About Dr Heathcote Wright

Ophthalmologist

Cataract and Glaucoma Surgeon

I undertook my hospital residency in North Queensland where I developed interests in ophthalmology and Indigenous Health. To further these interests I completed a PhD with Professor Hugh Taylor AC at the University of Melbourne.

In 2008 I commenced my ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

In 2011 I was appointed as the inaugural teaching fellow at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital before moving to the UK where I completed a glaucoma surgical fellowship at the prestigious Bristol Eye Hospital.

I have published more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles including several first author papers in The Lancet. I have also authored three book Chapters and made dozens of presentations at international and national conferences.

My wife, Kelly, and I have twin boys, Alex and Matthew, born in July 2012. Outside of work I am an avid runner having completed 7 marathons with a best of 2 hours 59 minutes in Amsterdam in October 2012. I am also a keen golfer, bush-walker, and traveler.

I offer the following clinical procedures:

• Routine and Complicated cataract surgery
• Routine and Complicated glaucoma surgery
• IOL replacement surgery
• Routine Corneal surgery including pterygium surgery
• Laser treatment for glaucoma, secondary cataract and diabetes
• Ocular injections for macular degeneration and diabetes
• Management of other retinal disorders

EDUCATION:

• Undergraduate:
  • B.Sci(hons). La Trobe University, 1993-96.
• Postgraduate:
  • MBBS. University of Queensland, 1997-2000.
  • Post Grad Dip OphthalmicBS. University of Otago, 2003.
  • PhD. Univeristy of Melbourne 2004-2006

MEDICAL TRAINING:

• 2001, Intern: Rockhampton Base Hospital.
• 2002, HMO: Cairns Base Hospital.
• 2003, Surgical registrar: Cairns Base Hospital.
• 2004 to 2006:
  • PhD, University of Melbourne, Department of Ophthalmology.
• 2007 to February 2011:
  • Ophthalmology Registrar, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
• 2011 (Feb- September)
  • Teaching Fellow, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
• October 2011 – November 2012
  • Glaucoma Fellow, Bristol Eye Hospital
• November 2012-
  • Fellow Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology
• October 2013-
  • Staff specialist in ophthalmology at The Townsville Hospital

AWARDS

• Scholarships:

• • Australian Postgraduate Award [APA(i)] scholarship 2004-7
  • Visions CRC research Scholarship 2004-7
  • Research Training Scheme (RTS) position 2004-7
  • R. B. McComas Scholarship 2006-7
• Grants:
  • Christian Blind Mission International Australia, $73,000.
  • RVEEH research grant, $7,000.
• Prizes:
  • Researcher of the year award, Population Health Division, CERA 2005.
  • Student Travel Award, CERA, 2006