Dr Shuan Dai at Auckland University earlier this year

Well-known paediatric ophthalmology specialist Dr Shuan Dai has been lured across the ditch to become director of ophthalmology at Children’s Health Queensland and Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane replacing Professor Glen Gole.

His former colleagues at Eye Doctors in Auckland congratulated him on his appointment while admitting he would be sorely missed. “Dr Dai’s background and expertise made him the logical choice for (this) prestigious role. As one of the founding directors of Eye Doctors we will miss him and wish him a fond farewell.”

Dr Dai will be replaced at Eye Doctors in the New Year by Dr Julia Escardo-Paton. Born in Peru, Dr Escardo-Paton studied in the US and the UK before coming to New Zealand in 2010. She was a strabismus and paediatric fellow with Dr Dai at Auckland District Health Board for a year before returning to the UK for seven years to work as a paediatric ophthalmologist. She has been working at Counties Manukau since immigrating to New Zealand with her husband and children in 2017.