Priya Samarasinghe

Westmead Public Hospital, NSW for 16 years since 2009 to 2023 - pre-SET, SET and then Fellowship in Trauma Surgery for close to 2 years and 2 months.

I have been involved in managing trauma patients for nearly 22 years at Westmead Public Hospital and Overseas.

General Surgeon (VMO) - Fee for service, Zero hour– Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (rural hospital with ICU and fully equipped operating theatres) since October 2021 for close to 4 years.

I participate in elective lists and after-hours on-call services. I cover on-call duties for trauma, gastroenterology, and all general surgical patients presenting to the hospital. This hospital with no surgical subspecialty coverage after hours. Patients present to this hospital from a large geographical area.

General Surgeon (VMO) – Westmead Private Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital, Nepean Private Hospital and Nowra Private Hospital since March 2023

At these hospitals, I carry out a range of general surgical procedures that include Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy/Appendicectomy, Abdominal wall hernias, lipomas, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, perianal pathology, Carpal Tunnel Release, operations for benign breast pathology and a range of other general surgical procedures, averaging 20-25 cases per month since 2023. GESA re-certified.

I have a good patient-centred approach that my patients value.

General and Specialist Registration, AHPRA, MED0001212648

• VMO Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital - Trauma admissions to the hospital
• Trauma Fellowship, Westmead Public Hospital, February 2020 to February 2021 and then January 2022 to March 2023
• Trauma Experience, Westmead Public Hospital, June 2009 to March 2023
• Emergency Department HMO, Warrnambool District Hospital, Victoria, August 2008 to May 2009
• Neurosurgery Registrar, National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka, 01/01/03, 31/12/07
• Internship 6 months in General Surgery in 2022

ANZAST (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Surgery of Trauma) executive member since 2022. And a member of the education committee.

ABSET (Anatomically-Based Surgical Exposure for Trauma) course instructor 2023

RACS clinical examiner

GSET Selection interviewer

Member of ANZAST, Chest Wall Injury Society (2 years), General Surgeons Australia, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and GESA.

Involvement in improving Trauma care at Westmead Public Hospital.

- Functioning of the Hybrid theatres at Westmead Public Hospital

I was involved with having discussions with relevant stakeholders (anesthetist, radiologist, radiographers, nurses, theatre staff) to find out the problems that prevented the use of the hybrid theatres and then with discussions a solution was sorted out to enable the hybrid operating theatres to function at Westmead Hospital, which had not been used for around two years after it was built due to a lack of staffing. A protocol was developed with clear criteria for using the hybrid theatres and to send a trauma call to relevant staff in an emergency to assemble in the hybrid theatre. The hybrid theatres have been functioning since the end of 2022, with the protocol as a guideline.

This hybrid theatre has saved many lives due to trauma and general surgical subspecialties (upper GI).

- Starting and organising trauma radiology meetings for 1 year at Westmead Hospital.

- Teaching at the trauma team training course held at Westmead Hospital- 2022.

- Teaching sessions at Trauma/Anaesthetic and Trauma/Paediatric meetings.

- Teaching Junior medical staff in trauma management as well as encouraging them in trauma research.

- Participation in Trauma audits – TCRC meetings every fourth night, and general surgery audit meetings.

Involvement in improving trauma systems

In Australia

Trauma Systems

ANZAST (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Surgery of Trauma) executive member since 2022.

This position has enabled me to gain experience in improving trauma care nationally and internationally. I have gained valuable insight into trauma systems in Australia and internationally

I have a good understanding of trauma systems as per the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons- optimal care of the injured patient. I have a good understanding of the RACS trauma verification programme and observed the trauma verification process at Westmead in 2022.

I have a good understanding of trauma coding systems, trauma data collection and trauma registries.

Trauma Education

Member of the education committee of ANZAST- enabled me to experience how trauma education is conducted in the country and how it is organised.

ABSET course instructor 2023- Teaching at this course enabled me to apply my experience gained during performing trauma-related operations.

