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Dr Zairullah Mighfaza visiting from Indonesia
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- Dr Zairullah Mighfaza visiting from Indonesia
13 October 2022
Dr Zairullah Mighfaza, known as Dr Faza, is visiting Austin Health from Indonesia, as an Honorary Clinical Observer in our renal Ward 7 North.
He is based Semarang, the capital of Central Java, and works at the 'Dr Kariadi' hospital. The hospital has established a renal service which is working to address the huge demands for kidney care in the Central Java province.
"My hospital is the sister renal hospital with Austin Health and this is the first time I am in Australia," he explains.
Dr Faza has been at Austin for three weeks now, and is observing all the nephrology activities.
"I follow the biopsy procedure, kidney transplants, dialysis and outpatient clinic as well," he explains.
"We have a lot of patients in Indonesia, compared to here. Also, patients are managed differently, as we don't have a specific nephrology or surgical wards, all patients are in one ward," he says.
Dr Faza tells us he is learning a lot about communication between a doctor, nurse, trainee, registrar and patients and notices the system is very good, hoping to replicate it in his hospital.
"The other thing I like is how Austin is supporting educational programs for staff across different levels. I also like how people here respect each other and greet each other kindly. Everyone tells me 'Hey, nice to meet you', especially when I tell them that I am a doctor from Indonesia," he says.
Associate Professor Peter Mount, Deputy Director of Nephrology explains that because of the COVID-19 disruption, Dr Faza is the first nephrologist to visit our hospital from Indonesia as part of this sister-hospital relationship.
"Dr David Power, Head of Nephrology and myself got approached back in 2018, at a nephrology meeting in Sydney, as colleagues from Dr Kariadi hospital were interested in partnering with an Australian hospital. This system exists within the International Society of Nephrology," he explains.
"I am working closely with Dr Faza to show him how we do things here and trying to show as much as I can. This is good for him, his hospital but also good for us too. It gives us connections, insights and knowledge of how other places work," he adds.
Suzanne Johnson is the Nurse Unit Manager at the ward says it's great to have guests from other hospitals observing.
"It's fantastic to hear that outsider's view and hear his opinion of what we do here. He provided a pair of fresh eyes and a fresh perspective," she says.
Dr Faza is enjoying Melbourne, especially running in the Botanical Gardens, adding: "It's very nice, but cold".
All three of them hope and look forward to this observership program continuing in the future and more doctors coming to Austin Health.
