USANZ NSW Section Meeting 2019

Convenors

Dr Hodo Haxhimolla | Convenor

Dr Hodo Haxhimolla is a urological surgeon that has been practising in the ACT. He is an experienced and certified Da Vinci robotic and laparoscopic (keyhole) surgeon. He was part of the first team in Australia to have completed a robotic radical prostatectomy in Melbourne in 2003, together with Professor Anthony Costello. To date, Dr. Hodo has performed more than 1000 cases of minimally invasive radical prostatectomies and kidney surgeries. He is the director of robotic surgery at the National Capital Private Hospital and is now a proctor for robotic surgery. Dr Haxhimolla has been leading in the diagnosis of cancer of the prostate using MRI technology including pioneering in-gantry and fusion MRI guided biopsies for accurate prostate cancer detection. He performed the first Uronav, Percunav and Mona Lisa robotic biopsy procedures in Australia. Dr. Haxhimolla has written multiple articles in this area and has also run many symposiums teaching urologists and radiologists how to use the MRI in the diagnosis of cancer of the prostate.

Dr Haxhimolla seeks to provide comprehensive care to prostate cancer survivors. He completed his training in brachytherapy at the Seattle Prostate Institute, a leading centre in the USA in 2006. He underwent further training in penile implant surgery at the Coral Gables Institute, Florida with Dr. Paul Perito. He also specialises in male incontinence surgery, being the first urologist in Australia to perform the ATOMS procedure with the inventor of the surgical device aimed at restoring continence in male patients. He also performs Advance XP and artificial urinary sphincter procedures to aid in the restoration of continence in male patients.

Dr Haxhimolla also has an interest in Prostatic Hyperplasia and performed the first Thulium (Revlex) Laser surgery in Australia. He was also an early adopter of Urolift, Green light and Rezum technologies.

Dr Amanda Chung | Scientific Co-Convenor

Dr Amanda Chung is a urological surgeon who cares for general urology patients. She also has a special interest and further subspecialty qualifications in urogenital reconstruction (such as urethral stricture), functional urology (such as lower urinary tract symptoms, incontinence and erectile dysfunction) and neurourology for both women and men.

Amanda completed her medical degree (BSc (Med) / MBBS) at the University of New South Wales in 2007, Master of Surgery (MS) at the University of Sydney in 2012 and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2016. Furthermore, she completed a Fellowship of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk VA, USA) in 2017. She is a Member of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. She combines her clinical work with research and is also currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) through the University of Sydney. Her research topic is “Detrusor ultrastructural studies in geriatric lower urinary tract dysfunction: correlation of features and development of a standardised protocol.”

Amanda joined Sydney Urological Associates in 2018 and operates at North Shore Private Hospital, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Northern Beaches Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital. She has consulting rooms at Wahroonga, St Leonards and Mona Vale.

Her academic positions include Clinical Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University and as tutor and examiner for medical students at the Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, at The University of Sydney.

Dr Chung has been the author or co-author of over 20 peer reviewed publications. She is credited with almost 100 peer-reviewed meeting abstracts, presentations and invited speaking appearances in both local and international conferences such as the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, American Urological Association, European Association of Urology, Society of International Urology, and World Congress of Endourology.

Amanda is also passionate about global health and volunteers for a number of charities including Mary’s Meals Australia, International Volunteers Urology and Physicians for Peace.

Dr Daniel Gilbourd | Scientific Co-Convenor

Dr Daniel Gilbourd is a urologist in Canberra. He has an interest in endourology, minimally invasive surgery and surgical education and training. He completed his medical degree at UNSW and a Masters of Surgery at USyd with a thesis on Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy. He completed a fellowship in endourology at Monash including training in HOLEP and all forms of stone treatment including ESWL, RIRS, Supine PCNL and ECIRS. Since he commenced in ACT health he has coordinated clinical research in the unit and supported the registrars and residents in a number of projects that have been presented nationally and internationally.