Bruce Ashford
@drbruceashford
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Head & Neck and Microvascular (General) Surgeon. Clinical research advocate. Veteran. Optimist. Amateur dog wrangler. Chance favours the prepared mind. #GoPies
Wollongong, Australia
Joined January 2015
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Pinned Tweet
All those who served in Afghanistan knew the danger our interpreters faced every day. We could never take a photo that identified them. This was about life and death. And how have we repaid them for all their help? We haven't. We are too late.
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1K
Hard to reconcile driving home from a Hospital
#covid19australia
task group meeting where we discussed ventilators and PPE and seeing cafes, shops and roads packed. I might be going mad.
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1K
Hot tip: If you see a surgeon that tells you he is “the only one that can do your operation” you should know he is not just a surgeon. He is also a pathological liar and an irrepressible narcissist. And both of those things mean he is also dangerous.
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966
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but 90 year old patients with dementia
DO NOT NEED APIXABAN
#ever
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I am a big fan of solid hours as a Trainee, but this is gut wrenching reading. The “Consultants” in this case should be sacked. Not worthy of a Public Appointment.
@RACSurgeons
@NSWHealth
The ugly side of becoming a surgeon – mind body miko
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Today was meant to be my PhD graduation.
Alas no fancy hat for me.
So since I am not getting to say it to a bunch of friends at a boozy lunch, I would like to thank my family, my colleagues and my demanding Supervisors.
@mranson2
@jcBeyond5
@GuptaRuta
@ihmri
@uowresearch
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I love using reusable gowns and drapes. The same properties that make disposable gowns impervious mean they never degrade. Never. And the landfill just keeps accumulating. It’s gotta stop.
@ramsayhealth
@ARC_ACES
@NSWHealth
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I have just never understood the idea that a surgeon is allowed to lose it in theatre or at staff or colleagues. It's infantile and corrosive. And is borne of inadequacy or feeling out of one's depth. If it's too difficult, just get another job.
#surgery
#dousallafavour
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Man with N95 around his neck complains that the 5 star Intercontinental Hotel was a "nightmare" and why couldn't the govt trust him to go home. Because you are a muppet, Sir. That's why.
#Covid_19australia
#andImeananActualMuppet
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@DGlaucomflecken
It’s really hard to not see progressing as anything but failure when it happens. But truthfully, sometimes we need to slow down and reassess to progress. My failures, which have been multitude, have almost always delivered me to a better place. Hindsight is a gift.
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@MikeCarlton01
Unpopular opinion: I agree with Mike. It doesn’t take much effort to open the lines of communication and alert practice staff to give patients a heads up if there is a delay >30 mins. It’s common courtesy and respect. And it’s also the Drs responsibility.
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Just
@petosagan
on our local Saturday morning route….
@UCI_cycling
#wollongong2022
@wollongong2022
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5 years of lobbying to get an outpatient clinic in the Hospital. Today is the Day!!!!
#surgery
#whyamIfirsttoarrive
#caffeine
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Difficult to imagine
@GladysB
losing anything at the moment. She has just been a magnificent leader and has personified grace and humility.
#UpperHunter
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I think what makes
@MarkHoward03
so endearing is that each of us can imagine being him. An average bloke, who loves sport, hanging out with his idols. Whether it be cricket or footy. And it’s never about him. Kudos.
@FoxCricket
#BoxingDayTest
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18 months ago,
@GongGasGirl
first raised
#fittesting
in
#covid19
in the Gong. It was a struggle to get the experts to share the vision to protect
#HCW
. Kudos Tanya, from all those that your relentless drive has protected.
#airborne
Today is my turn. 🙏🏼
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As surgical trainers, we are very bad at helping people understand early in their training they will likely not make good surgeons. We do not identify deficencies well, or provide useful and remedial advice. We tend to just let them progress.
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Our Nurses have never been under greater pressure than right now.
And this is gonna get a lot worse.
There is no solution this late in the day.
But we must never again be satisfied with so few staff and so little redundancy.
The system must change.
#CovidNSW
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GP to Surgeon: Can I get you to see this urgently?
Surgeon: How about 3.15?
GP to Physician: Can I get you to see this urgently?
