Dinesh Palipana

Dinesh Palipana OAM (born 1984) is an Australian doctor, legal professional and disability advocate. He is the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland, Australia.[1][2][3][4] He is the second person with quadriplegia to graduate as a doctor in Australia and the first with spinal cord injury.[5]

Dinesh Palipana
Born1984 (age 35–36)
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater
OccupationDoctor

Palipana has been an advocate for medical students with disabilities in Australia, where significant barriers exist.[6][7]

Career

Dinesh Palipana obtained a degree in law from the Queensland University of Technology.[8] He then commenced a Doctor of Medicine at the Griffith University, graduating in 2016 as the first quadriplegic medical graduate in the state of Queensland, the second in Australia. He graduated with several awards[9] and was featured in the Griffith University video Dinesh Palipana is remarkable.[10] He completed a medical clerkship at Harvard Medical School.[11] Palipana holds the title of associate lecturer at Griffith University.[12]

Following a spinal cord injury, Palipana found adapted ways to be trained as a quadriplegic doctor in partnership with Griffith University and the Gold Coast University Hospital.[13] This was a previously unaccomplished feat in Queensland. He has consequently openly advocated for training medical students with disabilities in Australia.[14]

Despite spending two years in clinical training as a medical student at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Palipana faced challenges in securing initial employment in his home state of Queensland under Queensland Health.[15][16] At one point, he was the only Queensland medical graduate without an employment offer for the year 2016 despite testaments to his ability.[17]

He was eventually employed by the Gold Coast University Hospital to become Queensland's first quadriplegic intern.[18] He has worked in the emergency department[19] at the hospital, the second busiest department in Australia in 2017.[20][21] He was nominated for an Intern of the Year award at the Gold Coast University Hospital in 2017.[22]

With an interest in radiology,[23] he is a contributor on Radiopaedia, a radiology education portal designed for medical professionals.[24]

In 2020, Palipana became the team doctor for the Gold Coast Titans Physical Disability Rugby League team.[25]

Injury

During medical school, Palipana was involved in a car accident causing a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia.[26][27] He was 25 years old at the time. The 2010 motor vehicle accident occurred on Brisbane's Gateway Motorway.[28] A physician attending the accident scene with emergency services had taught Palipana during medical school.[29] During his recuperation, Palipana experienced complications that included sepsis and pleural effusion.[30]

Palipana subsequently spent seven months at a spinal injuries unit in the Princess Alexandra Hospital.[31][32] He met the boxer Joe Frazier during his admission in hospital.[33]

Advocacy

While recuperating from his injury, Palipana spent some time in Sri Lanka.[34] During that time, he was noted for raising awareness[35] and funding[36] for spinal cord injury in the country. In 2013, he gifted a stock of medical supplies for spinal cord injury to the now President Maithripala Sirisena.[37] Palipana sits on the council of the Sri Lanka Spinal Cord Network.[38]

Dinesh Palipana at TEDxBrisbane 2018

In 2015, the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand issued a set of guidelines providing Australian medical schools the power to exclude students with a range of disabilities.[39] The guidelines can potentially be used exclude medical students with similar conditions to Palipana. By using his story as an example,[40] Palipana has been a vocal advocate for taking an inclusive approach to medical education in the country instead.[41][42][43] Palipana has been using his story to demonstrate ways in which doctors,[44][45][46] and the wider population,[47][48][49][50] can work effectively with disabilities. In 2018, he was a keynote speaker at Stanford Medicine X at the Stanford University[51][52] and TEDxBrisbane[53] on the topic. Through various capacities, he has been an advocate for inclusive employment generally.[54][55]

He is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia, an advocacy group for physicians with disabilities.[56][57] Through Doctors with Disabilities Australia, Palipana supported some Indian peers in an Indian High Court case during 2019.[58] The case involved a challenge of the Medical Council of India's decisions around medical education and disabilities.[59]

