About James
My passion for medicine stems back as far as I can remember. From a young age I was fascinated by hospitals and the medical staff who worked there, and it was almost a foregone conclusion that I would one day pursue it as a career.
After graduating with Distinction from the University of Otago, I trained in surgery through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and in intensive care with the College of Intensive Care Medicine. Today, I am the only doctor in New Zealand to be dual qualified as a Fellow from both institutions.
I’ve gone on to work in hospitals throughout Aotearoa, and enjoyed a period as a Trauma and Acute Surgery Fellow in Canada. I am an instructor on multiple courses, and an honorary lecturer at the University of Otago.
Although the early days of a career in medicine are often spent travelling from one hospital to another, my family and I are now firmly established in Christchurch and are proud to call the Garden City home.
Areas of expertise
While I conduct a wide range of procedures and treatments, my primary areas of focus include all types of hernia surgery, gallbladder surgery, endoscopy, post-traumatic injury (including incisional and traumatic hernias), thoracic trauma (including rib fracture fixation), bowel cancer surgery, proctology and perianal disease, spleen disorders/surgery, and endoscopy.
Advanced techniques
I love learning about the latest advancements in medicine, and pride myself on being at the cutting-edge when it comes to technology. I always endeavor to employ minimally-invasive techniques, using everything from laproscopy to robotics to reduce discomfort and enhance recovery.