Dr Melinda Wong - Wednesday, 19 July at 7.30 pm

Dr Melinda Wong, Rheumatologist

Oh no! Back Pain!  BUT could this patient have a spondyloarthritis?

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify the key differences between inflammatory back pain as opposed to mechanical back pain, noting key features, examination, pathology, and imaging techniques to help diagnose a spondyloarthritis.
• Discussion on spondyloarthropathies, a family of inflammatory joint diseases – which often present with back pain.
• An overview of the importance of identifying the key differences between inflammatory back pain as opposed to mechanical back pain and assessing severity to access appropriate management.

BIO

Dr Melinda Wong is a rheumatologist at Cabrini Malvern and St. Vincent’s Hospital. Dr Wong sees patients with a variety of conditions including inflammatory arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and musculoskeletal problems. She helps people better understand and manage their condition, and tailor treatment to everyone.

After graduating from the University of Melbourne, Dr Wong trained at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre. She then spent two years working at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London and gained further clinical and research experience. Dr Wong’s research in London explored the relationship between inflammation and cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis which led to several key publications. She achieved a Doctor of Medical Science at the University of Melbourne.

Following the completion of her fellowship in the UK, she was head of the biologics clinic at St. Vincent’s public hospital. Dr Wong is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and an active member of the Australian Rheumatology Association. Dr Wong was co-ordinator of the rheumatology mentorship program for seven years and continues to enjoy teaching.