Auckland Waikato Tauranga Christchurch Queenstown

Mark Smith

I am a Consultant General (abdominal) and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon with specialist training and extensive experience in laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery and other advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques.

I completed medical school and specialty General Surgical training in New Zealand and convocated as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2005. Following my General Surgical specialty training, I undertook further specialty training in surgery of the liver and bile ducts in Edinburgh, Scotland; and Bariatric and Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery in Oregon, USA. I also completed a Master of Medical Science Degree in evidence-based medicine.  Following this, I worked in the USA for two years as a specialist bariatric surgeon at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, a certified bariatric centre of excellence that undertook more than 500 weight loss operations per year.

In 2011, I chose to return to New Zealand to raise my family and to establish the bariatric surgery program at Southland Hospital, later Southern DHB. In 2018, I relocated to Dunedin Hospital to join the regional team treating cancers of the stomach and oesophagus. I have conducted extensive research into improving the safety of bariatric surgery and published multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. These include Surgical options for failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery textbook.

Since December 2020, I have worked full time in private practice, where my goal is to utilise the latest evidence-based techniques to provide the best possible service for my patients.

My current surgical practice involves the application of advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux, hernias, gallstones and metabolic/weight-loss surgery.

I am privileged to be able to call Queenstown my home, where I undertake regular clinics and endoscopy procedures.  I also operate regularly at Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital in Queenstown, and at Mercy Hospital in Dunedin for more complex procedures.

Areas of expertise:

  • Gastroscopy – investigating reflux and digestive symptoms e.g. dairy intolerance, gluten allergy, stomach ulcers, reflux, heartburn, cancer
  • Colonoscopy – investigating digestive symptoms and intervening for polyps, bowel cancer
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux - diagnosis, surgical treatment including fundoplication and gastric bypass
  • Groin pain and hernias - Investigation and treatment of groin pain, including repair of groin hernias with and without mesh, by laparoscopic and open surgery
  • Abdominal Wall Reconstruction – including laparoscopic repair of large midline hernias
  • Gallbladder disease – gallstones, polyps, inflammation
  • Metabolic and bariatric surgery - surgical treatment of excess weight and associated metabolic conditions

Qualifications:

  • MBChB, FRACS

Professional Experience:

  • 2022 – ongoing: Visiting Consultant Upper GI and General Surgeon – Southland Hospital
  • 2011 – 2020: Consultant General, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon - Dunedin and Southland Hospitals
  • 2009 – 2011:        Attending Bariatric Surgeon, Director of Bariatric Research - Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, USA; Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital
  • 2008 – 2009: Clinical Fellow in Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery - Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, USA
  • 2007 – 2008: Clinical Fellow in HPB and Transplantation Surgery - Royal Infirmary Of Edinburgh, Scotland
  • 2006 – 2007: Locum Consultant General Surgeon - Southland Hospital, New Zealand
  • 2005 – 2006:        Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Upper GI Fellow and “Chief” Fellow - Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
  • 2001 – 2005:        General Surgery Advanced Training - New Zealand
  • 1999 – 2001:        General Surgery Basic Training - Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1997 – 1999:        House Officer Rotations - Northern Clinical Training Network, New Zealand

Research

  • Master of Medical Science with first class honours - University of Auckland, Evidence Based Medicine

Memberships:

  • Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • New Zealand Association of General Surgeons
  • Australian and New Zealand Hernia Society
  • Australian and New Zealand Gastro-Oesophageal Surgery Association
  • Australian and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society
  • American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

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