Mr John Cunningham OAM

07/04/2025

The Australian Spine Registry is growing up.

I founded the ASR with Michael A Johnson and the SSA in 2011, based on my enthusiasm for evidence based medicine and epidemiology. We formed a great team lead by Esther Apos and supported by great sponsors.
Now, by collaborating with Melbourne Uni it is set to become an Australian Clinical Quality Registry after being awarded a $7 million MRFF grant.

Very much looking forward to seeing it expand even further.

https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/school-structure/surgery/news-and-events/aspire-awarded-mrff-grant

Our seventh report is availablehttps://www.spineregistry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ASR24_Report_F_Web-1.pdf

06/07/2024

From The Age today. Public hospitals will inevitably see longer waiting lists, no matter how they spin it.

25/04/2023

"It's catastrophic. It's soul-destroying. People's lives are, are being ruined because of this."

'More than just a list': The painful truth facing VictoriansBy Alicia Loxley • Presenter and Reporter6:35pm Apr 25, 2023 Tweet Facebook Mail One of the biggest casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria has been increasing elective surgery wait list times.Tens of thousands of Victorians are b...

06/02/2023

https://youtu.be/e2bY1YqSiuY

Imagine desperately needing surgery but having to raid your super to pay for it. For a growing number of Aussies, that’s precisely what they’re forced to do ...

05/02/2023

The nation's health crisis is deepening as desperate patients raid their super accounts to pay for surgery. Self-funded operations have surged since COVID-19...

21/01/2023

When waiting lists make you lose hope

The Victorian government has promised an extra 40,000 elective surgeries will be undertaken this year, but doctors doubt it is possible. Phil Muscat is among the thousands of people languishing on the waiting list.

13/07/2022

Proud to be a coauthor on this paper.

“Preoperative smoking cessation counselling & pharmacotherapy for 6–8 weeks is cost-effective vs standard care for preventing complications.”

Forever telling my patients to remain smoke free before and following spine surgery.

Whilst there is a substantial body of evidence on the costs and benefits of smoking cessation generally, the benefits of routinely providing smoking c…

06/06/2022

Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors Course. That was hard work, but worth it. Very different set of concepts to master from my usual knowledge base.

02/06/2022

Very much enjoyed the Spine Society of Australia conference in Darwin. Was fascinating to see how technology has developed over the pandemic period when we couldn't all get together like this. It really makes me value collegiality.

I also took some time out to visit the war memorials, especially related to my father's squadron (457) and 1st Field Hospital.

29/06/2021

What do you think about va**ng? Is the benefit worth the risk?

14/06/2021

Considering package deal surgery? Just be careful and ask lots of questions.

06/06/2021

I was lucky enough to have met Fred and to have been motivated by his sheer humanity. Let's support his cause and cure blindness!

John is taking part in Fred's Big Run to support The Fred Hollows Foundation to give the gift of sight and change lives.