Physician: How does 2026 sound?
How does this work?
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After two years of work and the help of many great surgeons, our book was published yesterday.
HT: the great
@juliomayol
, the late great Sherif Hanna
@Sunnybrook
and the one/only Dr Jatin Shah
@MSKCancerCenter
for their support.
#surgery
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Any Dr in any Hospital anywhere: If you are not coping with workload, speak up. Disregard the consequences. Any training program that excludes someone who speaks up is not a training program that is worth doing.
#RestedDocs
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@lipidguy
@alegizquierdo
Looks like she knows what she is doing.
I reckon she can sit, and use her phone if she wants.
I once had an anaesthetist crack open a case, get out his mandolin, and play a very good cover, from start to finish, of "Copperhead Road", as I was carving tumour off the jug.
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@brodiegrundy
says he hasn’t had an impact? That’d be why 15yo girls in Wollongong wear one sock up and one sock down.
#InsideOut
@CollingwoodFC
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My 84yo
#headandneck
#cancer
patient always brings me delicious Macedonian treats. One box for me and “one for the Staff”. I always have to remind the staff that, when “at work”, I am also “staff”. I think I may need to increase the frequency of her review visits.
#hungrysurgeon
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1
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One of my favourite interactions in the Hospital is with my ENT Colleagues, whom I lovingly and routinely refer to as “The Monkeys”, “Muppets” and “Ear Dentists”. But at the moment, God Bless them, the Anaesthetists and those in ED. You guys are the frontline. 🙏🏼
#COVID19Aus
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10
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At the end of a pretty brutal week I am reminded that it’s actually only the people that really matter.
The rest is just stuff.
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In a week where Lifesavers have died in Victoria, this could hardly be less appropriate.
@zalisteggall
and every other
@GetUp
backed candidate ought to distance themselves.
#auspol
#WarringahVotes
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@DoverMarian
You won’t want to hear this now but failing my Fellowship exam was one of the best things that I had the fortune to suffer. It taught me alot about surgery, but more about myself. And it has given me the greatest of professional gifts: empathy.
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Massive congratulations and acknowledgment with promotion to Senior Professor Marie Ranson
@mranson2
.
#Cancer
research trailblazer and innovator,
#mentor
to so many of us, incredible role model for
#WomenInSTEM
. We are so grateful for your immense contribution.
@WomenSciAUST
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10
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One theatre in one hospital.
We just gotta do better than this. This industry lead waste is a disaster.
We need to discover ways to reuse and recycle.
#sustainability
#pollution
#surgery
@RACSurgeons
@AmCollSurgeons
5
10
57
So our Friday pm Gong Hosp Gen Surg/Head&Neck clinic established by
@IllaShoalHealth
has allowed us to see more than a hundred patients, without cost. We have had time to devote to their story, and to discuss with and learn with the next generation of Surgeons. Everyone wins.
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So good that we have ample access to reuseable gowns, hand towels and drapes in
@NSWHealth
.
Just ask for them. And when you are told you can’t use, tell them you have an allergy to plastics.
#sustainability
#climate
#waste
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10
50
@ricardcorcelles
@SuvirajJohn
@ClevelandClinic
@RobertoSimonsMD
@mjamal110
@Gabboddg
@barajas_gamboa
@IFSOMENAC
You gotta be kidding. An all male panel?
If you would like the names of some female GI surgeons in Aust/ANZ just yell out. I think we now have one. Or two. *checks notes*
Do better.
@ManelWatchAU
@doctorwibble
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Glad to report we have, once again, appointed the most outstanding applicant to our Head & Neck Fellowship in Wollongong. Since its inception, 80% of our Fellows have been female.
But who’s counting?
@RACSurgeons
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This kid has turned out to be a resilient and talented powerhouse. She is wise and tough and loving.
And she finishes
#HSC
today.
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Shoutout to the staff in
@SWSLHD
doing the heavy lifting in
#COVID19nsw
We are so grateful for your tireless work on our behalf. It does not go unnoticed. More power to you all. 💪🏼🙏🏼✊🏻🐐
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The biggest challenge facing Hospitals during Covid is to keep focussed on everything non-Covid. All those things that were important in Nov 2019 ( cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, arthritis) are actually even more important now. Covid is a deadly distractor.
