Australia's first Aboriginal surgeon
22nd September 2006
 |
| Dr Kelvin Kong and his wife, Sarah Kong |
A UNSW medical graduate has become the first Aboriginal surgeon in Australia.
Dr Kelvin Kong, who helped establish UNSW’s Indigenous Pre-Medical Program when he was an undergraduate, has become an ear, nose and throat specialist.
“Indigenous Australia remains over-represented on every poor determinant of health. There are high rates of ear disease in Australia’s indigenous communities and I want to help address those,” said Dr Kong, who is based at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr Kong, who is involved in clinics run by the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), was nominated for his contribution to health in this year’s national indigenous awards, the Deadlys. His citation acknowledges his outstanding contribution as a national leader and his position as a role model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As a board member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) he co-wrote the AIDA Healthy Futures report, which defines best practice in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous medical students.
“The number of indigenous students studying medicine at UNSW has significantly increased, which is great,” said Dr Kong. “This is one of the few universities to have the vision, the will and the support from staff to really encourage indigenous students.”
An interest in medicine runs in the family. Dr Kong’s mother is a nurse, his twin sisters are doctors and his father Dr Kong Cheok Seng is a doctor and alumnus of UNSW.
The 32 year-old became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, specialising in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery in June this year.
Dr Kelvin Kong, who helped establish UNSW’s Indigenous Pre-Medical Program when he was an undergraduate, has become an ear, nose and throat specialist.
“Indigenous Australia remains over-represented on every poor determinant of health. There are high rates of ear disease in Australia’s indigenous communities and I want to help address those,” said Dr Kong, who is based at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr Kong, who is involved in clinics run by the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), was nominated for his contribution to health in this year’s national indigenous awards, the Deadlys. His citation acknowledges his outstanding contribution as a national leader and his position as a role model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As a board member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) he co-wrote the AIDA Healthy Futures report, which defines best practice in the recruitment and retention of Indigenous medical students.
“The number of indigenous students studying medicine at UNSW has significantly increased, which is great,” said Dr Kong. “This is one of the few universities to have the vision, the will and the support from staff to really encourage indigenous students.”
An interest in medicine runs in the family. Dr Kong’s mother is a nurse, his twin sisters are doctors and his father Dr Kong Cheok Seng is a doctor and alumnus of UNSW.
The 32 year-old became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, specialising in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery in June this year.
Share on Facebook Add to Del.icio.us Digg this story |