Meet Our Team
Professor Jeffrey M Hamdorf AM
MBBS, PhD, FRACS
Director, CTEC
Professor of Surgical Education
Professor Hamdorf is an Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon with special interests in upper GI surgery including laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypasses for the management of morbid obesity, pancreato-billiary & oesophago-gastric surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopic anti reflux surgery and general surgery.
Professor Hamdorf was the inaugural Professor of Medical Education at The University of Western Australia and is a former Head of the School of Surgery at the University. He also has an active involvement in the affairs of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
He is a founding Director of the Bariatrics Australia Research Centre and founding Director of the Australian Institute of Weight Control. He established Western Surgical Health in Perth which is regarded as a leader in the team approach to morbid obesity.
He has many contemporary research and training interests both nationally and internationally. Academic interests include management of upper gastroinestinal malignancies as well as a prominent interest in surgical education, in particular skills training.
In 2019 Professor Hamdorf's significant service to medical education, and to medicine, in the field of bariatric surgery was recognised by his appointment as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
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Dr Ruth Blackham
MBBS, MS, FRACS, FACLM
Senior Lecturer, CTEC
Consultant General Surgeon
Dr Blackham is a Senior Lecturer within The University of Western Australia and trainer and facilitator for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In this role she works collaboratively in course development at CTEC.
She has completed a Master of Surgery thesis studying the effect of age and fatigue upon simulated laparoscopic surgical skills. She is also the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship focusing her topic upon the role of simulation in teaching surgical skills to health professionals involving travel to the UK, Canada and Singapore.
In addition to her clinical workload she has previously represented doctors as the Chair of the AMA Doctors in Training Committee, Chair of the PMCWA Junior Medical Officers committee, elected as national General Surgical representative to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trainee’s Association and General Surgeons Australia.
Dr Blackham’s research interests are:
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Performance in skill simulation
- Fertility and obesity
- Long-term nutritional management of bariatric patients
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Maggie Cowie
Program Manager
Maggie Cowie manages the team who run over 200 workshops and educational events a year at CTEC. She is involved with workshop development and evaluation and liaises with industry for partnership development at CTEC.
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Nathan Brouwer
BSc (Physiology) (Hons)
Technician
Nathan Brouwer provides specialist technical support within the Hill Medical and Surgical Workshop and ensures compliance with regulations and standards. Nathan also liaises with industry contacts to provide specialised equipment and experimental models for CTEC workshops.
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Meagan Connor
BA
Master of Surgery Administrative Coordinator
Project & Events Officer (on parental leave)
Meagan Connor coordinates the UWA Master of Surgery and the Medical Student Associates Programs at CTEC, together with event co-ordination for 2019 CTEC Conferences. Meagan also manages CTEC's administration requirements and provides executive support to senior management.
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Lorna Christie
BSc (Hons)
Senior Course Coordinator
Lorna Christie coordinates Master Classes and organises educational meetings and workshops for clients in the medical device industry to ensure they meet educational expectations and professional development requirements.
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John Linehan
BA (Design)
Senior Course Coordinator
John Linehan has over 20 years in the medical education industry in the UK and Australia. John coordinates the workshop accreditation activities with peak bodies including RACS, ACRRM and RACGP. He coordinates all aspects of all the Core Skills, Surgical and The Cutting Edge GP workshops at CTEC, regularly assisting Convenors and participants and industry representatives.
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Lee McGuckin
BEd
Course Coordinator
Lee McGuckin liaises with the Department of Health WA and the WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network's Clinical Implementation Unit regarding CTEC activity reports and funding initiatives. She assists the WA Trauma Training and Education Unit and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to run mandated training courses at CTEC.
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Shellen Redman
BSc (Neuro) GDipForenSc
Chief Technician
Shellen Redman is a UWA graduate with 5 years experience teaching Human Anatomy to undergraduate and postgraduate health science students.
Shellen coordinates all the technical aspects and specimen dissections required for running CTEC’s medical and surgical workshops and ensures that they are conducted efficiently and ethically. She works with Convenors and industry partners to ensure that specific quality surgical equipment and instrumentation is available for attendees attending the workshops. Shellen also assists in teaching surgical anatomy and supports academic staff at The University of Western Australia with research projects that are conducted in the Hill Surgical Workshop.
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Jody Salter
BA
Marketing and Events Coordinator
Jody Salter has wide ranging experience in marketing and communications for the tertiary education sector. She coordinates CTEC workshop and event promotional campaigns, direct marketing initiatives and communications activities at CTEC.
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Samantha Thompson
BCom
Course Coordinator / Academic Services Assistant
Sam Thompson has an extensive background in training, assessment and quality assurance in the Vocational Education and Training sector. Sam coordinates the UWA Master of Surgery and the Medical Student Associates Programs at CTEC as well as training programs that assist junior doctors in preparation for the GSS Exam. Sam also manages CTEC's administration requirements and provides executive support to senior management.
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