ABLE

We provide specialist surgical care using the latest laparoscopic techniques for patients in Otago and Southland. Dr Smith is a Consultant Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon at Dunedin Hospital with specialist training and experience in laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal and weight loss surgery and other advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr Smith completed medical school and specialty General Surgical training in New Zealand. He was convocated as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2005. Following his General Surgical specialty training he 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. He also completed a Master of Medical Science Degree in evidence based medicine. Following this, Dr Smith worked in the USA for two years as a specialist bariatric surgeon at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, a certified bariatric center of excellence. In 2011, Dr Smith chose to return to New Zealand to raise his family and to establish the bariatric surgery program at Southland Hospital, later Southern DHB. He has conducted extensive research in to 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 upcoming American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery textbook. In 2018, Dr Smith relocated to Dunedin Hospital to join the regional team treating cancers of the stomach and oesophagus. He continues to provide the bariatric surgery service for Otago and Southland through Mercy Hospital Dunedin and Southland Hospital. Dr Smith's current surgical practice involves the application of advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques for weight loss surgery as well as the treatment of oesophageal and gastric cancers, gastro-oesophageal reflux, hernia, and gallstones. Dr Smith is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and New Zealand, and OraTaiao - The New Zealand Climate and Health Council. Dr Smith is the proud father of two beautiful girls and enjoys cycling, skiing and surfing in his spare time. Dr Mark D Smith