish to acknowledge and thank Gordon and Rosie Low for their
friendship and the opportunity to participate in what I have personally found to be
a remarkably rewarding, educational (to me) and ultimately enjoyable exercise.
14
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank all the participants of the Project without whom there would have been no Project. Many colleagues have freely given
up time and talent for the sharing of information. We thank all the munificent donors who sustained the Project. We are grateful to all the
managers and administrators of the hospitals who were involved in the exchange of personnel between the Countries. We are indebted to the
many Presidents of the College and the Chairmen and Committee members of Project China. We give special thanks to Ms Daliah Moss and
all members of the Department of External Affairs of the College for their advice, support and hard work over the years in order to achieve
the targets of Project China, including the production of this brochure. We wish success to the newly formed China-ANZ Committee of the
College in the years to come.
Chairmen:
1994 – 1997: Prof Bruce Barraclough
1997 – 2001: Prof Glyn Jamieson
2001 – 2005: Dr Robert Linacre
2005 – 2012: A/Prof Vincent C. Cousins
Members of Committee (2012):
Dr Gordon Low – Coordinator
Mrs Rosie Low – Coordinator
Mr Mark Caldwell – Rotary Club
Dr John Chen
A/Prof Michael Henderson
Dr Alex Konstantatos
A/Prof Bruce Mann
Dr John Reeves
Ex officio:
Dr Ian Civil - President
Prof David Watters
Staff Members:
A/Prof David Hillis
Dr John Quinn - Surgical Affairs
Ms Daliah Moss - External Affairs
Map of China - Cities involved in Project China
15
Project China Delegates: 1993 - 2013
BEIJING (Special Economic Zone)
GUANDONG PROVINCE
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College
To China
Brown, Kester (anaesthetist), VIC.
Frawley, Geoff (anaesthetist), VIC
Heggie, Andrew (maxillo-facial surgeon), VIC
Holmes, Anthony (cranio-facial surgeon), VIC
Klugg, Geoff (neuro-surgeon), VIC
GUANGZHOU
To Australia
AN Gang (anaesthetist)
DENG Xiaoming (anaesthetist)
LI Guimin (O.R. Sister)
SONG Yeguang (cranio-facial surgeon)
SUN Xiaomei (orthodontist)
TENG Li (plastic and cranio-facial surgeon)
Tiantan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences
To Australia
HAN Xiaodi (neuro-surgeon)
KANG Shuai (neuro-surgeon)
Capital Institute of Pediatrics
To Australia
WU Rongyan (paediatric nurse)
CHONGQING (Special Econmic Zone)
Southwest Hospital, Third Military University
To China
Conolly, Bruce (hand surgeon), NSW
To Australia
XIE Hanping (ophthalmologist)
SHANGHAI (Special Economic Zone)
Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
To Australia
JIN Chen (upper G-I surgeon)
XU Wendong (upper limb surgeon)
Yangpu District Central Hospital
To Australia:
DONG Jing (/head & neck/ENT surgeon)
TIANJIN (Special Economic Zone)
The Chest Hospital
To China
Bessell, Justin (upper G I surgeon), SA
Watson, David (upper G I surgeon), SA
First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
To China
Corlett, Russell (plastic surgeon), VIC
Dawson, Kevin (anaesthetist), VIC
Heathcote, Peter (urologic surgeon), QLD
Hill, R. Ian (urologic surgeon), WA
Kolbe, Anne (paediatric surgeon), NZ
PAN Weiren (plastic surgeon), VIC
Taylor, G. Ian (plastic/reconstructive surgeon), VIC
Stokes, Keith (paediatric surgeon), VIC
Strong, Russell (liver transplantation surgeon), QLD
IP Stephen (OR Technician), WA
To Australia
LIN Ying (breast surgeon)
LU Guangqi (Physiologist)
MEI Hua (urologic surgeon)
WANG Shenming (breast surgeon)
YANG Xiaomin (O.R. Nurse)
YE Cai (breast surgeon)
YU Guozhong (plastic surgeon)
Second Affiliated (Memorial) Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen
University
To China
Bates, Edward (paediatric surgeon), NSW
Beasley, Spencer (paediatric urologic surgeon), NZ
Buchanan, Cameron (paediatric anaesthetist), NZ
CHUNG, Wui (orthopaedic surgeon), NSW
Cole, Ian (head and neck/ENT surgeon), NSW
