By Liz McGrath
When Queen Elizabeth II officially opened The University of Western Australia's Clinical Training and Evaluation Centre (CTEC) on April 1, 2000, few people could have predicted its rise to become one of the world's top five medical training facilities.
As the Centre celebrates its 25th anniversary, its impact on healthcare education and patient outcomes extends far beyond Western Australia's borders.
Since 2000 CTEC has partnered with UWA's Body Donation program and the Department of Health WA to train more than 54,000 Australasian health professionals in a comprehensive program of medical and surgical simulation workshops.
"From day one, the WA Department of Health has believed in the value of CTEC," says Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf AM, CTEC's Director, who has been at the helm since 2007 and is himself a graduate of the UWA Medical School.
"The University built this extraordinary facility based on the vision of some really important local surgeons at the time – Richard Vaughan, Bryant Stokes and Kingsley Faulkner – and the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson.
"CTEC revolutionised medical training by creating an environment where healthcare professionals could learn and perfect their skills before treating patients."
This philosophy of "practice makes perfect" has become increasingly crucial in modern medicine, Professor Hamdorf explains.
"What we teach here goes beyond the horizon of current practice," he says. "The cutting-edge procedures, the technology just beyond the horizon – these should be taught in a lab, not on the job."
Image: Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf AM, CTEC's Director.
The Centre delivers approximately 600 education SESSIONS annually, with 77 per cent of participants from WA and others travelling from across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and even further afield.
From emergency physicians practising life-saving procedures they might need just once in their career to rural GPs honing surgical techniques for remote practice, CTEC's reach is comprehensive.
Those who sign up include surgical consultants and trainees, junior doctors, general practitioners, emergency physicians, anaesthetists and nurses.
One visiting American doctor recently wrote to the CTEC staff: "I really wish I had taken a class like this when I was starting my practice. I learned so much. I hope you continue to offer these programs to physicians around the country!"
What sets CTEC apart, Professor Hamdorf says, is its commitment to authenticity. The facility mirrors real hospital environments down to the smallest detail, creating what he describes as a "sustained suspension of disbelief".
This attention to detail, combined with state-of-the-art equipment and expert instruction, has made CTEC a global benchmark for medical simulation training.
"If you went into hospital in WA today, odds are that the doctors and possibly the nurses will have been to CTEC to learn something," Professor Hamdorf says. "That's where the real benefit lies."
Looking ahead, CTEC continues to pioneer medical education innovation. Current projects include collaboration with local companies on robotic laser technology for orthopaedic joint replacements and developing new surgical techniques with transplantation teams.
When I look at where we started and where we are now – training healthcare professionals from across Australia and beyond – it's extraordinary to see how far we've come.
Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf AM, CTEC's Director
"CTEC is the jewel in UWA's crown," smiles Professor Hamdorf. "Its success stems from the unwavering support of the WA health department, the University's commitment to excellence and our dedicated team of educators and support staff.
"We're 100 per cent externally funded – we have to find our own salaries and running costs – but that's pushed us to make sure that everything we do delivers real value to healthcare professionals and ultimately, their patients."
As CTEC marks its 25th anniversary, its journey from royal opening to global leadership has made an indelible mark on medical training and, most importantly, patient care.
Leading from the front – Professor Jeffrey Hamdorf
From UWA medical student to leading one of the world's premier medical training facilities, Professor Hamdorf's career has come full circle at his alma mater.
As Director of CTEC since 2007 and Head of the Division of Surgery at UWA's Medical School, he brings surgical expertise and educational innovation to his role. His significant contributions to medical education and bariatric surgery were recognised with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019.
After graduating from UWA's Medical School, Professor Hamdorf completed his surgical training at major Perth hospitals before undertaking post-Fellowship training in upper gastrointestinal surgery at the University of New South Wales.
His academic interests span the management of upper gastrointestinal malignancies and surgical education, particularly skills training. When he's not advancing surgical education, he keeps busy at home with his wife and four sons.
"It's been a wonderful journey," he says of his role at CTEC. "When I look at where we started and where we are now – training healthcare professionals from across Australia and beyond – it's extraordinary to see how far we've come and how much more there is to achieve.
Read the full issue of the Winter 2025 edition of Uniview [Accessible PDF].