Palipana is a member of the Ambassador Council at the Hopkins Centre, a centre for research in rehabilitation and resilience.[60][61] He has been a member of the Australian Medical Association Queensland's Council of Doctors in Training since 2017.[62] Since gaining employment at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Palipana has promoted inclusion within the organisation.[63][64]

He became an ambassador for Physical Disability Australia in 2020.[65]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Palipana advocated for the interests of people with disabilities,[66][67] particularly in healthcare.[68][69]

Research

Palipana has interests in spinal cord injury research.[70][71][72][73][74] He was awarded $2 million in 2019 to pursue research in thought-controlled rehabilitation.[75] He attributes this passion to his own injury. Palipana is a member of the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation's scientific committee.[76]

Palipana's interest includes non-invasive interventions to promote functional improvement in spinal cord injury.[77][78] Some of these interventions have involved electroencephalography (EEG) and electrical stimulation,[79] which was highlighted in Griffith University's Be Remarkable media campaign.[80] He has been encouraged by a mentor at Harvard University, where he was one of the first visiting medical students of this nature.[81] The project received $2 million Australian in 2019 from the Queensland Government.[82]

Palipana also has research interests in radiology.[83]

Personal life

Palipana was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka to Chithrani and Sanath Palipana. He grew up in Byron Bay and Brisbane, Australia.[84] Palipana attributes much of his success to the support of his mother.[85][86][87]

In 2019, Palipana proposed to his now fiancé Rachael Antonie.[88] The couple met while working together in the Gold Coast University Hospital emergency department.

Media

Palipana's story was featured on the popular ABC radio show Conversations with Richard Fidler,[89] the ABC television show Australian Story,[90] BBC Outlook,[91] Today,[92] and Vice (magazine).[93] He appeared on the cover of Sri Lanka's Pulse [94] Magazine in January 2020. Dinesh has spoken at various events such as TED (conference)[95] and alongside speakers such as Deng Thiak Adut[96] regarding his experiences.[97][98][99]

Palipana has written for Ars Technica,[100] ABC News (Australia)[101] and Medscape.[102]

Awards and honours

2019: Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine[103]

2019: Junior Doctor of the Year at the Gold Coast University Hospital[104][105]

2019: Third Australian to be awarded the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award[106]

2019: 'Change Making' in National Awards for Disability Leadership[107]

gollark: ++exec -L python```import math```
gollark: Done. Expect it to break since I maybe had good reasons for designing it this way.
gollark: You cannot.
gollark: yes.
gollark: <@319753218592866315> You fix it.

