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Practice Location

New Zealand Obesity Surgery Centre

212 Wairau Road
1st Floor
Glenfield
Auckland
ph 09 444 3660
fax 09 444 4681

Email: info@nzobesitysurgery.co.nz
Website: www.nzobesitysurgery.co.nz

We are easy to find, and there is no problem with parking on site at
The Northern Clinic,
212 Wairau Rd., Glenfield

On Auckland’s North Shore, just off the Northern Motorway.

Take the Tristram Rd turnoff.

Turn Right up Wairau Rd

As you drive up Wairau Rd, keep an eye out for Lockwood Homes on your left, about 400m form the lights. We are next to Lockwood homes, but Pohutakawa trees obscure our sign (The Northern Clinic) somewhat.

Our clinic is on the ground floor on your right. There are no BIG signs advertising obesity.

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Our Staff

As the problem is very complex, we have used a team approach, long before it was the accepted “Gold Standard”.

Each of the team has their strengths, and all have a genuine interest in the problem of obesity. The patient is very much part of that team, as it is a co-operative journey back to good health and “a real life”.

Surgeon:-

Mr Robert J. Fris MB ChB (Otago) FRCS (Canada) FACS (USA)

First exposure to obesity surgery was in 1978, when he was training in surgery, and worked for many months with Dr Iain Cleator in Vancouver, Canada. (Dr Cleator’s name crops up frequently in the surgical literature).

At that time, the results weren’t great, and there were many complications, but the physiology intrigued him.

When gastric banding started, Mr. Fris followed this for 3 years to wait for results, rather than submit patients to a questionable procedure. When satisfied that this was worthwhile, he trained and worked with Prof Paul O’Brien in Melbourne, THE world expert in Gastric Banding.

As experience was gained, it became apparent to Mr. Fris that it was not the only solution, and that a multi-pronged approach was required. So he went to California and worked with Dr MAL Fobi, whose name is attached to the Fobi Pouch Gastric Bypass, and who has become a friend.

He has also been observing gastric Sleeve Resections with interest, and again waited until there was enough evidence to pursue this option further. He has worked with 3 surgeons in Sydney who had Australia’s biggest experience.

His research on shrinking the liver is a landmark paper that has won international recognition, and the regime has been adopted by nearly every Bariatric group in the world.

Despite a huge practice, Mr. Fris has several other interests. He is married to Jan, and has 3 children, all of whom are in, or have finished, tertiary education. He has completed the Speights Coast to Coast Mountain Race twice in recent years. Also a keen tramper and fly fisherman, scuba diver, and learnt to fly a helicopter.

Bariatrician:-

Dr Heather McIntyre has the very unusual background of General practice, surgery, and psychiatry. This rare combination is ideal for her position in the team, where she looks after the medical problems, co-ordinates the team meetings, and tries to find time to pursue the research interests.

Dr McIntyre often appears at the door bedraggled and wet from a run before work, even in the rain. She is also a keen surfer, and met her husband in Lombock, a surfing paradise in Indonesia. They have 2 children.

We are presently searching for another Doctor to assist in the clinic.

Psychologist:-

Olivia Museth
MSc(Hons), PGDipHlthPsyc, MNZPsS

Olivia is a Health Psychologist who has had training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. She also holds a certificate in Psychodietetics. As a Health Psychologist, Olivia has particular interest in understanding how people manage their physical health conditions, including obesity. Her Masters thesis focused on the psychological aspects of bariatric surgery, and was undertaken here at the clinic. She works to support clients during the times before and after surgery with a focus on helping clients achieve the best outcomes with surgery.

Nutritionist:-

Barbara Rigg has 32 years of experience as a nutritionist. She will take a detailed history at your first assessment of your current eating pattern and will design a personalised eating plan that will be practical for you to follow to ensure excellent long term results.

Front desk:-

This important role is managed by Ainsley, and helped at times by Francis. She is versed in the problems and protocols of the clinic, and is the voice that is usually the first contact. She is the ultimate multi-tasker, taking bookings, arranging theatre lists, ensuring blood results are available, looking after surgeons who come to observe, giving out information, answering queries from the internet…..a very busy lady, who keeps calm and helpful despite all of this.

Ainsley is married with 2 grown children, and eagerly gives her opinion on the latest All Black team or performance.

© New Zealand Obesity Surgery Centre- Auckland, New Zealand.