BRAINSPINE 54 to

DR. RAJ REDDY

MBBS. MS. FRACS.

BOWLING & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE recently had the enormous privilege of chatting with Doctor Raj Reddy about the things that are important to him: his family, his extraordinary career and the impact that COVID has had on society.

Dr Raj Reddy is a dedicated neurosurgeon who strives to achieve the best possible outcome for his patients. His commitment to them is paramount; his ultimate goal is “to help patients return to their highest level of fitness and independence, and improve their overall quality of life’’. He is currently the Head of Department of Neurosurgery at the Prince of Wales Public. He also holds appointments at Prince of Wales Private, St Vincent’s Private, and The Sydney Children’s Hospital. Doctor Reddy’s special interests include complex and minimally invasive spine surgery, paediatric neurosurgery and brain tumour surgery. He manages all neurosurgical conditions, both cranial and spinal. The focus of his cranial surgery is in the management of intracranial tumours, trauma and craniofacial operations in both adults and paediatric patients. Raj graduated from Sydney University in 1999. He commenced his internship at Westmead Hospital and spent the following years working in general surgery, before commencing his neurosurgical training. He completed this in 2009, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Q&A WITH DR. RAJ REDDY

B&L: Congratulations Raj on your extraordinary career. Why did you become a neurosurgeon, and are other family members in the medical profession? RAJ: Yes, my father is a GP in the Liverpool area so a career in medicine became an appealing choice for me. However, I think my parents were disappointed that I became a neurosurgeon! They wanted me to be a physician, since the life of a surgeon can be demanding. B&L: What led you to follow the brain and spine path? RAJ: The brain defines us, and I find operating on the brain technically and intellectually challenging. Challenges motivate me, and bring out the best of my abilities. B&L: What was your second option if you were not successful in this field? RAJ: I am good with my hands, so I could have become a chef, mechanic or a carpenter. B&L: How does your family feel about your success as a surgeon and the dedication to your work? RAJ: Being a surgeon is challenging, there is no room for complacency and mistakes. My parents and my partner are very proud of the work I do for the community. B&L: Any plans for marriage and children? RAJ: The short answer is yes. Unfortunately our plans have been temporarily put on hold due to COVID. B&L: What motivates you to continue doing what you are doing? RAJ: I want to make use of my skills and do as much good for the community as I can. B&L: Can you tell me about your association with the other doctors in BrainSpine and how that came about? RAJ: I am an only child; I’ve always seen the bond and strength siblings have. Hence, developing a group of doctors with a similar mindset has many positives. We brainstorm difficult cases, and manage each other’s patients when one of us is away. B&L: What is the most common ailment you observe in your patients? RAJ: I work in both the public and private sectors; therefore, I deal with everything that occurs in the public sector, mainly trauma and cancer, and mainly degeneration issues in the private sector. B&L: Who do you admire in the medical field and why? Did you have a mentor? RAJ: Yes, Doctor James Drake from Toronto because he is neurosurgical royalty, vastly skilled, and experienced – yet is grounded and acknowledges his limitations. B&L: What is your advice for a healthy mind and body? RAJ: Balance, moderation, and remaining active. B&L: What are your thoughts on the COVID crisis and how should we be dealing with it? RAJ: Unfortunately, the situation is very difficult for the public to understand, because of the changing data. The data does not change because it's wrong, it changes because we are continuously learning more about this disease. Also, the authorities' messaging is not as clear and straightforward as it could be. B&L: People seem hesitant about receiving the jab because of side effects (blood clotting) from AstraZeneca. RAJ: All vaccines can have side effects; however, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the rare risk of side effects. It's better than getting COVID.

“WHAT A TIME WE ARE ALL IN”

STORY & RECOLLECTIONS COURTESY OF TONY BONNER AM

The good folk at Bowling&Lifestyle Magazine asked if I was interested in penning a few thoughts, observations for the magazine’s coming publication. The theme/ focus, was to be the difficult times we are all facing, and my thoughts on these times, “WOW’’ I said “OK I WILL GIVE THIS A RUN.’’ To me the bloody misuse of the juggernaut called ‘Social Media’ is one of the centre pieces of today’s problems, it has a lot to answer for. I understand the problems parents have shielding their children from this, at times villainous dark web that lurks in wait. How do you allow your children, students the many benefits that the internet contains, yet shield them from the evils? The destruction of many lives, many families, communities that have succumbed to some vile attack by a group or organisation with personal destruction as their gain. This must be stopped, especially against the young. Thank God for Mark Latham, his scholarship and forensic dedication to what is going on in our schools, what is going on, on the internet where he is attempting to keep historical realities to the fore, not to be deleted by an agenda of ‘rewriting history’ by some. A new ‘woke’ syllabus to replace the documented realities of the past. How have we let something ‘social media’ dismiss the ‘good and bad’ of what and who we are? Our youth suicide and depressions is a disgrace, with aspects of the social media to hold blame for this tragedy. What has happened to the Cubs, the Scouts, the Girl Guides along with many other youth organisations that taught and encouraged young people to be creative, to explore, to question, to unite, not divide. When I was growing up I was a Cub, then Scout, loved every moment, understood why discipline was important, why respect was important, why mate-ship was vital to a community and country. You marvelled at the knowledge being passed onto you from dedicated teachers and mentors. You held our political leaders in high esteem, something you would aspire to. We didn’t hear the words, ‘mental illness