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Sikh-Aussie Medical Pioneer Awarded Order Of Australia:
Prof Makhan Singh Khangure

MANPREET KAUR SINGH

Perth, Australia based pioneering radiologist, Prof Makhan Singh Khangure has been named a recipient of the Order of Australia.

Born in Punjab, he moved to England with his family at the age of 9, where he completed his tertiary studies and medical training. He worked in the US for two years before moving to Australia in 1976, as a registrar at the Royal Perth Hospital (’RPH‘). He continued to work at the RPH until 2007, after which he joined St John of God Hospital, also in Perth.

While at RPH, he pioneered the technology of treating a brain hemorrhage without any surgery or intervention. Called Interventional Neuro-Radiology, this treatment can also be used for hemorrhages in the lungs, kidney, liver and other body parts.

Prof Makhan Singh not only pioneered this innovative treatment path in 1979, but has also taught this technology to generations of future radiologists. His department at the Royal Perth Hospital was named the Centre of Excellence by the federal government, where patients from around Australia have been successfully treated without a surgery. He was awarded Life Membership of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists in 2014

After being named to the honour on Australia Day 2017, Prof Makhan Singh reflected on "how Australia has changed him" in the past 40 years.

Describing himself as "a square peg in a round hole", with allegiance to Punjab,  England and Australia, he believes that the greatest gift he's got from this country is the gift of opportunity. He says, he never faced any discrimination in Australia, even back in the days that he first arrived.

He says, "a lot can be achieved if given the right opportunity" and he urged fellow Sikh-Australians and others to make the most of the opportunities they get.


[Courtesy: Special Broadcasting Service. Edited for sikhchic.com]
January 27, 2017
 

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