References
  1. "Graduate becomes Queensland's first quadriplegic medical intern". ABC News. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. "Gold Coast Bulletin". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  3. "Dr Dinesh Palipana becomes the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland". SBS Your Language. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  4. "Respecting patients and keeping them safe: ten tips for quality care". Croakey. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  5. "Dr Dinesh Palipana: A True Story of Inspiration – Pulse". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. Perkins, Miki (21 November 2016). "'They are underestimating me': aspiring doctor claims disability bias". The Age. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. "Article – Pathways 13: Inherent requirements: working towards graduating a student with quadriplegia from the Doctor of Medicine – ADCET". www.adcet.edu.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  8. "My Family – Dinesh Palipana". ABC Brisbane. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  9. "Quadriplegic medical graduate fears unemployment". ABC News. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  10. Griffith University (22 December 2016), Dinesh Palipana is remarkable, retrieved 18 February 2017
  11. "He reached the unreachable star | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  12. "Dr Dinesh Palipana". www.griffith.edu.au. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  13. "Quadriplegic medical graduate fears unemployment". ABC News. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  14. "GUMS | AMSA Council 1 Report". gums.org.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  15. "Quadriplegic medical graduate fears unemployment". ABC News. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  16. "'It's definitely because of the injury'". Gold Coast Bulletin. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. "'It's definitely because of the injury'". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  18. "Gold Coast Bulletin". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  19. "Dinesh Palipana is Queensland's first quadriplegic doctor". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  20. "The Power of Passion for the Profession – Medical Indemnity Insurance and Medico-legal Support Australia wide". studentenews.mdanational.com.au. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  21. "Why Gold Coast hospitals are busier". Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  22. "Good news wrap: The stories that made us smile this week". www.radioaustralia.net.au. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  23. "Quadriplegia is no barrier to a medical career". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  24. "Dr Dinesh Palipana | User | Radiopaedia.org". radiopaedia.org. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  25. "Dr Dinesh Palipana Joins Titans As PDRL Team Doctor". Gold Coast Titans. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  26. "My Family – Dinesh Palipana". ABC Brisbane. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  27. Editorial (6 January 2017). "Dr Dinesh Palipana: A True Story of Inspiration | Pulse". Pulse. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  28. "'I might be quadriplegic, but I'm your doctor'". ABC News. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  29. "Disability won't stop Dinesh from becoming a Doctor – Northcott". northcott.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  30. "MIGA – Meet Australia's second quadriplegic medical intern". www.miga.com.au. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  31. "Doctor dream strong for quadriplegic man". news. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  32. "How It Feels to Be Told You'll Never Walk Again – VICE". Vice. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  33. "Gold Coast Bulletin". www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  34. "Doctor dream strong for quadriplegic man". news. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  35. "Health Wise". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  36. "Can We Help Spinal Cord Injury Patients?". Indiegogo. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  37. "Spinal Injury Patient Gifts Medical Requirement". 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  38. "The Council". slspinalcord.org. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  39. "Inherent Requirements for Studying Medicine in Australia and New Zealand « Medical Deans Australia & New Zealand". www.medicaldeans.org.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  40. • Doctor Dinesh Palipana recalls his journey to becoming a doctor while also being a quadriplegic, retrieved 27 January 2019
  41. Perkins, Miki (21 November 2016). "'They are underestimating me': aspiring doctor claims disability bias". The Age. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  42. "Video – Pathways 13: Inherent Requirements combined sessions – ADCET". www.adcet.edu.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  43. "GUMS | AMSA Council 1 Report". gums.org.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  44. "ANZPMEF 2017 Conference" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017.
  45. Stanford Medicine X, Dinesh Palipana, MD on inclusivity in health care, retrieved 27 January 2019
  46. "We need to show leadership". RACGP.
  47. EPIC Assist (17 May 2017), Dr Dinesh Palipana – "I don't like the word disability.", retrieved 31 January 2018
  48. "Dinesh Palipana's story | All Abilities". www.allabilities.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  49. Health, Gold Coast (14 November 2017), Diversity and Inclusion, retrieved 31 January 2018
