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Position:
Breast Fellow
Level:
First Year
Location:
Christchurch Public Hospital, Riccarton Avenue. Christchurch Central;
Southern Cross Hospital Christchurch (Assisting - optional);
St. George's Hospital Christchurch (Assisting - optional)
Contact:
Michael Swinden
The Breast Unit in Christchurch offers a comprehensive Oncoplastic experience for advanced trainees. Our unit provides a range of Oncoplastic based procedures including TRM, volume replacement flaps with increased emphasis on breast conserving surgery where possible. Immediate reconstruction is offered by three of the surgeons who undertake their own implant and autologous LD flap reconstruction while the other surgeons work in conjunction with the Plastics and Reconstructive team (they offer DIEP and other autologous and implant based reconstruction).
The unit is supported by 5 Breast Care Nurses who coordinate the MDM and post operative wound support for patients. Apart from Oncoplastic breast surgery, the trainee will have an opportunity to expand on endocrine experience.
We are keen for the Fellow to take ownership of their training so that they can obtain the maximum experience from their year with us. The Breast Unit is part of a 32 SMO General Surgical department which works closely with other services in a large tertiary hospital. As a teaching unit (part of Otago University), we have a range of trainees including 4th year medical students, trainee interns and multiple steps from foundation year doctors to post fellowship level candidate. We have a strong culture of respectful and collegial learning and support of trainees
Christchurch has a vibrant arts and theatre culture, excellent restaurants, and within easy travel distance from many beautiful tourist destinations around the South Island such as Aakaroa, Kaikoura, Tekapo, Queenstown, etc. For those who enjoy adventure sports, hiking, biking trails, skiing, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, etc; this is the ideal training destination.
Unit Consultants (Breast Surgery Unit)
Dr Birgit Dijkstra, Consultant Surgeon
Dr Michael Swinden, Consultant Surgeon, PFT Supervsior
Dr Hayley Waller, Clinical Lead for Breast Surgery
Dr Anna Morrow, Consultant Surgeon
Dr Josie Todd, Consultant Surgeon
Dr Malcolm Ward, Consultant Surgeon
Dr Ashwini Pondicherry, Consultant Surgeon
Breast Oncoplastic Surgery:
Mammoplasty (therapeutic), Volume replacement (chest wall perforator), Oncoplastic WLE (Level 1), Liposcution,/Lipofilling
Breast Reconstruction Surgery:
Immediate implant reconstruction, Tissue expander to implant exchange, Latissimus Dorsi flap (salvage or recon)
General and Other Surgery:
Dr. Morrow: Breast + Sarcoma; Drs. Waller & Dijkstra: Breast + Endocrine / Head+Neck; Dr. Swinden: Breast & General (Hernia incl. complex hernia)
Breakdown of hours:
General Surgery On call: 1:4 Saturdays (0800 - 2200)
Private Consulting:
Nil
MDT:
Post op (oncology): weekly, Fellow presents cases & scribes; Pre-op (radiology): weekly, Fellow is scribe; Reconstructive (Plastics): Ad-hoc, Fellow is an observer
Academic & Research:
Dedicated research officer & data analyst within the department of general surgery. The hospital has an affiliation with University of Otago Medical School
Funded:
1-year FTE role commencing February 2027
Salary:
Full time salary equivalent to Senior Registrar salary (or greater) and minimum salary package and requirements and conditions as required by law in the Hospital jurisdiction will apply. Position Classification: Specialist Medical Officer (Year 1)
Further Information:
* Fellow can attend BreastScreen every 1 - 2 months solely for educational purposes. * 3 x SET registrars (across three teams) * 3 x unaccredited registrars (across three teams)
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