It was a few special patients doctors Alice Ma and Keryn Davidson met during their years of medical training that inspired them to pursue a career in neurosurgery.
Alice, an interventional neurologist, and Keryn, a neurosurgeon, recently joined the team at Royal North Shore Hospital – both referring to their new roles as a ‘full circle’ after completing some of their registrar training at the hospital years prior.
During their training years, both Alice and Keryn realised the huge difference they could make in people’s lives.
When Alice was an intern at a regional hospital, she had a young patient suffering an acute stroke.
“He was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital and received acute stroke treatment, making a full recovery,” she said.
“For me that case has always inspired me because of the great difference the treatment made to his life – and it’s a privilege to now be part of the same neurointerventional team.”
With a sub-specialty in cerebrovascular neurosurgery, Keryn is the first female neurosurgeon to join the team of seven at RNSH.
Being such an integral part of each of her patients’ care keeps Keryn going and inspires her every day.
“It is such a privilege to follow complex patients along their journey and help them get better,” she said.
Alice and Keryn agree it is the support from their teams that allow them to provide the best care in the more stressful and time critical situations.