  50. "Dinesh Palipana | Job Access". www.jobaccess.gov.au. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  51. "Stanford Medicine X | ED returns to the stage this weekend – Scope". Scope. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  52. "Medicine X | ED 2018". medicinex.stanford.edu. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  53. Lynch, Lydia (4 December 2018). "TEDxBrisbane: Pub choirs, koalas and a history-making doctor". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  54. McDonald, Matt (26 January 2019). "Gold Coasters among hundreds of Aussies honoured on Australia Day". myGC.com.au. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  55. devlinka (20 August 2018). "Health service champions diversity and inclusion". www.goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  56. "The Team | DWDA". dwda.org.au. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  57. "Avant – Doctors with Disabilities Australia". www.avant.org.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  58. 11 Aug, Rema Nagarajan | TNN | Updated; 2019; Ist, 3:29. "MCI norms for disabled arbitrary: Foreign doctors | India News – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  59. "Foreign doctors question MCI guidelines regarding disabled medical aspirants ahead of crucial hearing". Newz Hook. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  60. "VIC-TAS Regional Conference 2018". Cvent. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  61. www.nbm.com.au, New Business Media -. "The Hopkins Centre". Hopkins Centre. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  62. "VIC-TAS Regional Conference 2018". Cvent. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  63. devlinka (20 August 2018). "Health service champions diversity and inclusion". www.goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  64. • Doctor Dinesh Palipana recalls his journey to becoming a doctor while also being a quadriplegic, retrieved 22 September 2019
  65. "Physical Disability Australia appoints Dr Dinesh Palipana as its inaugural ambassador". Mumbrella. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  66. "COVID-19 and People with Disabilities by Dinesh Palipana". NDSP. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  67. "QDN e-Bulletin Update April 2020". QDN. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  68. "COVID‐19 and spinal cord injuries: The viewpoint from an emergency department resident with quadriplegia". Emergency Medicine Australasia. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  69. "COVID-19 and Healthcare Rationing: A Disabled Doc's View". Medscape. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  70. "Medical student's dream to cure himself". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  71. "'Not impossible anymore': Robotic suits used to teach paralysed to walk again". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  72. "New hope for paraplegics". Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  73. "He's not sitting around waiting for something to happen. – Stand on the shoulders of giants". www.standontheshouldersofgiants.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  74. "A Commonwealth of talent at Health and Knowledge Precinct – We Are Gold Coast". We Are Gold Coast. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  75. Layt, Stuart (22 November 2019). "Quadriplegic doctor working on helping spinal patients walk again". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  76. "Dr Dinesh Palipana · people · Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation". www.pcsrf.org.au. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  77. SCIMEX. "'Thought control' approach to spinal injury rehab raises new hope". www.scimex.org. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  78. "Gold Coast quadriplegic doctor to test a world first rehab program – myGC.com.au". myGC.com.au. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  79. Contributed. "Researchers double up for breakthrough spinal cord trauma research". Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  80. Griffith University, Be Remarkable, retrieved 27 January 2019
  81. "Medical student's dream to cure himself". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  82. Layt, Stuart (22 November 2019). "Quadriplegic doctor working on helping spinal patients walk again". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  83. "RANZCR 2016 Program" (PDF).
  84. "He reached the unreachable star | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  85. "My Family – Dinesh Palipana". ABC Brisbane. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  86. The determination of Dr Dinesh Palipana, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 3 February 2017, retrieved 18 February 2017
  87. "How It Feels to Be Told You'll Never Walk Again". Vice. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  88. "Dinesh Palipana: Coast doctor wins award and proposes to girlfriend". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  89. The determination of Dr Dinesh Palipana, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 3 February 2017, retrieved 18 February 2017
  90. The Man in Bed 10, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 21 February 2018, retrieved 15 March 2018
  91. "BBC World Service – Outlook, Dr Palipana, the quadriplegic ER medic". BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  92. "Dinesh Palipana is Queensland's first quadriplegic doctor". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  93. "How It Feels to Be Told You'll Never Walk Again". Vice Magazine. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  94. "The Man in Bed 10". www.pulse.lk.
  95. "The barriers to becoming a doctor with quadriplegia". TEDxBrisbane. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  96. "HACK T2 – Griffith Student Guild". Griffith Student Guild. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  97. "Faculty Scholars Program". www.newcastle.edu.au. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  98. Association, Australian Medical Students. "AMSA Convention | Academics". convention.sydney. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  99. "AMAG 2017 speakers". Asian Mensa Annual Gathering AMAG 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  100. "I'm a doctor with quadriplegia—thanks to tech, I'm back at work". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  101. "'I might be quadriplegic, but I'm your doctor'". ABC News. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  102. "COVID-19 and Healthcare Rationing: A Disabled Doc's View". Medscape. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  103. The Governor General (26 January 2019). "Australia Day Honour's List (2019)" (PDF). The Governor General.
  104. "International Day of People with Disability – Australia". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  105. "Risks and rewards". Griffith Review. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  106. "Awards Honor Leaders with Disabilities". The Viscardi Center. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  107. 2019 National Awards for Disability Leadership, 3 December 2019, retrieved 6 December 2019
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.