Corlett, Russell (plastic/reconstructive surgeon), VIC
Cousins, Vincent (head and neck/ENT surgeon), VIC
Crosthwaite, Alan (urologic surgeon), VIC
Dawson, Kevin (anaesthetist), VIC
Heggie, Andrew (maxillo-facial surgeon), VIC
Ludbrook, Guy (neuro-anaesthetist), SA
PAN Weiren (plastic surgeon), VIC
Randle, Ray (orthopaedic surgeon), NSW
Taylor, G. Ian, (plastic/reconstructive surgeon), VIC
Torode, Ian (paediatric orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Turner, Peter (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
To Australia
HE Shuyi (OR Nurse)
HUANG Jian (urologic surgeon)
LIU Shangli (orthopaedic surgeon)
OU Qingjia (vascular surgeon)
PENG Shuling (anaesthetist)
16
Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
To China
de Steiger, Richard (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Kiroff, George (chest and upper G I surgeon), VIC
O’Donnell, John (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Tumor Hospital and Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen
University
To China
Campbell, Ian (chest surgeon), NZ
Clarke, Peter (chest surgeon), VIC
Hains, Daniel (head and neck/ENT surgeon), SA
Henderson, Michael (breast surgeon), VIC
Jamieson, Glyn G. (upper G.I. surgeon), SA
Knight, Simon (chest surgeon), VIC
McLeish, Andrew (colo-rectal surgeon), VIC
Parry, Bryan (colo-rectal surgeon), NZ
Sweeney, James (colo-rectal surgeon), SA
Windsor, J (colo-rectal surgeon), NZ
Wright, Gavin (chest surgeon), VIC
To Australia
CHEN Gong (colo-rectal surgeon)
CHEN Minshan (hepato-biliary surgeon)
FANG Yujin (colo-rectal surgeon)
GUO Zhuming (head and neck surgeon)
KONG Linghen (colo-rectal surgeon)
LI Liren (colo-rectal surgeon)
LU Zhenhai (colo-rectal surgeon)
PAN Zhizhong (colo-rectal surgeon)
WAN Desen (colo-rectal Surgeon)
WANG Siyu (chest surgeon)
WU Xiaojun (colo-surgeon)
ZHANG Rongxin (colo-rectal surgeon)
ZHOU Zhiwei (colo-rectal surgeon)
Guanghua Stomatology Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
To China
Lawry, Denise (orthodontist), VIC
Moloney, Luke (endodontist), VIC
YUEN, Catherine (general dentist), VIC
HO, David (anaesthetist ), QLD
Kimble, Roy (general surgeon), QLD
Jean-Louis, Francoise (ENT), NZ
Morreau, Philip (paediatric surgeon), NZ
Simpson, Erroll (paediatric surgeon), ACT
YU, Victor (neonatologist), VIC
English Teachers
Burns, Virginia VIC
Ronan, Bronwen VIC
Power, Maureen VIC
Simkin, Heather VIC
To Australia
CUI Yingqiu (maxillo-facial surgeon)
WANG Fenghua (pathologist)
XIA Huimin (general surgeon)
WU Qiang (general surgeon)
XU Hongwen (orthopaedic surgeon)
ZENG Ping (neonatologist)
ZHANG Liyu (general surgeon)
ZHONG Wei (general surgeon)
ZHU Deli (general surgeon)
Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University
To China
Levinson, Michele (intensivist), VIC
Reeves, John (intensivist), VIC
English Teachers
McLoughlan, Mark VIC
Molloy, Angela VIC
Power, Maureen VIC
Robinson, Narelle NSW
To Australia
HUANG Maiojuan (oncology researcher)
LIN Lijun (orthopaedic Surgeon)
ZENG Qiyi (intensivist)
ZHANG Jian (Oncologic Surgeon)
ZHANG Jiren (Oncologic Surgeon)
Zhongzhan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University
To China Farinelli, Adrian C. (ophthalmologist), NSW
McNab, Alan (oculo-plastic surgeon), VIC
O’Day, Justin (ophthalmologist), VIC
Sullivan, Timothy (oculo-plastic surgeon), QLD
GUANGXI PROVINCE
Guangzhou Children’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical
College
To China
Auldist, Alexander (paediatric surgeon), VIC
Beasley, Spencer (paediatric surgeon), NZ
CHOW Chung-wo (pathologist), VIC
English Teachers
McKenzie, Jenifer VIC
Witt, Pat VIC
LIUZHOU
Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
To China
To Australia
PAN Yubiao (cardiac surgeon)
17
HEBEI PROVINCE
Shijiazhuang
Fouth Hospital, Hebei Medical University
To China
Bessell, Justin (upper G I surgeon), SA
Watson, David (upper G I. surgeon), SA
To Australia
LI Peng (upper G I surgeon)
HENAN PROVINCE
ZHENGZHOU
Henan Provincial People’s Hospital.
