Rowan Nicks Fellowships & scholarships
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The opportunities listed below, are tenable in an institution where recipients will learn the craft of surgery (or anaesthesia), and also become involved in teaching, research and administration.
George 'Rowan' Nicks OBE FRACS AO
Rowan Nicks OBE FRACS AO, was one of the most respected and loved Fellows of the College. He has been a major benefactor of the College since 1987, when he established the Rowan Nicks scholarships. Since 1991, over 80 international scholars from more than 30 countries have been awarded a Rowan Nicks Scholarship or Fellowship to undertake training attachments in hospitals in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Singapore or India.
The Rowan Nicks scholarships are not just personal awards; the orientation is to 'teach the teacher to teach others' and all scholars must come with a sense of responsibility to the needs of their home base. The intention is that the scholar will share the skills and expertise with their colleagues upon return to their home country, thereby increasing capacity to deliver improved surgical care to the local community.
The College is establishing a database of scholar locations in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand, and seeks expressions of interest from departments of surgery or heads of units who feel they can offer a milieu in which young surgeons can be nurtured.
News
February 2025
Dr Mahnaz Tabassum Prova, a breast and oncology Bangladesh surgeon, was placed in a clinical fellowship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Dr Prova will work with the breast endocrine unit under the supervision of Dr Melissa Bochner.
February 2024A first for the Global Health team, two Rowan Nicks scholars started in the same month. Dr Ravuama Raqisia, from Fiji, is in the neurosurgery unit at the Alfred Hospital with supervisor Dr Ron Jithoo. Dr Benjamin Thomas, from Papua New Guinea, joined the Concord Repatriation Hospital’s department of neurosurgery alongside supervisor Dr Prakash Damodaran. Dr Thomas will also rotate between Mater, Nepean, and Gosford Private Hospitals.
October 2022
After a long hiatus due to Covid travel restrictions, RACS Global Health would like to welcome Dr Tika Ram Adhikari from Bhutan as the first Rowan Nicks scholar for 2022. Dr Adhikari is working in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at John Hunter Hospital with supervisor Professor Kelvin Kong.
February 2021
Dr Nina Irawati, a Rowan Nicks Pacific Islands scholar from Indonesia, was placed in a clinical fellowship at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Head and Neck Institute with supervisors Drs James Wykes, David Leinkram, Michael Elliott, Sydney Ch’ng, Hubert Low, Carsten E Palme, Jonathan Clark, Kerwin Shannon and Anthony Clifford.
March 2020
Rowan Nicks International Scholarship recipient Dr Shankar Prasad Shah from Nepal was placed in a clinical fellowship at the Westmead Hospital ENT department with supervisor Professor Melville da Cruz.
April 2019
RACS Global Health warmly welcomes Rowan Nicks Pacific Islands Scholar, Dr Esther Apuahe from Papua New Guinea to Australia. Dr Apuahe will work closely with Dr Eric Guazzo FRACS at Townsville Hospital to further develop her skills in neurosurgery.
October 2018
Dr Henao Asa, a 2017 Rowan Nicks Pacific Islands Scholarship recipient from Papua New Guinea, recently arrived in Australia to begin a 6 month attachment in Orthopaedic Surgery. Under the supervision of Dr Arvind Puri, Dr Asa will be working at Cairns Hospital.
April 2018
Dr Tanup Prasai, a 2017 Rowan Nicks International Scholar from Nepal, arrived in Australia to begin a 12 month attachment in Orthopaedic Surgery, specifically training in Hand Surgery. Under the supervision of Dr Stephen Tham and Dr Jason Harvey, Dr Prasai will be training at Dandenong Hospital, The Valley Private Hospital, and St. Vincent's Private Hospital.
March 2016
Rowan Nicks International Scholar, Dr Myitzu Win, recently spoke to Interplast for International Women's Day about her time in Australia and pathway into Plastic Surgery in Myanmar. Read the full story here.
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
Anaesthetists from developing countries wishing to obtain experience in an Australian or Aotearoa New Zealand hospital may be eligible to apply for an Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) provisional fellowship. Visit the ANZCA provisional fellowship page for more information.
Contact
Scholarships Coordinator, Global Health
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia
Email: [email protected]