Community Engagement

Volunteering at Bstreetsmart- 2024 and 2025

Overseas

Trauma System Improvement, Sri Lanka (through ANZAST)

To assess the current trauma care in Sri Lanka, a form was developed. With the data collected, a document was prepared that included the current Sri Lankan trauma system, observations made during the visits to a few hospitals in the country and suggestions were made to improve the trauma system. With the suggestions made, steps have been taken to improve trauma care in Sri Lanka. For example, a major trauma destination policy was developed in Sri Lanka to identify which patients need immediate transfer or direct retrieval to a major trauma hospital.

Trauma Team Training Development

Designed and delivered “Training for Trainers” in Sri Lanka, adapting to limited resources and the absence of pre-existing trauma team activation systems. The training sessions were conducted in two cities in Sri Lanka.

This initial training in two cities has since expanded into ten locally led training sessions incorporating trauma case simulations.

Teaching at the Minor Trauma Symposium at Kandy, February 2025. This was successfully conducted with my inputs.

Teaching at the International Trauma Symposium in Colombo, to be held in October 2025

These experiences highlight my comprehensive understanding of trauma systems, trauma education, and system improvement both in Australia and overseas. They demonstrate leadership, adaptability, and commitment to advancing trauma care across different health care contexts.

Training Courses and Conferences in Trauma

• ISW 2024 -trauma sessions
• ANZTS conference 2023 and attending the decision-making in trauma workshop.
• RACS GSA trauma section 2023
• ABSET 2022
• DSTC – 2016
• EMST – 2011
• U/S training on FAST scan 2014 at Westmead
• Paediatric Trauma Education Program – Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne- 2009

- Westmead Trauma Team Training simulation course at the Sydney Clinical Skills & Simulation Centre on 22nd July 2010, 2014 and 2020

• Austrauma 2010 conference in Sydney

Training Courses in General Surgery:

• CCrisp course 2013
• ASSET course 2013
• CLEAR course 2014
• Laparoscopic simulated surgical skills program at Westmead in July 2010.
• Suture, anastomosis and laparoscopy technique workshop conducted at Westmead hospital in March 2010.
• Westmead hospital suturing and anastomosis technique training program held in October 2009.
• Advanced Life Support and Trauma management course, held at St. Vincents Hospital, Melbourne.
• MOSES course 2016
• TIPPS course 2017
• Clinical decision making 2016

• The road less recovered: Examining the effect of trauma on frailty trajectories in older patients, Journal of Trauma Acute Care Surgery
• A Clinical Observation Algorithm for Anterior Abdominal Stab Wound is Safe in an Australasian Setting, RACS Annual Scientific Congress, 05/01/23
• Is a delay in surgical stabilisation of rib fractures associated with increased operative times and worse outcomes?, GSA SA & NT training committee paper day, 02/01/24
• Early flexion-extension X-ray accurately identifies cervical spine ligamentous injury, RACS Annual Scientific Congress, 05/01/23
• Blunt thoracic aortic injury resulting in free rupture into the pleural space and cardiac arrest, managed successfully with endovascular stenting, BMJ Case Rep., 03/01/22
• Role of laparoscopy in trauma, e-Newsletter of the Sri Lanka Association of Minimal Access & Digital Surgeons, 12/01/23

1. Utility of ultrasound scanning in appendicitis: is it of value? Presented at ASC- 2014.

2. Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome: “A Diagnostic Dilemma”. Poster presentation - SRS 2011.

3. A Case report on a Streptococcus gallolyticus septicaemia and an associated colonic malignancy- 2014 – ACT annual scientific meeting.

4. A survey of Australian and New Zealand breast surgeons’ current attitudes to breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer needing post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT), poster presentation at ASBD Gold Coast 2017.

5. . Post-mastectomy radiotherapy and immediate implant-based breast reconstruction: attitudes and practices of Australian and New Zealand breast surgeons; ANZ Journal of Surgery; Vol 89, Issue 10; October 2019.