MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA
Profile:
Dr Stuart Kirkham is a well-known and experienced senior Orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in disorders of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder – i.e. the upper limb.
Dr Kirkham grew up in Sydney and attended Knox Grammar school achieving, much to his surprise, the top mark in NSW for English. He graduated with an MBBS from the University of Sydney medical faculty in 1990.
Dr Kirkham started his career just days after the infamous Newcastle earthquake on 28/12/89 ; and was soon afterwards lucky enough to work at John Hunter Hospital the day it first opened to the public – 1 year ahead of its schedule. He spent 9 years based in Newcastle NSW & its surrounds, where his career focused on surgical roles and orthopaedic surgical training achieving his FRACS in 1999. During His 9 years 1990-1998 as a junior doctor, he worked all over NSW including Newcastle, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Taree, Coffs harbour, Gosford, Belmont, Wallsend. “an unforgettable experience full of rich and valuable life lessons”
Dr Kirkham received the AOA travelling fellowship prize in 1999. He was awarded FAOrthA by the AOA in 2000.
In 1999-2000, he spent a further year of sub-specialty training at the very prestigious Baylor college of medicine Houston Texas USA. Dr Kirkham worked in the unit set up by Rear Admiral Dr David M Lichtman – who is well known for Kienbock’s. Dr Kirkham worked with well known surgeons incl Drs Burkhart, Gartsman, Gabel, Hildreth, JB Bennett , Netscher Kessler and others.
In 2000, Dr Kirkham then returned to Australia and started at Westmead hospital where for approx. 11 years he was responsible for the teaching syllabus of hand and upper limb disorders. Dr Kirkham has taught many orthopaedic and plastic surgery trainees.
