Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Ian Rosenberg has a long history as a respected name in both dental and medical Professions. We spoke to him about his career.
Dr Ian Roseberg decided to study dentistry at Witwatersrand University, on the influence of his parents, after matriculation (year 12) in South Africa. However, after the second year of study, on a second class pass in anatomy, Ian decided he wanted to switch to medicine.
“In those years, we took the first three years of study with the medical students – we wrote the same exams, so changing course was feasible,” he recalls. “I went to the Dean and said: ‘I think I made a mistake, and I would like to switch to medicine’, but he said no, that I had taken a place and was a good student. I contacted Cape Town University Medical School and was accepted into that course, but I was unwilling to leave home so I decided not to go, and I finished my course in dentistry.”
The specialty journey
After practicing dentistry for four years and achieving Honors in Periodontics, the pull to specialise in surgery was still strong. “In life, you have to have some luck,” Ian says. “A registrar-ship in maxillofacial surgery became vacant, but my good friend Russell Lurie got that post and I was devastated.” However, days after, Ian received a phone call from the head of surgery, Dr Ian Smith, saying a second post would be available within the next six months if Ian was interested. “What a great break in life that was.” Ian says one of the highlights of his career was passing the primary examination for the Royal College of Dental Surgeons in England, which he did alongside his friend Tony Christopher.
“About eight candidates out of hundreds passed,” Ian recalls. “You can imagine the elation of both Tony and myself, in that dark, dingy room at the college when it was announced that we passed. It was a moment I will never forget.”
Ian went onto complete his fellowship examinations in Edinburgh and Ireland.
New beginnings
In 1980, Ian, along with his wife Renee, and children Sean, Melanie and Nicole, decided to immigrate to Perth. It was a risk with no work position offered prior to his arrival, and upon setting up practice in Perth, Ian quickly became well-known in both dental and surgical circles for his unwavering work ethic.
He says he worked so hard because he came from the outside. “I had to establish a practice as an outsider, not having been through the local program,” he explains. “Having said that, I was truly well received by the surgeons of the day and shared great companionship with them in the specialty and as members of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.”
Ian says a highlight of his career was being appointed as a consultant to the Princess Margaret Hospital’s dental department. “Dr Bill Brogan was instrumental in me obtaining this post,” he says. “The appointment led to a wonderful interaction with other dental specialists and also with the plastic surgery department, headed by Dr Harold McComb at the time.”
As well as the consultancy at Princess Margaret Hospital, Ian was always in private practice – operating at several hospitals.
The back up of great people
The real highlight of my career was the interaction and friendships that developed with colleagues over the years. “I always had the philosophy that if you had colleagues to operate with and work with – the workload lightened, the stress factor lessened and the work became enjoyable.”
Ian says there were many colleagues who played a part in his career, to name but a few: “Dr Bill Brogan – An old warhorse who knew exactly how to manage the bureaucracy of Princess Margaret Hospital.
Dr Pat Henry – A giant of a man in stature and intellect.
Dr Kim Mezger – With whom I developed my orthodontic/orthognathic surgery skills. Kim was a most competent orthodontist who was not daunted by some results that were not exactly achieved. He simply got on and corrected the problems and saved many letters of complaint and possible litigation. In those early days it took a good deal of courage to carry out mandibular/maxillary osteotomies, which today have become almost routine. We needed to visit well known surgeons of the day overseas such as Larry Wolford, to develop our skills. His senior registrars could take down a Maxilla in almost 20 minutes but boy did he struggle with a lower horizontal impacted wisdom tooth – not so easy!
Dr David Gillett – A plastic surgeon with who we carried out many Bimaxillary osteotomy cases in the early days in Princess Margaret Hospital. Where there was reason for anxiety, he never panicked and in working together a great deal of stress was minimalised.
Dr Evan Kakulas – A young pup in those days who became interested in surgery after assisting me and went to Melbourne to train and has become the successful Evan Kakulas.
My surgical colleagues of the early days – Mr Dennis Gregory always approachable and fair, and Dr Michael Downes who retired
much too early.
We always forget the anaesthetists who play an essential role in our surgery. The main anaesthetists of that time were Ben Korman and Solly Ceber with whom we went through many anxious moments in those early osteotomy days.
Dr Steve Singer – He knew nothing about cleft orthodontics and is now an expert.
Dr Brent Allan – a young man who has matured into an excellent surgeon.
Dr John Winters – A well organised head of department of the Dental faculty of the Perth Children’s Hospital.
Dr Albert Tan – A numbers and statistics man so essential to research.
Dr Peter Gregory – Who established Children’s dentistry as a Specialty in Perth.
Dr John Owen – He is a Dento-politician with multiple skills who has been a great encouragement over the years.
“To be successful you need the back up of great people.”
Challenges
Ian says a low point in his career was a court case against him – Percival versus Rosenberg – when one of Ian’s patients claimed she would not have undergone surgery if she had been warned of a risk that occurred. The case reached the High Court and is now embedded in law. Ian says he had a good barrister and support from his insurer.
“I was much younger and could handle stress better,” Ian recalls. “We won the first case, but it was then appealed and we lost the second case. It then went to the high court, and the barrister was brilliant and she won the whole case.
“These cases are extremely stressful and are with you when you eat, sleep, work and relax,” Ian adds. “It’s on your mind all the time.”
Advice to the new generation
When asked about his advice to upcoming Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, he says it is a great Specialty. “Now that all trainees must be doubly qualified as Dentists and Doctors, the scope of work is almost unlimited,” he says. “However, do not forget our dental background and the great advantage it gives us in this surgical field. Support our dental colleagues as best as possible. They remain our bread and butter.
“I encourage to learn to work with a colleague or colleagues with whom you are compatible. We are all different. Having another specialist on the other side of the table takes the stress out of complicated surgery and makes the challenge satisfying and almost pleasurable. It also has significant medicolegal implications. In my court case, had I had a colleague on the other side of the table there would have been no court case.”
He adds it is important to belong to associations, saying there has always been collegiality and support being part of The Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) and the Australian Dental Association WA branch (ADAWA).
After life-changing surgery on many patients, Ian restricted his practice to Temporomandibular joint disorders and Arthroscopic Surgery of the Temporomandibular Joint.
The future
When asked about retirement, Ian says he has never believed in the “utopia” of retirement. “Retirement is a highly individual matter and depends on a multitude of factors such as good health, motivation, interest etcetera,” he explains.
“Throughout our careers we have achieved and participated in travel, congress, cruises and would not need to wait for the end point where we are now going to ‘live it up’.
“Finally, I can only say Thank You.”
