Dr Meghan Dares is the Illawarra’s only female orthopaedic surgeon. Photo: Supplied.
Wollongong’s Dr Meghan Dares never imagined she’d become a trailblazer in orthopaedic surgery when she laced up her runners as a Queensland junior athlete.
Today, she’s breaking new ground as the Illawarra’s only female orthopaedic surgeon and the force behind one of Australia’s largest private multidisciplinary orthopaedic teams at Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group in Wollongong.
“It’s not something you typically do as a female,” Dr Dares said.
“I went straight to med school from high school and had never heard of orthopaedic surgery, but I had a great mentor in Newcastle who was very positive about the effect orthopaedics can have on people’s lives.
“As a surgery, it has fairly good outcomes.”
She said that impact drew her to a specialty where only three per cent of practitioners nationwide were women.
Her sporting background as a Queensland junior runner and growing up with brothers in a practical environment helped shape her interest in a field that treats patients across all age groups and life stages.
Her path took her to prestigious hospitals within Australia, South Africa and the UK, before finding herself in Wollongong.
She became NSW’s first female director of orthopaedics at Wollongong Public Hospital in 2018, mentoring the next generation of surgeons, but has since stepped down to focus on Joint Vision’s expansion.
As Joint Vision’s chief clinical officer since it opened in the height of COVID-19 five years ago, what sets her apart isn’t just her gender, but championing progressive approaches like early active rehabilitation that break from traditional methods.
“Gone are the days of being stuck in a cast for three months,” Dr Dares said.
“In reality now, you can often weight-bear from day one.
“We’re quite progressive in terms of early active rehabilitation. Dr [Sheraz] Anjum and I are on the forefront of early weight-bearing and the results are good.”
While she has a keen interest in foot and ankle surgery, she admitted she had particular expertise in bunion surgery, addressing a condition nine times more common in women.
“Many female patients historically felt hesitant to see surgeons because they thought it was largely a cosmetic issue,” Dr Dares said.
“In reality, it’s not – it’s a functional issue.
“It changes the way you walk, limits shoe choices – and I’m not talking about fashion shoes, as some patients can’t wear any shoes or at least a limited choice of shoe.
“Everyone’s had a nan who’s had bunion surgery and they’re modelling their response on that, but it’s changed a lot.”
Dr Dares said recent advances in minimally invasive keyhole surgery had revolutionised bunion treatment, with higher satisfaction rates and dramatically reduced recovery times.
She said a big part of their care was integrating surgeons, physiotherapists, imaging services, and allied health professionals in one location, with coordinated care across staff often resulting in a patient seeing the right specialists, having scans and receiving a treatment plan in one visit.
“It’s about more than just having shared notes – we’re always talking to each other,” she said.
Dr Dares said the comprehensive care model addressed research showing 60 per cent of medical mistakes stemmed from inadequate communication.
She said its services and specialists had attracted patients from Sydney, Canberra and across NSW and helped Illawarra residents avoid long emergency department waits, proving the Illawarra’s reputation as a healthcare destination.
“People underestimate the Illawarra in terms of the healthcare services it can provide,” she said.
“It’s a bit of a burgeoning healthcare hub.
“We offer cutting-edge surgery here. There’s very little you’d need to leave the Illawarra to access these days.”
When not working, the mum-of-one still maintains her athletic pursuits, recently placing second in the 40-45 age group at the Illawarra Running Festival’s 10 km run – a fitting achievement for someone who’s spent her career helping others get back on their feet.
“Running is something that allows me to recalibrate and refocus,” she said.
“It goes back to the concept of a healthy surgeon equals a healthy patient.”
Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group is at 74-76 Auburn Street, Wollongong and accepts public and private patients.
