Trainee Positions At Sunshine Coast University Hospital

Sunshine Coast University Hospital
6 Doherty Street, Birtinya, QLD
QLD, 4575
Australia

Contact Details

Dr Antony Winkel
antony.winkel@health.qld.gov.au
Phone : 07 5202 1006
www :

Positions

Training Positions : 2
Elective Training Positions : 2
Fellowships : 2

Core Position Descriptions
2 Core training positions, with alternation of duties as negotiated between trainees (ie. 3 or 6 month terms, typically). Department supported by Neurology and Stroke CNC positions, Neurology BPT, Neurology Intern and SMO staff.

Inpatient job - includes covering inpatient ward, ED consults, infusion centre and ward consults.

Outpatient job - includes protected Neurophysiology and EEG teaching, clinic time (especially Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-Immunology, Movement Disorders, Neuro-otology and Headache, as well as other subspecialty clinics), external phone calls and outpatient lumbar punctures.

Strong teaching ethos with regular educational sessions through the week and dedicated EEG teaching. Very strong Neurophysiology exposure hands-on. Protected Brain School time. Exposure to BPT training and Griffith University Medical Students.

Elective Position Descriptions
STROKE FELLOW
Accredited non-core year.

SCUH is a busy Stroke Unit with a high throughput and country-leading length of stay. We are consistently in the top 5 units in the country for door to needle times, rate of thrombolysis, and length of stay. Strong ties to public and private Rehabilitation units help move patients through efficiently, with hyperacute stroke therapy pro-actively offered. Currently very strong thrombolysis exposure and ECR available externally (Brisbane), but work underway to develop a local ECR service by 2025/26.

Clinical duties with cover of stroke inpatients, outpatients (including TIA clinics), thrombolysis and stroke consults. Stroke service currently distributed between 2 acute inpatient teams, each with SMO, Registrar (or Fellow) and Resident/Intern, along with Stroke CNC support and a Stroke NP.

Negotiable (with Neurology ATs) up to 3 months of exposure to general neurology similar to that seen in the core position description above.

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY/NEUROMUSCULAR FELLOW
Accredited non-core Fellowship year, for Year 3+ trainees only (ie. no pre-core trainees accepted).

Dedicated Neuromuscular/Neurophysiology Fellowship position with extensive exposure to peripheral neurophysiology - including NCS, EMG, SFEMG, RNS, blink reflexes, evoked potentials and other specialised techniques. Exposure of >16-20 studies hands-on per week, with the expectation of Level 3 competency at the conclusion of the year.

Exposure to regular Motor Neurone Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Clinic, and monthly Neuro-Immunology (with a particular focus on the Peripheral disorders such as myositis, CIDP, myasthenia gravis) Clinic.
Research interest encouraged and supported.

Hospital Information

Currently Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is the major teaching hospital for the Sunshine Coast Hospital Health Service (SCHHS), which is the major referral hospital for the district with 450 beds, with a continual expansion of its services and capacity. In the coming years, it will have the capacity to expand to a 738 bed facility. Most medical and surgical specialties are represented at this health service, with expansion to include Interventional Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery all under development for 2025 and 2026.

Department Beds :
20 stroke, 10 neurology

Department Clinics
General neurology clinics

Department Specialty Clinics
Movement disorders, Epilepsy, Neuromuscular, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-Immunology (Central and Peripheral separately staffed), Headache and Facial Pain Clinic, Neurootology/Vestibular.

Department Meetings
Weekly Neuroradiology meeting
Weekly Journal Club
Weekly Complex Case Meeting
Weekly teleconferencing with Gold Coast University Hospital Monday teaching session
Fortnightly Neuro-ophthalmology teaching session
Bimonthly teleconferencing with Royal Brisbane Hospital Pathology department for neuropathology teaching
Weekly EEG teaching
Weekly Hospital Grand Rounds (our department present roughly 2 times per year)
Monthly Neurophysiology/EMG teaching

Department Staff
Dr Joshua Barton (Neuroimmunology)
Dr Andrew Clarke (Neuromuscular and Neurophysiology)
Dr Tomin Mooney (General Neurology and Epilepsy)
Dr David Palmer (Movement Disorders and FND Clinic)
Dr Jasmin Tilling (Headache)
Dr Benjamin Tsang (Headache and Neuro-otology)
Dr Antony Winkel (Neuromuscular and Neurophysiology)
Dr David Wong (Dual-trained Geriatrics/Neurology, Movement Disorders)
Dr Tony Tampiyappa (Stroke and Movement Disorders)
Dr Quentes De Vries (Stroke and Movement Disorders)
Dr Rohan Grimley (Stroke and Director of Research)

Junior Staff Positions In Neurology
2 x core advanced trainee 2 x non-core advanced trainee (Stroke Fellow and Neurophysiology Fellow) 2 x BPT registrar (1x Neurology, 1x Stroke) 1 x Resident (Stroke) 2 x Interns (Stroke and Neurology)

Trainee Responsibilities
Inpatient and ambulatory care responsibilities specific to rotation. Weekly attendance at EMG and EEG training - very strong exposure to NCS/EMG, including single fibre EMG, bulbar EMG and other specialised techniques. Average 7-10 NCS per week hands-on by AT. On call weeknights and weekends with senior support for on-call duties. A commitment to high quality patient care and ability to develop good rapport with nursing and allied health staff. Developing communication skills with patients and families and a strong working relationship with consultant and resident staff. Interest and enthusiasm in learning clinical skills in neurology and in research.

Selection Criteria
As specified by ANZAN including performance in interview, CV, referee reports.

Philosophy Of Training
Broad exposure to many disciplines of neurology. Strongly supported by a competitive teaching program with an emphasis on developing broad clinical skills. Well-being of trainee and advice on career development strong emphasis with direct supervisors, given the close 1-on-1 supervision with all aspects of inpatient and outpatient neurology. It is possible that all patient encounters can have direct consultant support/contact, thus facilitating a direct apprenticeship type model of teaching.

Neurology Training In State
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Cairns Hospital, Townsville Hospital, Mater Hospital and the Gold Coast University Hospital

Other Information