World-renowned surgeon commits to Southern Charity Hospital
I’m aware of the struggles of isolation and the lack of alternative opportunities for care for many in Southland."
How happy is Melissa Vining to have secured world-renowned surgeon Professor Frank Frizelle ONZM to perform colonoscopies at the newly opened Southern Charity Hospital?
“He’s the Richie McCaw of colorectal surgeons,” Vining, a board member and driving force behind the hospital, said.
It’s hard to argue.
Canterbury-based Frizelle is Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus, Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal since 2002 and president of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand.
He’s also chair of the Christchurch Cancer Foundation, a medical advisor to Bowel Cancer New Zealand and deputy chair to the Australia-New Zealand bi-national bowler cancer register.
And before Vining had even approached him about volunteering his services to the Southern Charity Hospital project, he had already decided he wanted to be involved.
“Not all superheroes wear capes,” Vining, who hopes Frizelle’s commitment will encourage other top medical professionals to get involved, said.
The Charity Hospital will be reliant on medical volunteers from out of the region due to the shortage of surgeons in the Southern region who have high workloads.
Support from out of the region will be pivotal.
Frizelle isn’t sure about comparisons with a two-time World Cup winning All Black captain - “(McCaw) is much better looking,” he says - but returning to Invercargill to give back to the Southland community is something he is definitely sure about.
“I worked in Southland as a registrar with surgeons like Murray Pfeifer, George Ngaei and Doug Allan, who were great role models for commitment to the community. My wife and many of my best friends are from Southland,” he said.
“I have also had the privilege of many delightful patients from Southland. I’m aware of the struggles of isolation and the lack of alternative opportunities for care for many in Southland.
“I have been involved with the Canterbury Charity Hospital for many years, so when a chance to get involved with this project came up I immediately jumped at the opportunity to return some of the support I have received from the Southland community.”
Frizzelle said the determination of Vining, Pfeifer and many others to ensure the late Blair Vining’s dream of a Charity Hospital became a reality was inspirational.
“It is a very valuable resource as it is clear to many via the media that Health New Zealand is unable to match the demands of the population at present. Not everyone can afford to go private, so a centre such as this helps those most at need in the community, those who will have otherwise missed out. Such an effect improves the health of the whole community.”
More about Professor Frank Frizelle ONZM:
● Trained in general surgery in New Zealand, with post-fellowship training in colorectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic (USA) and Scotland.
● Returned to New Zealand in 1996 as Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch.
● Appointed Professor of Colorectal Surgery in 2000.
● Head of the Academic Department of Surgery (2006–2019).
● Clinical Director of General Surgery (2022–2024) for Canterbury and West Coast regions.
● Former member of the New Zealand Cancer Control Committee.
● Chaired the New Zealand Guidelines Group on Colorectal Cancer Management and the National Standards for Colorectal Cancer.
● Former Chair of RACS Section of Colorectal Surgery and Committee on Post-Fellowship Training in Colorectal Surgery.
● Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal since 2002.
● Published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles and 50+ book chapters.
● Delivered more than 300 presentations at national and international meetings.