Greek led Marrickville Eye Doctors has been recognised for their work in the local community as a small business.
The Sydney clinic has been named a finalist in the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards, in the Doctors Surgery category.
Head ophthalmologist of the centre is Dr Matthew Krilis. He who opened the practice two years ago.
“It’s a proud moment because we started from scratch a couple of years ago, and I guess it shows the hard work and dedication that we put in,” Dr Krilis told Neos Kosmos.
Dedication to contributing to the local community and in “having a multicultural inclusive approach to the diverse multicultural nature of the inner west of Sydney and the Marrickville area.”
Greeks are a big part of the fabric of Marrickville.
In the 1960s the suburb was home to one-third of Sydney’s Greek population. It was called ‘Little Greece’.
Demographics have changed however the Hellenic influence remains and Dr Krilis understands that.
Dr Krilis has a a personal connection to Marrickville.
“My father grew up here and my yiayia and pappou, this where they first came when they arrived to Australia and spent many years here, so I have a strong affiliation to the place,” Krilis said.
The practice was opened after he finished a two-year international fellowship at Oxford University in England.
Krilis did seven years at the University of Sydney where he studied economics and then medicine. He then worked as a junior medical doctor and for five years at the Sydney Eye Hospital.
Then came Oxford where he competed internationally against other doctors and eye surgeons from around the world.
“There were surgeons from all over, from the United States, from Asia, from all around Europe – there was a Greek surgeon there as well.”
“It was amazing. I was there with my wife, we now have a little son, but part of the time there was the COVID period, so it was a bit tough.”
During COVID he was redeployed to the intensive care and general medical ward to help with COVID emergency.
His education was halted for three months as Dr Krilis helped in England’s National Health Service, (NHS).
Apart from the COVID period Dr Krilis says it was an “amazing experience learning from some of the world’s leaders in glaucoma and cataract surgery.”
“I was able to bring that back to Australia and the ultimate aim is to use this cutting-edge technology with the best surgeons and provide that service to the local community in inner west Sydney.”