CityLife Cairns

Specialist
with a difference
Words by Janie Barton
LEVEL 2 CAIRNS CENTRAL PLAZA
58-62 MCLEOD STREET, CAIRNS CITY
WWW.DRPHOEBEHONG.COM.AU
PH: 4230 0030
Dr Phoebe Hong is not your average
specialist.
While she is a highly skilled
obstetrician, gynaecologist and
laparoscopic surgeon she is also
friendly, humorous and bubbly. And
that warm and welcoming nature is
further enhanced when you visit her in
her new premises in the heart of the
city.
Her practice’s new location, at
Cairns Central Plaza across from
Cairns Central Shopping Centre, is
welcoming, soothing and relaxing for
patients and their families. Equally
important, it is fitted with the lasted
equipment to ensure her patients get
the best possible care.
After graduating with a medical degree
from the University of Auckland in
2006, she began her specialist training
in obstetrics and gynaecology before
coming to Cairns in 2013 to work at
the Cairns Hospital. Not only did she
love her work, she thought Cairns was
a beautiful place to live.
“I just loved Cairns and I thought if
I’m going to stay here then I need to
bring something to the city,” she said.
So she moved south for two years
to complete a two-year fellowship
in advanced hysteroscopic and
laparoscopic surgeries. While training,
she was mentored by a number of
advanced gynaecology laparoscopic
surgeons, including Dr Alex Ades, who
is internationally recognised for his
experience in laparoscopic cerclage
(placement of cervical stitches through
keyhole surgery for women with weak
cervixes).
During this time, she was also a
facilitator at several GP courses and
the Basic Surgical Skill course for
Junior Obstetric and Gynaecology
Trainees. She was also awarded a
Covidien Scholarship and completed a
Master of Minimally Invasive Surgery
at the University of Adelaide.
She opened her private practice at
Flecker House when she returned
to Cairns and moved into her new
premises in December last year.
“There’s more continuous care when
you work in private practice,” she said.
“You get to build relationships, and
seeing patients’ health improve under
your care is very rewarding.
“I believe there is no one-size-fits-all
approach to medicine and surgery, as
we are all different. We all have unique
needs and priorities.”
While Dr Hong’s skills at
laparoscopic surgery, better known
as keyhole surgery, is perfect for
ovary and ovarian cyst removal and
hysterectomies, she is also high skilled
in pregnancy care and management,
including complicated pregnancies.
“I also get to deliver babies,” said
Dr Hong, who also speaks Chinese
Mandarin and Cantonese as well as
Japanese, which benefits those for
whom English is a second language.
“What more could you ask for?”
CityLife 73
Magazine