To China
English Teacher
Power, Maureen VIC
HUBEI PROVINCE
WUHAN
Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology
To China
Bergman, Neil (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
de la Harpe, David (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Denton, Michael J. (vascular surgeon), VIC
Dey, Marilyn (O.R. Nurse), VIC
Love, James (anaesthetist), VIC
Richardson, Martin (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Turner, Peter (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
To Australia
ZHAO Tiyu (O.R.Charge Nurse)
Children’s Hospital
To China
CHAN, Yuenfu (pathologist), VIC
Drew, John H. (neonatologist), VIC
Drew, Sandra (paediatric echocardiographer), VIC
Frawley, Geoff (anaesthetist), VIC
Hamill, James (paediatric surgeon), NZ
Howell, Katherine (Neonatologist), VIC
Kimble, Roy (general surgeon), QLD
Kornberg, Andrew (neonatologist), VIC
Nattress, Garry (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Neal, John R.L. (obstetrician/gynaecologist), VIC
Putra, Lydia Johns (urologist), VIC
Torode, Ian (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Watkins, Andrew (neonatologist), VIC
English Teachers
Molloy, Angela VIC
Ronan, Bronwen VIC
Simkin, Heather VIC
Vogt, Joy VIC
To Australia
JIANG Zexi (cardiac surgeon)
SUN Zhipeng (anaesthetist)
XIA Zhongfang (ENT surgeon)
XU Yang (orthopaedic sugeon)
ZHONG Liang (anaesthetist)
ZHOU Xin (general surgeon)
First Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
To China
Brown, Gregor (gastroenterologist), VIC
Cameron, Donald (gastroenterologist), VIC
CHAN, Yuenfu (pathologist), VIC
Gibson, Peter (Gastroenterologist), VIC
Howard, Anne (dermatologist), VIC
McFarlane, Anne (endoscopy nurse), VIC
Yeatman, Josie (dermatologist), VIC
English Teachers
Bond, Judith VIC
McLoughlan, Mark VIC
HUNAN PROVINCE
CHANGSHA
Xiang-Ya Hospital, South Central University
To China
Brophy, Brian (neuro-surgeon), SA
Cleland, Heather (plastic/reconstructive surg.), VIC
Knuckey, Neville (neuro-surgeon), WA
LEUNG, Michael (plastic/reconstructive surg.), VIC
LEUNG, Stephen (anaesthetist), VIC
To Australia
HU Nianping (Immunologist)
LIU Qiuqiu (O R Sister)
LONG Jianhong (plastic and burns surgeon)
TAO Lijian (nephrologist/administrator)
WANG Donghua (orthopaedic surgeon)
ZHANG Pihong (plastic Surgeon)
Hunan Province Cancer Hospital
To China
Thomson, Peter (head and neck/ENT surgeon), VIC
To Australia
CHEN Jie (head and neck surgeon)
WEI Wei (head and neck surgeon)
18
JIANGSU PROVINCE
Nanjing Chest Hospital
To Australia
LIU Xiaosu, (anaesthetist)
Nanjing Health School
To Australia
ZHAO Ping (nurse tutor)
Jiangyin People’s Hospital
To China Rosenfeld, Jeffrey (neurosurgeon), VIC
SHANXI PROVINCE
TAIYUAN
Taiyuan Municipal Central Hospital
To Australia
ZHAO Zhigang (urologic surgeon)
SICHUAN PROVINCE
CHENGDU
West China Union Hospital
To China
Kelly, Justin (paediatric urologist), VIC
To Australia
HUANG Lugang (paediatric urologist)
YUNNAN PROVINCE
KUNMING
First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming University of Medical
Sciences
To Australia
DAI Wei (gastro-enterologist)
The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province
To Australia
XIAO Minghui (urologic surgeon)
DENG Zheng (Respiratory physician)
ZHEJIANG PROVINCE
HANGZHOU
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
To China
Angliss, Margaret (nurse/research), VIC
Beevor, Harriet (anaesthetist), VIC
Bell, Eliza (pain liaison nurse), VIC
Bloom, Richard (plastic/reconstructive surgeon), VIC
Boyd, Dana (pain liaison Nurse), VIC
Bradley, Scott (physiotherapist), VIC
Chan, Patrick (neurosurgeon), VIC
CHIU, Daniel (ophthalmologist), VIC
Cousins, Vincent (ENT/head & neck surgeon), VIC
de Silva, Lucky (anaesthetic trainee)
Duffy, Chris (anaesthetist), VIC
Elliot, Jane (physiotherapist), VIC
de Steiger, Richard (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Fowler, Steven (anaesthetist), VIC
Gerstman, Michelle (anaesthetist), VIC
Goldstein, Jacob (cardiac surgeon), VIC
Grummet, Jeremy (urologist), VIC
Heriot, Alexander (colo-rectal surgeon), VIC
Hill, Andrew (colo-rectal surgeon), NZ
Konstantatos, Alex (anaesthesia/pain specialist), VIC
Kourambas, John (urologist), VIC
Lindholm, David (anaesthetist), VIC
LOW, Gordon (colo-rectal surgeon), VIC
MAH, Eldon (plastic surgeon), VIC
NEOH, Derek (plastic surgeon), VIC
QIAN Ximing (cardiac surgeon) VIC
Paton, Anna (pain liaison nurse), VIC
POON, Alexander (ophthalmologist), VIC
Reeves, John (intensivist), VIC
Richardson, Martin (orthopaedic surgeon), VIC
Stark, Tony (anaesthetist), VIC
