I gained my medical degrees at The University of Dundee, and Ninewells Hospital, in Scotland, graduating in 1977. My junior doctor experience was in Scotland and northern England. I have been in New Zealand since 1980, and completed my post-graduate training entirely in New Zealand, gaining FRACS qualification in 1987. I have worked at Middlemore Hospital, in South Auckland, as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon since 1987. I have been Head of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Middlemore. I worked in private practice, at Southern Cross North Harbour from 1991-2009, and have now based my private practice work at Ormiston Hospital. I have a wide experience in trauma management, and in arthroplasty surgery for hips and knees.
What is Orthopaedics?
This is an area that deals with conditions of the musculoskeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The specialty covers a range of different types of conditions starting with congenital (conditions which children are born with) through to degenerative (conditions relating to the wearing out of joints). The field of orthopaedics covers trauma where bones are broken or injuries are sustained to limbs.
Other conditions that sit under the spectrum of orthopaedics are metabolic conditions, neurological and inflammatory conditions.