
I have been a consultant at Waikato Hospital since 2019 where I care for patients with a broad range of GI disease and continue to pursue these research interests.
After multiple international moves over the years, my family and I are excited to have made the Waikato home, and I am passionate about providing outstanding gastroenterology services for our local community.
Areas of Expertise
- Diagnostic & Therapeutic Endoscopy (including chromoendoscopy)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Dyspepsia
- Coeliac disease
- Gastrointestinal cancer
- Oesophageal manometry
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Liver disease
Current Employment
Consultant Gastroenterologist – Waikato DHB
Qualifications
- FRACP (2017)
- MBChB (2006)
- BSc Med Sci (Hons) (2003)
Training
- Advanced Gastroenterology Fellowship, The Edinburgh IBD Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh (2018-2019)
- Advanced Training in Gastroenterology at Waikato & Christchurch Hospitals (2014-2017)
- Basic Physician Training in Wellington & Melbourne (2010-2014)
Research
- Lead Investigator of Multinational Research Project: Validation of a disease severity index for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- James M Fulforth, Amanda J Chen & James D Falvey. Early referral for endoscopy is the most appropriate management strategy in cases of food bolus obstruction. Emergency Medicine Australasia. (2019)
- Jones GR, Lyons M, Plevris N, Jenkinson P, Bissett C, Din S, Fulforth J, Henderson P, Ho GT, Kirkwood K, Noble CL, Shand AG, Wilson D, Arnott IDR, Lees CW. IBD prevalence in Lothian, Scotland, derived by capture-recapture methodology. Gut (2019)
Memberships
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology
- European Crohn’s & Colitis Organisation
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider

I have been working as a consultant gastroenterologist at Waikato Hospital since 2008 where I manage a wide variety of patients with gastrointestinal disease and perform high quality endoscopy. I am the clinical lead for the infusion centre and I have been able to pursue teaching and research interests. I have subspecialist expertise in managing diseases of the bowel and I am well known for my excellent communication skills, thoroughness and empathetic nature.
Areas of Expertise
- Diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy (including chromoendoscopy for bowel cancer screening in inflammatory bowel disease)
- Gastroscopy
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
- Coeliac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders
- Anaemia and gastrointestinal bleeding
- Colorectal cancer surveillance
- Reflux and dyspepsia
Current Employment
Consultant Gastroenterologist at Waikato Hospital
Director of the Cambridge Specialist Centre
Qualifications
- FRACP (2007)
- BHB, MBChB (Auckland 2000)
Training
- Undergraduate degree from the Auckland School of Medicine
- Physician Training (2001– 2003), Waikato Hospital
- Advanced Gastroenterology Training (2004 – 2006), Waikato Hospital and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
- Senior Clinical Fellowship in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (2007), Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne
Research
- My published research includes a review on the management of coeliac disease and studies on FODMAP malabsorption, non-coeliac gluten intolerance, iron in inflammatory bowel disease and thiopurine drug monitoring.
- I am the principal investigator and sub-investigator for several international multicentre clinical trials at Waikato Hospital.
Memberships
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology
- European Crohn’s & Colitis Organisation
- The International Bowel Ultrasound Group
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider

Following my studies in Ireland I undertook an advanced interventional Endoscopy/ERCP fellowship at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Since 2014, I have worked as a consultant gastroenterologist at Tauranga Hospital. In February 2016, I became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Areas of Expertise
- Gastroscopy – diagnostic and therapeutic
- Colonoscopy – diagnostic and therapeutic (EMR/large colonic polyp removal)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Fatty liver
- ERCP
Current Employment
Consultant Gastroenterologist, Tauranga Hospital, Bay of Plenty DHB
Qualifications
MB Bch BAO (Dublin), MRCP (Ireland), MD (Ireland), CCST (Gastroenterology/General Medicine – Ireland), ERCP fellowship (Western Australia), FRACP (NZ)
Training
- Dublin, Ireland
- Perth, Western Australia
Research
With my colleagues at the Clinical Trial Unit at Tauranga Hospital, I take an active part in clinical trials in IBD, acting as a sub-investigator and principal investigator. I have presented research at numerous international meetings, and I am the author of a number of peer-reviewed publications as well.
Memberships
- Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider

Areas of Expertise
- Endoscopy – diagnostic and therapeutic gastroscopy and colonoscopy
- Portal hypertension and fatty liver disease
- Hepatitis B and C
- Cirrhosis management
- Fibroscan
- Coeliac disease
- Dyspepsia and reflux disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome
Current Employment
Consultant gastroenterologist at Waikato Hospital
Qualifications
- MBChB 2009 (Auckland)
- FRACP
Training
- Otago University Medical School (MBChB)
- Advanced gastroenterology and hepatology training (FRACP) in New Zealand
- Transplant hepatology fellowship at University of Alberta Hospital, Canada
Memberships
- American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
- European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
- New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology
I am a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider
Contact Us
Booking a consultation
Get in touch today with one of our team and we’ll arrange a time that suits you to see one of our specialists.