Story, David (anaesthetist), VIC
Trotter, Dean (plastic surgeon), VIC
Vallipurum, S.K. (pain management), VIC
Webster, Howard (plastic/reconstructive surgeon), VIC
Williams, David (intensivist), VIC
To Australia
CAI Xiujun (general surgeon - laparoscopy)
HE Chao (colo-rectal surgeon))
LAO Weifeng (colo-rectal surgeon)
PAN Konghan (intensivist)
SHAO Yan (plastic surgeon)
SUN Xiaomin (Center for International Collaboration)
TIAN Suming (anaesthetist/intensivist)
TONG Yingge (Pain management nurse)
WANG Hongwei (anaesthetist/intensivist)
XIE Shuduo (breast surgeon)
XU Heyan (cardiac surgeon)
ZHANG Yueyi, (Director of Hospital Training Center)
Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University
To Australia
ZHANG Mao (emergency surgeon)
19
There are also Chinese administrators and doctors who visited Australia and New Zealand on fact finding tours. A few had
attended clinical meetings and our Annual Scientific Congresses. Three delegations visited Australia and New Zealand in
2007. They came from the Kunming University of Medical Sciences (7 members), Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau,
Guangzhou Children’s Hospital and Guangzhou Women & Children’s Hospital (12 members) and the Wuhan Children’s
Hospital, and Women’s and Children’s Health Centre (6 members). They visited the Alfred Hospital, the Royal Children’s
Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Monash Medical Centre and the Mercy Hospital, Melbourne; the Westmead
Children’s Hospital, Sydney and the Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. There were other visitors from the
College who travelled to China on advisory and observation purposes. These included Presidents, Council Members, a Chief
Executive Officer, and Fellows who attended conferences, gave lectures, conducted seminars and visited Hospitals.
Many colleagues from Australia/New Zealand and from China have visited their opposite numbers on more than one occasion.
However, regardless of how many visits they have made, their names will appear only once on this chart, unless they have
made visits to different hospitals.
With very few exceptions, all the English teachers have made multiple trips to China.
Australian and New Zealand Hospitals involved in Project China
New Zealand
Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland
New South Wales
Children’s Hospital, Westmead
Queensland
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
South Australia
Flinders Medical Centre
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Victoria
Alfred Hospital
Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre
Bellbird Private Hospital
Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery
Box Hill Hospital
Cabrini Hospital
Epworth Hospital
Epworth Cliveden Hospital
Epworth Eastern Hospital
Linley Private Hospital
Monash Medical Centre
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Northern Hospital
Peter McCallum Cancer Centre
Royal Children’s Hospital
Royal Dental Hospital
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
St. Vincent’s Hospital
Western Australia
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Ms Daliah Moss, Director of External Affairs, writes:
Mr Gordon Low, for his work in Project China, was awarded the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Medal
in 1994;
Mrs Rosie Low was presented a Certificate of Appreciation by Council for her contributions to Project China in 1999;
Mr Gordon Low was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003;
Mr Gordon Low was presented the Friendship Award of the People’s Government of the Municipality of Guangzhou,
China, in 2007;
Mr and Mrs Low were each named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 2010.
Mr and Mrs Low were together presented an Excellent Contribution Award by the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center,
Guangzhou in 2012.
Mr and Mrs Low were each awarded an International Medal of the College in 2013.
Mr and Mrs Low were together presented a Distinguished Service Award by the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of
Medicine, Zhejiang University in 2014.
www.surgeons.org
For more information about Project China contact the College:
www.surgeons.org
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
College of Surgeons Gardens
250-290 Spring Street , East Melbourne
Victoria 3002 Australia
ph: +61 3 9249 1200
fax: +61 3 9249 1219
Gordon Low (
) , AM MBBS (HK) FRCSEd FRACS
)
Rosie Low (
Founders and Co-ordinators, Project China
External Affairs Division, RACS
30 December 2013