Gastrointestinal Surgery Professor Richard Hanney, M.D., has been named the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Clinical Network Director for Surgery.

The district has a diverse, multicultural population of 950,000. Its lead facility, Westmead Hospital, has recently been undergoing its stage one redevelopment for $AUD1 billion, and heads the largest health campus in the country.

Hanney, a member of faculty at UAB, is also a General Surgeon at Westmead and Mount Druitt Hospitals in Sydney, Australia, and a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Western Clinical School of the University of Sydney. He was appointed Head of the Mount Druitt Hospital Department of Surgery in 2012.

WSLHD’s clinical structure is aligned to nine district-wide Clinical Networks, and those appointed as clinical network director are senior clinical leaders. They are responsible for setting district-wide clinical strategy, models of care development, and standardization of safety, quality practices, and clinical leadership.

Hanney was appointed alongside eight of his colleagues, with Professor Richard Chard representing specialty surgery.

“It is an honor to be the voice of our surgeons on this district level and represent UAB Surgery internationally,” said Hanney. “I am looking forward to promoting excellent patient care and a rich culture of employee development and leadership district wide. And, we look forward to re-establishing visiting residents from UAB when the CDC clears international travel.”