Northern Health anaesthetists have a long-standing association with Mongolia, starting with Associate Professor David Pescod AO, and Dr Amanda Baric, AM. In 2021, Dr Baric was awarded the highest state honour of Mongolia, the Order of the Polar Star, in recognition of her contribution to Mongolia’s healthcare sector.  More recently she received the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.

Continuing this tradition, in June 2024, a team of medical professionals from Northern Health and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) visited Mongolia to contribute to the annual Mongolian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) meeting.

One highlight was the thoracic surgery and anaesthesia training at the Mongolia Japan Hospital led by Mr Bibhusal Thapa, Thoracic Surgeon at Northern Health. The team mentored local surgeons through three thoracic surgeries.

“I hope this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship with the surgeons in Mongolia and that we can help them over the next five years to set up a Thoracic Surgery unit,” says Mr Thapa.

The delegation also conducted a simulation workshop at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, introducing various simulation modalities, skills teaching techniques, and debriefing methods.

Dr. Michelle Chan, Anaesthetist at Northern Health, stated, “Our continuing relationship with the Mongolian Society of Anaesthetists is based on collaboration, mutual trust, respect, friendship and a demonstration of commitment to providing ongoing growth and education in a place where resources can be scarce and support limited.”

The MSA meeting is supported by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists and World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and is the main continuing education activity of the MSA.

Dr Baric said, “This is part of our much larger commitment to medical education and training in Mongolia. I would like to thank the executive and our leadership for their support in allowing us time to share knowledge and improve the healthcare delivered in Mongolia. We learn much from our colleagues who work in even more austere environments and enjoy the opportunity to contribute in our own way. It is a testament to our values of safe, kind, and together.”

Featured image: Dr Baric and Mr Thapa, with colleagues from the Mongolian Society of Anaesthesiologists.