The department of maxillofacial/head and neck surgery consists of three consultants, a senior fellow, registrars and an intern (sometimes a RMO gets posted).

The registrar and fellow positions are accredited towards advanced surgical training in maxillofacial surgery by the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS).

This is a busy department with annual figures of about 300 facial trauma patients and around 80-100 deep neck space infections.

The availability of hybrid CT scan for managing facial trauma has brought in a paradigm shift in the turnover of trauma patients.

The unit manages all cancers involving the oral cavity, oropharynx, salivary glands and thyroid and co-ordinates with the endocrine/renal team to perform parathyroid excision for primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Reconstructive surgeries involving the head and neck, including microvascular free flaps, regional flaps and local flaps are also performed accounting to around 40 cases in a year.

Senior fellow in maxillofacial/head and neck surgery

This position is suitable for those who have completed their formal training in maxillofacial, plastics, ENT or general surgery, and looking for exposure in facial trauma and head and neck oncology. It is common for international medical graduates to join our department in this position to grow and finesse their facial trauma skills. The fellow should be at least AHPRA level three supervision for this position. Previous fellows in this department have included surgeons with training in plastic surgery, ENT, and general surgery.

The senior fellow is expected to have basic surgical skills in 1 of 3 following areas:

• head and neck malignancies
• facial trauma
• reconstructive surgery (microvascular skills).

The position carries training opportunities at the association of osteosynthesis course, and it is anticipated that the incumbent will be actively involved in clinical research and audit.

Current and previous fellows have been actively involved in teaching with an adjunct academic title available from Flinders University.

Involvement in research is actively encouraged. Presentation at two international conferences during the year is an established norm. The fellow is expected to play a leadership role in co-ordinating with various other departments in organizing the weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings.

This position is accredited by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) or by the Dental College (RACDS) as is required.

Registrar in maxillofacial/head and neck surgery

The position of advanced surgical trainee is available to dually trained persons with RACDS registration.

There is a second registrar position which is available to any surgically trained person with significant interest in the region of the head and neck.

There is significant potential for enhancing all aspects of maxillofacial and head and neck surgical skills in this fully supervised position, and it is expected that the advanced trainee will present at least two papers at international conferences during the one-year tenure.

The registrar is expected to run a fortnightly MOPS list on a Friday afternoon.

Professional gains

• Large volume of facial trauma.
• Broad spectrum of pathology.
• Research oriented.

Our full time consultants ensure holistic supervision.

Education

Formal teaching opportunities include:

• Weekly RDPH grand rounds
• Weekly RDPH division of surgery grand rounds
• Weekly division of surgery journal club
• Weekly radiology meeting
• Presentation at the weekly head and neck MDT, monthly thyroid and parathyroid MDT.