#covid19nsw
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Heading to Canberra for Capital City classic MTB ride to raise desperately needed funds for
@hncanceraus
Providing advocacy and resources for head and neck cancer patients, families and carers.
#headandneckcancer
#cancer
May my myocardium survive.
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If the “up the nose” swabs shown on the
@abcnews
are really being done at
#CrossroadsHotel
, I am unsure how much stock we can put on the negative results. It’s the nasopharynx guys, not the anterior vestibule.
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If surgeons were anaesthetists, they would be in constant reflective debate about the best way to hold a scalpel.
Ramped vs Sniffing Position for Intubation in Critically Ill Adults via
@WICSBottomLine
#FOAMed
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Eight years of work. What a team!
A small step on the path to improving diagnosis & care for patients with advanced
#skin
#cancer
.
@ihmri
@uowresearch
@IllaShoalHealth
Kudos
@mranson2
@jcBeyond5
@GuptaRuta
@amarinder_thind
@DrGopalIyer
@DrJayPerry
et al
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The best part of cancer surgery is discharging a patient from ongoing surveillance.
#flybefree
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Our last four Fellows.
One now the Boss
@takakoyabe
All General Surgeons
All reconstructive microsurgeons
#cancer
#headandneck
#legacy
#wollongong
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@Aidan_Baron
Disagree. He was in group asked for an opinion on vaccine mandate. He expressed a contrary view. He’s entitled to do so I would’ve thought.
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I’m no expert, but I reckon if it’s possible to do a thyroidectomy in 30 mins, it must be possible to also complete a haircut?
#barbersurgeons
#COVID19au
10
2
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Just bananas.
Lockdowns and state border closures remain the most heartless and inane strategies displayed by ideologues without any actual understanding of the disease. A special favourite of bureaucrats and other non-medical experts.
@CBadcock
@RageSheen
As I said, some people had mixed feelings but most said they felt incredibly protected and knew they had to wait for the vax to be rolled out so that people like their parents would not die from being infected without vaccine protection
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Not even during the height of Victoria’s
#Covid
crisis were ICU beds or Hospitals overwhelmed. Even despite HCW infections. So why do we think every suburb and state needs a lockdown like we are living in Pyongyang? It’s ridiculous.
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Would be sensational to also have some of our great female Head & Neck Surgeons featured. There are plenty and they need to be heard.
IFHNOS 2020 world tour program announced.
Kindly visit
for details
#IFHNOSWORLDTOUR2020
@jatinpshahmd
@pankajch37
@svporceddu
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Hot tip: If you are paying any surgeon more than 20K for any operation you are being fleeced.
#endofstory
#grammarcheck
#yougetthepicture
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As an Intern I was, very disappointingly, given a week of pall care during my relief term. What I though would be a waste of my important time has endured in my life and work as the best, most useful week medicine has ever invested in me. 🙏🏼
#palliativecare
As a patient living with incurable cancer, Sarah is being cared for by our palliative care team.
This National Palliative Care Week, Sarah talks about the ways in which
the team has been supporting her.
#StVincents
#PalliativeCare
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Surgeon Ben Dunne of Peter Mac, reminding us that the policies encouraging single use items in hospitals are just a pile of garbage. Literally.
#RACS24
@RyanPark_Keira
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Great pleasure and honour to host NSW Health Minister
@RyanPark_Keira
at Wollongong Hospital to hear Dr Phil Worley details Optimised PreSurgical Care. We all accept the need for ante-natal care. How about ante-surgery care?
#surgery
@IllaShoalHealth
4
1
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Head & Neck reconstruction.
Truly specialty agnostic.
Here Maxillofacial, Plastic and General Surgeons.
Teaching and learning together.
#MedEd
@RACSurgeons
@RCSEd
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I was in a meeting today where the verb "onboarded" was used. Six times. In a minute. Onboarded.
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In the military, you get paid extra when you go to a war that is often anticipated. Should we be paying our Nurses and Junior Drs an allowance for being on the battlefront of a war they never signed up to and from which some of them will not return?
