Why I am ‘less is more’.
Plus intriguing, amusing and noteworthy facts about Dr Alex Koefman
I am living by the mantra that ‘less is more’. 99% of the time, this is all you will need as a patient to be fixed and go back to your normal life.
When I was a boy, I wanted to become a doctor because my best friend was planning to become one and I wanted to outdo him so I thought ‘Perhaps neurosurgery will do?’
“My dad inspires me most. He taught me it is good to laugh, learn and dream.”
About me,
the neurosurgeon
When I was a boy I wanted to become a doctor because my best friend was planning to become one and I wanted to outdo him, so I thought perhaps neurosurgery would do. Once I started, it quickly became clear that I had found my passion!
Now, as a practising neurosurgeon in Brisbane, I remember telling people at the start of my career, that ‘I wanted to help people.’ I thought it was the correct thing to say. I soon developed the courage, however, to embrace my much less altruistic and personal truth: I just love anatomy and the physics of surgery! The funny thing is, while this is still most definitely true, now, when a patient tells me that, due to what I’ve said or done, their quality of life has greatly improved, I realise I’ve come to understand what it means to help people. Full circle! And that gives me intangible satisfaction.
I live by the mantra that ‘less is more’, because 99% of the time this is all the patient will need to be fixed and get back to their normal life. It is exactly what I would want as a patient.
I imagine every patient being a professional sportsperson, who just needs to get back out onto the playing field of life in full fitness. And you can’t ruin the bodies of sportspeople with big operations in open surgery. It needs to be keyhole and effective. It’s a neat philosophy, it makes the surgery more technical, and it’s a fantastic intellectual exercise.
During my training, I saw a lot of big open surgery. It was clear from this blood soaked experience that I would be much happier heading down a keyhole surgery pathway. Luckily there were a couple of experts in Australia who took me under their wings, and I took that guidance and ran with it. I’m happier. Patients are happier!
I graduated with first class honours from my medical school year, and collected the Frank Fay prize for surgery for my whole year. I was accepted into the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Neurosurgery Program soon after.
I travelled the length and breadth of Australia under the auspices of legendary neurosurgeons at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Royal Perth Hospital and the Perth Children’s Hospital, the Royal Brisbane Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital, and the Canberra Hospital.
I dedicated a year to original research entitled “Functional magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of lumbosacral radiculopathic pain”, and was published internationally in 2016. I have since published further internationally on spine surgery. I am a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and a member of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.
About me,
outside neurosurgery
I grew up in a town of about 20 people, in the centre of Tasmania on my parents’ hobby farm.
My dad inspires me most. He taught me it was good to laugh, learn and dream. I’m writing a book currently and he’s my undisputed dedication. It’s a celebration of sorts, describing what happens when humanity comes face to face with a living breathing human brain. A melting pot of beauty, humour, and much fallibility.
I have several lifelong interests outside of neurosurgery and I think these further define me. I’ve played the drums since I was 7, and my band was part of a Triple J support tour while at university. Probably the best days of my life! Drumming now is an excuse for me to put on a pair of tiger pants and make no apologies to the world. Except to my fiancée, since I have to constantly apologise to her for the noise.
I wanted to be a professional cricketer till I ran out of talent. I still follow the game closely, as well as F1.
I’m a car enthusiast and will happily stare at body work till I’m told to leave the showroom.
Fitness is paramount in my life, and I lift 4 times a week. I trained for a national competition with a close friend for 6 months and it was utterly fantastic. I won’t discuss the spray tan!
I also scribble cartoons in my spare time and love science education.
We have 3 little dachshunds and they are probably the loves of our lives. Certainly as I write this they sit by my side without a care in the world.
The 7 most common remarks I get from you
Straight up front
“Most of my patients tell me they appreciate that I am being upfront with them.”
Less is more
“Less is more’ is my mantra and a central theme to my consulting narrative. I focus on minimally invasive surgery.”
Common ground
“Like most of you I like music. I have played in music bands most of my life. I have also played cricket and I love watching F1. It feels like I have a lot in common with you and it’s always great when these topics come up during our chats. ”
Educational
“I have made it my second nature to come up with analogies so you understand your condition better.”
Common sense
“Patients tend to love my common sense and down to earth approach. ”
Humour
“Indeed, when appropriate, I use it frequently.”
Young
“Oh, I hear this a lot: “You are still young. I didn’t expect that of a neurosurgeon.” A lot of you comment on this and jokingly tell me I must be very good at what I do.”
Ready to make an appointment?
Ramsay Specialist Centre
Suite 325
Newdegate St
Greenslopes QLD 4120