PHILOSOPHY
The practice of medicine has traditionally been a paternalistic one, with the assumption that patients will come to see their specialist doctors, accept the recommended treatment, and follow the standard care and rehabilitation plan, ending with a discharge back to their General Practitioner.
This is simply not us.
Patients are people. They aren’t clients. People choose to come to see us and gift us with enough trust to involve us in their lives. We think it is a privilege to be the hand specialist in Sydney you trust. Your journey is coloured by aspects of your life that are unique and special. Likewise, we want your journey with us to be tailored to you, to your needs and to your lifestyle. That’s why we are so interested in the specifics about what you care about, and what you do with your hands, what you can’t do with your hands, and set realistic goals with you about what we can achieve together.
We talk about your options, and work through what treatment option would be best for you. We give you a plan so you know what to expect. Essentially, we work with you. We believe that healthcare should be a partnership, and we don’t treat this lightly. We respect your autonomy and your right to just be you. After all, we all agree: it’s your body, and it’s your choice.
DR SARAH YONG
Dr Sarah Yong is an orthopaedic hand surgeon based in Sydney. Awarded her medical degree (MBBS) in combination with a Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of New South Wales in 2004, she also spent a year in clinical research while pursuing a Masters of International Public Health in 2007, and received her masters with Merit at the University of Sydney in 2008.
Dr Yong trained in orthopaedic surgery in multiple referral centres across New South Wales, including St George Hospital, Sutherland Hospital, and Liverpool Hospital. She successfully qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon and became a Fellow of both the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian Orthopaedic Association in 2015.
Following this, she pursued sub-specialty training in hand surgery locally and overseas, and successfully completed hand surgical fellowships at St Luke’s Hospital in Potts Point, Sydney Hospital, and Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom. She also has microsurgical experience, having undertaken further training at the New York-Presbyterian Medical Center at Columbia University, in the United States of America. Besides elective hand surgery, she also has experience in managing hand and wrist trauma. Her fellowship experience has been recognised with the Post-Fellowship Education and Training in Hand Surgery in 2019, awarded by the Australian Hand Surgery Society, the official body representing specialised hand surgeons of Australia. She is a member of the Australian Hand Surgery Society, the New South Wales Hand Surgery Association, and an international member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Dr Yong has a musical background, studying piano for two years at the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide while at school. This experience, as well as being a surgeon, has led to a unique understanding of the importance of hand function towards quality of life.