#COVID19au
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Acknowledging today the powerful women of the Head & Neck
#surgery
and research capability in
#Wollongong
. Cannot imagine being without them.
#IWD2024
#microsurgery
#cancer
@takakoyabe
@mranson2
@GongGasGirl
💪🏼🩺💉🧬🔬😎
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As a cancer surgeon, I can tell you that all her care was available in the public system, free. She chose a different option. And that’s fine. But let’s not pretend exactly the same care isn’t available, by the best surgeons, in the public system.
If Scott Morrison thinks fighting cancer is free, he's more out of touch than I thought.
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2
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There’s a new kid in town. Everybody’s talkin bout the new kid in town.
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With a couple of operating lists this week, it is heavy on my mind about
1. Consuming resources
2. Exposing currently well (elderly)patients to a setting which could well have
#COVID
ー19
Easy to justify for cancer and emergencies. Everything else, not so easy. Should we stop?
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2
35
I am not in the camp that thinks that anything the PM could have done could have stopped these fires. But it is hard to explain just about every move he has made since they started. No sympathy, empathy or emotional intelligence. It’s just pathetic.
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4
35
ENT and Gen Surg Fellows teaching and learning
#microsurgery
for head and neck
#reconstruction
.
Specialty agnostic, clinical and training outcome driven.
#wollongong
#cancer
@COBLH
@anzhncs
@hncanceraus
1
6
35
Endless extremely advanced head and neck cancers discussed at MDT today. Anecdotal but we are seeing extent of disease that we never saw 3 years ago. Another cost of
#Covid
. Another load to bear.
#cancer
#headandneck
3
9
35
All good things must come to an end.
@rajmendis
completes a hectic 12 months
@IllaShoalHealth
as Head & Neck/Micro Fellow.
Ready for the big time.
Our loss is
@COBLH
and ultimately Westmead Hospital’s gain.
#gensurg
#headandneck
3
3
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Amazing seeing how green western NSW and Qld are, as co-driver for
@drdeanneashford
en route to new adventure as a
#RuralGeneralist
@ACRRM
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2
33
@simplyjak
@sonialf
@jilltomlinson
@DrMukeshH
@M_Kay_Dunkley
@ama_media
@ASMOFnsw
@AMA_NSW
@RACSurgeons
@PlastSurgAus
I am happy to advocate for any
@NSWHealth
surgical trainee, accredited or not, if they are being abused like this. I would relish the opportunity to sort these muppets out. Nobody deserves this rubbish.
7
5
32
We need a Plastic Surgeon or 3 in Wollongong.
Recon, trauma, cosmetic, whatever.
Oh and beaches, cycling, painless commutes.
Get on it.
@RACSurgeons
2
10
30
Tennis Australia boss says
@ashbarty
has inspired so many women and girls. Sure, but that is only about 50% of the people she has inspired. All of us.
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It’s curently pretty bad in Victoria for all those in health. I reckon a lot of you are worried and super stressed. All I would say is reach out if you need support. Wherever you are and whatever the reason. You’re not alone.
#COVID19Vic
0
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I think what I least like about Wollongong is the crowded, suffocating lifestyle.
2
2
31
A fantastic visit to the MASSIVE Vienna General Hospital (>40 ORs) to discuss our research efforts to better understand progression in skin cancer. Vienna and NSW Head & Neck surgeons are one big family.
@COBLH
@IllaShoalHealth
#wollongong
3
2
29
In Darwin for the
@NTGPE
@RACGP
@ACRRM
graduation and awards dinner.
Given I spent 2 years in Darwin as a Reg and never wore long trousers, the dinner suit is quite the stretch. Literally.
#meded
#remotemed
4
2
29
Lady on ABC news expressing concerns about AZ vaccine, “I wouldn’t have the fluvax if it was only 60% effective”.
Um, who’s gonna tell her?
6
4
29
So we are now finalising our
#Bioinformatics
PhD short-list for a funded scholarship
@UOW
undertaking
#multiomics
integration in advanced cutaneous SCC.
If you are a biologist/bioinformatician who wants to cure cancer, perhaps we should be reading your CV??
#WGS
#omics
#cancer
0
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