Why do you do what you do?

It's all about people for me. I chose my speciality because of the phenomenal tutoring and education at UCH at the time. New, lifesaving technology was emerging. It just looked like an amazingly interesting field. I was able to combine that with neurosurgery and plastic surgery to develop skills around reconstruction and diagnostics.

What are the common symptoms that your patients tend to present with?

Typically, an ear, nose and throat patient will be presenting with deafness, blocked ear, pain in the ear, blocked nose, lumps in the neck, among other symptoms.

What are the treatments that you're able to offer your patients?

Septoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, tonsillectomy, tracheostomy and carotid surgery. For outpatient procedures, typically microsuction and flexible nasal endoscopy to look at the vocal cords and the back of the tongue. Inpatient procedures would include everything from a big thyroid surgery, tracheostomies, septal surgery, sinus surgery, operations on the ear, repair of ear drums, among others.

What are your areas of sub-specialist interest?

Thyroid, carotid surgery and airway management. I support the Neuro Rehab unit at the Wellington Hospital and many patients are referred with severe neurological problems for example brain tumours, trauma or post cardiac arrest hypoxic damage, have tracheostomies which we're trying to close, or new tracheostomies put in as part of their ICU care. Subsequently trying to rehabilitate swallowing and voice disorders.