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Table of Contents

The development of microvascular surgery in Australia

Introduction

Participants

Beginnings

Developing links with academia and hospital medicine

A bevy of supporters

An ever-widening circle of contributors

Building research capacity

Nurturing relationships

Raising funds for research and development

The microsurgeon and the law

Winning community and corporate support

Leadership

The Institute and its style

Endnotes

Index
Search
Help

Contact us
Participants (continued)

Now the dates are a little uncertain, but the Annual Reports and the recollections of key players would suggest the following sequence of events occurred:

1964: Bernard O'Brien commences experimental microsurgery work in old mortuary at St Vincent's using a microscope loaned by Professor Gerard Crock of the University of Melbourne Department of Ophthalmology
1968: Microsurgery established within the University Department of Surgery at St Vincent's Hospital, with Bernard O'Brien appointed a research assistant and main investigator
1968: The concept of a Microsurgery Foundation is first mooted by Bernard O'Brien as a way of obtaining funding for research and facilities
1970: Microsurgery Foundation established (separate from the hospital), with Sir William Kilpatrick as Chairman
1972: St Vincent's renovates an old factory next to the present Institute with funding from the Australian Universities Commission, and the Experimental Medical and Surgical Unit is born
1976: The microsurgery research program is formally recognised by St Vincent's with the establishment of the Microsurgery Research Unit directed by Bernard O'Brien. It has four full-time Fellows with year-long appointments and eight sessional surgeons. A contentious issue that arises between the Unit and the Hospital and that recurs over the following years is what constitutes its equitable share of recurrent operating expenses.
1977: Bernard O'Brien reports that 10 of 125 delegates at the 4th International Microsurgery Symposium were trained as Fellows at St Vincent's Hospital
1977: Sir Laurence Muir succeeds Sir William Kilpatrick as Chairman of the Foundation, and Sir William becomes its Patron
1978: A delegation from the Foundation to Victorian Premier, Mr Hamer, whose funeral is being held today, wins support for up to $150,000 over two years for building a Microsurgery Research Unit, with the Foundation promising to raise an equal amount [3]
1978: Sister Administrator, Maureen Walters, says she is unable to accept this donation [4]
1979: With St Vincent's Hospital and the Foundation having resolved most of their differences, the donation from the Government is accepted and the Sisters of Charity support a building for the Microsurgical Research Unit on land owned by them
1980: Consultative Scientific Panel appointed to comment on all research proposals. I believe Professor R.D. (Douglas) Wright, who was then Deputy Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, was the first chairman of that panel.[5] The same year, Mr Wayne Morrison and Mr Allan MacLeod were appointed Senior Research Fellows
1983: Microsurgery Research Advisory Committee established under the chairmanship of St Vincent's neurosurgeon, Dr Keith Henderson.
1984: New $1,000,000 microsurgery building opens, with Right of Occupancy guaranteed by the Hospital for 25 years
1985: Unit renamed Microsurgery Research Centre
1986: Launch of an appeal for $500,000, as maintenance budget of the Unit expected to exceed $250,000 per year
1986-87: Mr Julian Pribaz, a senior microsurgeon, leaves the Centre because of "chronic frustrations with the health system, including limited hospital beds and operating theatre times"
1992: Ron Walker, Chairman of the Microsurgery Foundation, describes the building housing the Unit as "hopelessly inadequate" and "unable to keep pace" with its enterprising staff.
1992: Bernard O'Brien retires and Wayne Morrison appointed Director of the Microsurgery Research Centre.
1995-96: The facility expands with support from Transport Accident Commission. The centre renamed Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery (BOBIM)
1996: Institute hosts the International Symposium on Contemporary Microsurgery
1998: Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management and Research established.

Figure 2


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