National leaders in respiratory medicine training

In a first for Prince of Wales Hospital (POWH), senior respiratory specialists travelled from across NSW, interstate and even overseas, to participate in the country’s only combined introductory thoracic ultrasound and bronchoscopy course. 

The course is essential to specialists training in respiratory medicine, enabling them to become skilled bronchoscopists and understand the principles of thoracic ultrasound. 

“This is a prestigious course that has been running at Liverpool Hospital for 15 years and is now proudly hosted by POWH,” said Dr Paul Lilburn, Interventional Pulmonologist, Staff Specialist in Respiratory Medicine and course convener. 

“This course is the cornerstone of interventional respiratory training. Using high fidelity simulation rooms (with gracious thanks to our ICU counterparts), participants take part in real-life scenarios including a rare but important bronchoscopy complication – airway bleeding. For this, trainees must think on their feet about how to manage such an emergency,” said Dr Lilburn. 

This specialist training course at POWH raises the profile of the hospital as a national leader in respiratory medicine training. 

Dr Francis Ratnakumar, first year Respiratory Advanced Trainee, said the course was an excellent introduction into the world of ultrasound and bronchoscopy. 

“Learning from experts in the field from all around the state was amazing, with real-world patient experience under the guidance and supervision of so many interventional respiratory physicians,” said Dr Ratnakumar.

Pictured left to right: Dr Amel Katrib, Medical Co-Director, Emergency and Specialist Medicine Program, Dr Nicholas Murray, Head of Department - Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Dr Paul Lilburn, Interventional Pulmonologist and Staff Specialist, Roy Gutierrez, Glen McNally Sim Centre Manager