General Surgery Fellow (Upper GI & HPB)

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital, Kenepuru Hospital, Hutt Hospital

Service:   General Surgery Services

Contract: Full time, 12 months fixed term - starting 1 February 2027 

Salary:     As per ASMS SECA

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the role

We are seeking applicants who have completed, or are close to completing, their General Surgical training and are eligible to achieve FRACS.

This fellowship offers an excellent opportunity to further develop advanced Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI), Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB), Bariatric and General Surgery skills within one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s major tertiary hospital based in Wellington. This is a high-volume, hands-on fellowship designed to support the transition to independent consultant practice. The Fellow will work closely with a supportive consultant team while developing autonomy across elective and acute surgical care, operating theatre, endoscopy and outpatient clinic settings. The successful applicant will also contribute to teaching and supervision of RMOs and participate in the consultant on-call roster with SMO backup support.

The Fellow can expect substantial operative exposure each week, including 2–4 elective theatre lists, endoscopy list, and outpatient clinics covering benign, malignant and bariatric patients. The service provides broad exposure to complex benign and malignant disease with expected operative experience over 12 months including minimally invasive oesophagectomy, gastrectomy, complex hiatus and antireflux surgery, bariatric surgery, liver resection, pancreatic resection, splenectomy, major abdominal wall reconstruction, and acute and elective general surgery. Fellows typically log more than 200 major operative cases during the year, with many performed as primary operator.

The fellowship has a strong multidisciplinary focus, with participation in weekly Regional UGI Cancer MDM, Bariatric MDM, Radiology Meetings, Grand Rounds, and departmental M&M and audit meetings. Fellows are encouraged to participate in audit and research activity, including completion and presentation of at least one project during the fellowship year. There are also opportunities to contribute to registrar teaching, simulation training, and journal club activities.

About the Team

Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley provides tertiary UGI and HPB services for the Wellington region and central New Zealand. The unit comprises five subspecialist surgeons with expertise in Oesophagogastric, HPB and Bariatric surgery, supported by SET and non-training registrars, house officers, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Dietitian and Clinical Psychology services. The wider General Surgery department provides comprehensive exposure across all subspecialties within a collaborative tertiary environment. 

About you

• Completion of General Surgery training (FRACS or equivalent) or expected completion by 2026
• Eligible for registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) 
• Strong commitment to a career in Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) and Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB)
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and leadership skills
• Work in collaboration with multidisciplinary team
• Able to provide consistently high standards of medical care
• Relevant experience and training

About the Location

Wellington is an excellent place to live, offering a balance of lifestyle benefits and natural beauty. Enjoy the city’s vibrant cultural scene, excellent cafés and restaurants, a reliable public transport network, and easy access to beaches,parks, and walking trails. The city's compact layout makes commuting relatively straightforward, while its strong sense of community and high quality of life make it attractive to individuals, couples, and families alike.

Wellington region has a variety of surrounding communities that offer different lifestyles while remaining well connected to the city. Hutt Valley (Hutt Hospital) and Porirua (Kenepuru Hospital), is approximately 15–30 minutes from central Wellington. It is popular with families due to its green spaces, diverse communities, shopping and recreation facilities. Further north, the KāpitiCoast is approximately 40–60 minutes from Wellington and is renowned fo rits beautiful beaches, relaxed lifestyle, growing town centres, and strong appeal to families, professionals, and retirees seeking more space while maintaining access to the capital. 

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ 

If you have any questions about the role, please email sandra.tam@ccdhb.org.nz

We are not accepting recruitment agency’s applicants. 

Position description Apply now

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