I am a New Zealand trained General Surgeon who grew up in Samoa and moved to New Zealand for medical training. It was during my return to Samoa for my internship that I discovered General Surgery to be my calling, in observing that the skills to this art is a combination of compassion, professionalism, knowledge and technical excellence. My fellowship training in General Surgery took me on a journey around our beautiful country for a number of years. After completion of my fellowship, I spent a further two years of post-fellowship training in the Waikato Public Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital to further specialise in trauma care. In addition, I was able to further develop my elective passions which include an interest in abdominal wall hernias and colorectal surgery, specifically colonic diseases and proctology. I returned to Hamilton in the beginning of 2018 with my young family to take up a consultant general surgeon position at the Waikato Public Hospital.
Special clinical interests:
  • Abdominal wall hernia: including complex and recurrent
  • Colonic conditions: cancer, inflammatory bowel and diverticular disease
  • Anorectal Conditions (haemorrhoids, skin tags, perianal fistula, fissures)
  • Gallbladder diseases: gallstones
  • Pilonidal Disease
  • Endoscopy: Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy
  • Minor surgery: Skin lesions, lumps and bumps
Current Employment

General Surgeon, Waikato Public Hospital

Qualifications
  • MBChB (Otago, 2005)
  • FRACS (General Surgery, 2015)
Memberships
  • NZAGS
Post Fellowship Training
  • Trauma and General Surgery, Waikato Public Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital (2016 – 2017)
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider
I trained in Dunedin and completed my surgical training in Christchurch. I then spent 3 years in England to further my colorectal training. I have worked in the Waikato since 2001 as a general and colorectal surgeon. At present, I am involved in the implementation of the bowel screening programme for the Waikato region.
Current practice
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
  • Laparoscopic hernia repair
  • Laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery
  • Pelvic floor surgery for incontinence and emptying difficulties
  • Haemorrhoids: latest ligasure banding treatment, excisions
  • Anal skin tag excisions, pilonidal surgery, fistula and fissure surgeries
  • Endoscopy: colonoscopy, gastroscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy
Qualifications
  • FRACS (1995)
  • MBChB (Otago 1985)
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider

Jesse completed his medical degree at the University of Otago before undertaking general surgical training around New Zealand. After attaining FRACS in general surgery he subsequently completed three years of sub-specialty training in colorectal surgery on the Australia and New Zealand Training Board in the Colon and Rectal Surgery programme. During this time he received the CSSANZ Phil Douglas Award for best paper by a colorectal fellow, completed a research thesis on the management of rectal cancer, gained experience in peritonectomy and HIPEC at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide and exposure to pelvic exenteration surgery at the North Shore Hospital in Auckland. He maintains a broad colorectal surgical practice.

At Waikato Hospital Jesse manages acute (emergency) general surgical conditions as well performing elective (planned) surgery with a focus on colorectal disorders. He is heavily involved in medical student education and co-ordinates the trainee intern attachment in general surgery. He lives in Matangi with his wife Andrea and 3 daughters.

Areas of Expertise
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
  • Diverticular disease
  • Anorectal disorders including anal fistulae, haemorrhoids, fissures
  • Pilonidal disease
  • Rectal bleeding assessment and management
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction including rectal prolapse and obstructive defecation
  • Colonoscopy (accredited colonoscopist for National Bowel Screening Programme) and gastroscopy
  • Hernia repair
Current Employment

Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, Waikato Hospital
Senior Lecturer in Surgery, University of Auckland

Qualifications

MBChB
MMedSc (Distinction)
FRACS (General Surgery)

Memberships
  • Fellow Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • Member of New Zealand Association of General Surgeons
  • Member of Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia & New Zealand (CSSANZ)
  • Member of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
  • Member of Colon and Rectal Surgery Section, Academic Surgery Section RACS
Research

Jesse maintains an academic appointment at the University of Auckland and has a strong interest in surgical research and education. He has published many peer-reviewed papers that can be accessed at the following link:

https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/jesse-fischer/publications

Training
  • Colorectal Research Fellow, University of Otago Christchurch (2018)
  • Colorectal Fellow, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide SA (2019)
  • Colorectal Fellow, North Shore Hospital, Auckland (2020)

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