Dr Cameron keating

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2010 Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship

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“I have been inspired to improve the management of peripheral nerve injuries, after witnessing during my surgical training both the burden of trauma, particularly in rural areas, and the devastating effects these injuries have on patients. Since the development of microsurgical nerve repair in the 1970’s, there has been little improvement in clinical outcomes despite intensive research. I will investigate a novel non-sutured repair technique using lasers that has the potential to dramatically improve current practice.”

Dr Cameron Keating, a General Surgery Registrar at St Vincent’s Hospital, has won a Fulbright Scholarship to research nerve regeneration and repair at the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Cameron plans to complete the Scholars in Clinical Science Program (S.C.S.P.) through Harvard Medical School, a two-year training program in clinical investigation leading to a Master of Medical Sciences degree. He aims to contribute to the field of Plastic Surgery by improving surgical nerve repair through the use of a photochemical repair technique.

“Major peripheral nerve injuries are devastating to individuals and costly to Australian society. The cost of treating an acute episode is more than $85,000 AUD. The additional costs of supporting long-term rehabilitation and/ or permanent disability are even greater. Furthermore, injury prevention and treatment is one of seven National Health Priorities of the National Health and Medical Research Council (N.H.M.R.C.).”

“This training will be crucial in my plan to be an academic Hand Surgeon, combining research, teaching and surgery.” Cameron said that the S.C.S.P. trains clinical research leaders and academics. There is no comparable degree in Australia. Harvard Medical School is a world leader in translational medical research. The Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital where I will be conducting my research is a highly regarded Hand Surgery centre with a track record of innovation and publications.”

“I will further my training in clinical research and scientific leadership and bring these skills back to Australia, in order to contribute to our burgeoning research and biotechnology industries. I also plan to undertake regular voluntary surgical aid missions with Interplast in the Asia-Pacific region once I complete my training.”

Cameron has a Bachelor of Medical Science (B.Med.Sc.), a Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery (MB.BS.) and a Diploma of Surgical Anatomy from The University of Melbourne. He has been recognized with a range of academic and research awards including: a National Medicine Scholarship from The University of Melbourne (1999-2004); the Australian Students’ Prize (1998); the Old Collegians’ Major Scholarship at Newman College (1999); an A.M.A. J.G. Hunter Research Fellowship for HIV research (2001); the Dean’s Prize at St Vincent’s Clinical School (2004)’; and the President’s Award for best Thoracic Surgery Oral Presentation in Boston (2008). He was also awarded a Melbourne Abroad Scholarship (2003) for a semester exchange to the University of Oslo, Norway.