A Surgeon’s Tale: Prof. Fiona Wood Inspires at Ladies Luncheon
SOUTH OF PERTH YACHT CLUB – On Tuesday, 9th May 2023, a ballroom resonated with a chorus of inspiration and admiration as Professor Fiona Wood, one of Australia’s most innovative and respected surgeons and researchers, shared her journey at the Ladies Luncheon. A standing ovation from 147 guests capped an hour-long presentation that was as stirring as it was unscripted.
Born in Yorkshire, England, the third of four children to a miner father and a mother who performed a myriad of menial tasks, Prof. Wood’s humble beginnings set the stage for an extraordinary life. Her parents’ emphasis on education led her mother to become a physical education teacher at a Quaker school in Yorkshire, providing the Wood children an opportunity to broaden their educational horizons.
Despite societal constraints and gender stereotypes, Prof. Wood remained undeterred in her pursuit of a medical career. She graduated from St Thomas Medical School in 1981, a young woman drawn to the precision and potential of plastic surgery, envisioning a career that synergized research, innovation, and surgery.
After marrying her medical school sweetheart, Dr. Tony Kierath, Prof. Wood moved halfway across the world to Perth, Western Australia in 1987. With two young children in tow, she embarked on the next phase of her journey, completing her medical training in 1990.
Her aspirations of becoming a plastic surgeon were met with skepticism and prejudice. Society told her, “you can’t become a surgeon, you’re a woman,” and “you can’t work in plastic surgery, you’re a mother.” Instead of succumbing to these biases, Prof. Wood used them as a catalyst to propel herself forward.
In 1991, she made history by becoming Western Australia’s first female plastic surgeon. Her career was marked by groundbreaking feats, including saving the life of a teacher who suffered petrol burns to 90% of his body in 1992.
In collaboration with Marie Stoner, Prof. Wood revolutionized the field of burn treatment in 1993 with their invention of “Spray on Skin”. This revolutionary technique significantly reduces permanent scarring in burn victims, a testimony to Prof. Wood’s unwavering commitment to innovation and better patient outcomes.
In 2002, she demonstrated remarkable courage and compassion by traveling to Bali to assist victims of the Bali Bombings, saving an astonishing 28 lives.
Prof. Wood’s remarkable journey includes juggling motherhood and a demanding career, proving that societal norms and expectations are no barriers for a determined woman. Four more children later, she stands tall as a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the human spirit.
Prof. Wood has served in various hospitals, including Sir Charles Gardiner, Royal Perth, and now Fiona Stanley Hospital, always leaving an indelible mark with her pioneering work.
Her inspirational journey has been chronicled in her successful book, “Under Her Skin”. The Ladies Luncheon was yet another platform where she inspired, proving once more that she could, indeed, shatter the glass ceiling, paving the way for many more women to follow in her footsteps.
Indeed, Western Australia and the world are fortunate to have Professor Fiona Wood, a woman who dared to dream, dared to challenge the status quo, and continues to redefine the limits of possibility.
Val Barron, Ladies Luncheon
