Greek-run Marrickville Eye Doctors has been recognized for its 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.
The center’s chief ophthalmologist is Dr. Matthew Krilis. The one who opened the practice two years ago.
“It’s a proud moment because we started from scratch a couple of years ago and I think it shows the hard work and dedication we put in,” Dr. Krilis said. Neos Cosmos.
Dedication to contributing to the local community and “having an inclusive multicultural approach to the diverse and multicultural nature of Sydney’s inner west and the Marrickville area.”
Greeks are a big part of the fabric of Marrickville.
In the 1960s the suburb was home to a third of Sydney’s Greek population. It was called “Little Greece.”
The demographics have changed, but the Hellenic influence remains and Dr. Krilis understands that.
Dr Krilis has a personal connection to Marrickville.
“My father grew up here and my yiayia and pappou were the place they first came to when they came to Australia and spent many years here, so I have a strong affiliation to the place,” Krilis said.
The practice opened after finishing a two-year international scholarship at the University of Oxford in England.
Krilis spent seven years at the University of Sydney, where he studied economics and then medicine. He then worked as a junior doctor and for five years at the Sydney Eye Hospital.
Then came Oxford, where he competed internationally against other eye doctors and surgeons from around the world.
“There were surgeons from all over, from the United States, from Asia, from all over Europe; there was also a Greek surgeon there.”
“It was amazing. I was there with my wife, we have a young son now, but part of the time there was the COVID period, so it was a little difficult.”
During COVID, he was redeployed to the intensive care ward and general medicine ward to help with the COVID emergency.
His education was paused for three months while Dr. Krilis helped out in England’s National Health Service (NHS).
Aside from the COVID period, Dr. Krilis says it was an “incredible experience learning from some of the world leaders in glaucoma and cataract surgery.”
“I was able to bring that back to Australia and the ultimate goal is to use this cutting-edge technology with the best surgeons and provide that service to the local community in Sydney’s inner west.”