Dr Simon Whitcher

ABOUT DR SIMON

Dr Simon Whitcher is a General and Bariatric Surgeon who has lived and worked in Newcastle for the last ten years.

Dr Whitcher is dedicated to providing patients with the highest quality, individualised care.

He is known as an approachable, down-to-earth, and sympathetic surgeon who takes the time to communicate clearly and personalise his treatment to each patient.

Specifically, Dr Whitcher truly understands the physical, psychological and social challenges of obesity and strives to provide solutions that leave his patients happier, healthier and better able to pursue their personal goals.

Qualifications

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of Wollongong (2012)
• Bachelor of Medical Science University of Wollongong (2008)

Postgraduate

• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2021)
• Final Examination General Surgery (2021)
• Master of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Adelaide (2022).
• This post-fellowship master's degree focused on the most up-to-date aspects of laparoscopic and robotic surgery and how to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
• It also gave Dr Whitcher a deep understanding of cutting-edge surgical technology and the innovations likely to influence surgery in the future, including AI, augmented reality and robotically-assisted surgery.

General Surgical Training

After finishing an undergraduate degree in Medical Science and a postgraduate in Medicine and Surgery, Dr Whitcher undertook his internship and residency in the Hunter region.

He then continued his surgical training in the Hunter, gaining a broad base of experience and skills across various areas of general surgery, including hernia, gallbladder, colorectal, endocrine, trauma and breast surgery. This training and subsequent post-fellowship placements have given Dr Whitcher a breadth and depth of knowledge, experience and technical expertise to provide excellent general surgical care.

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Bariatric Surgery

Having undergone extensive training in bariatric and upper GI surgery, Dr Whitcher performs all the currently supported bariatric procedures and can advise patients on which option may be best for them. He has a particular interest and expertise in managing weight regain following sleeve gastrectomy.

• Sleeve gastrectomy
• One anastomosis or ‘mini’ gastric bypass
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Single anastomosis duodeno-ileostomy with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S)
• Single-anastomosis duodeno-jejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADJB-S)
• Revisional bariatric surgery

Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

Dr Whitcher performs laparoscopic surgery for benign conditions of the stomach and oesophagus, including:

• Hiatus hernia repair
• Anti-reflux surgeries

General Surgery

Dr Whitcher happily performs a wide variety of general surgical operations. He utilises laparoscopic or ‘keyhole’ approaches wherever suitable. He is certified and on the re-certification program for colonoscopies.

• Gallbladder conditions
• Herniae
• Gastroscopy/Colonoscopy
• Small bowel disease
• Haemorrhoid disease
• Colorectal

Current Hospital Appointments

Public Hospitals

• VMO Belmont hospital
• VMO John Hunter Hospital

Private Hospitals

• Newcastle Private hospital/Hunter Valley Private hospital
• Lake Macquarie Private Hospital
• Maitland Private

Post Graduate Training

Dr Whitcher underwent further training interstate and internationally after being awarded his fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

He undertook a post-fellowship role at Royal Hobart Hospital, performing general surgery focusing on hepatobiliary, upper gastrointestinal, and laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Following this, Dr Whitcher gained a highly competitive position at one of Australia’s few high-volume public bariatric surgical units at Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne. This training has given Dr Whitcher up-to-date subspecialty experience in the medical and surgical management of obesity.

Dr Whitcher sought further experience in bariatric surgery, being granted an observership at the world-renowned Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, a pioneering Centre of Excellence for treating obesity. Dr Whitcher has been trained in various surgical and non-invasive procedures for treating obesity, allowing him to provide individualised advice and solutions to his patients.

During his bariatric training, Dr Whitcher also completed a Master's in Minimally Invasive Surgery through the University of Adelaide. The postgraduate degree focused on the most cutting-edge surgical developments, such as robotics, and an understanding of the future of surgery. His work during the Masters led to Dr Whitcher being awarded a competitive Medtronic scholarship.

Post-Fellowship Training

Dr Whitcher has committed to continuous training and quality improvement. Following the awarding of his fellowship in 2021, Dr Whitcher undertook the following roles:       

• Royal Hobart Hospital. Employed as a specialist surgeon focusing on major oesophagogastric, liver and pancreas resections. Dr Whitcher also performed laparoscopic surgery for diseases of the colon and rectum, anti-reflux and hiatus hernia surgery, as well as splenectomies.
• Box Hill Hospital bariatric fellow Melbourne. After securing a highly competitive position, Dr Whitcher worked in one of Australia’s high-volume public bariatric units. Surgeons within this unit were responsible for the first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Victoria as well as the first robotic gastric bypass and post-pyloric bypass operations in Melbourne. This unit often managed some of the most complex and difficult primary and revisional cases giving Dr Whitcher excellent subspecialty training and experience in looking after complex bariatric conditions using up-to-date medical and surgical approaches
• Lennox Hill Hospital, Manhattan, New York. Dr Whitcher sought further experience in bariatric surgery, being granted an observership at the world-renowned Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, a pioneering Centre of Excellence for treating obesity. This observership allowed Dr Whitcher to learn from one of the pioneering weight loss faculties in the world. This placement focused on the SADI-S operation, which is particularly well suited to helping patients who have regained weight following a sleeve gastrectomy.
• Master's in Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Adelaide. During his bariatric training, Dr Whitcher also completed a Master's in Minimally Invasive Surgery through the University of Adelaide. The postgraduate degree focused on the most cutting-edge surgical developments, such as robotics, and an understanding of the future of surgery. His work during the Masters led to Dr Whitcher being awarded a competitive Medtronic scholarship.

Accredited General Surgical Training (2016-2021)

• 2020 Accredited Registrar, Calvary Mater Newcastle
• General, breast and surgical oncology
• 2020 Accredited Registrar, Belmont Hospital
• General surgery
• 2019 Accredited Registrar, John Hunter Hospital
• Acute general surgery unit and trauma
• 2019 Accredited Registrar, Gosford Hospital
• Breast, head and neck and endocrine surgery
• 2018 Accredited Registrar, John Hunter Hospital
• Colorectal Surgery
• 2018 Accredited Registrar, Gosford Hospital
• Acute surgical unit
• 2017 Accredited Registrar, Tamworth Hospital
• General surgery
• 2017 Accredited Registrar Wyong Hospital
• General surgery

Unaccredited Surgical Training (2014 – 2016)

• 2014-2016 Unaccredited Registrar, John Hunter Hospital, HNE Health
• Trauma and Transplant
• Urology
• Paediatric Surgery
• General Surgery

Completed Specialty Interest Courses

• HNE Health: Teaching on the Run 2013 RACS:
• Critical Literature Evaluation and Research Course (CLEAR) 2013
• RACS: Early Management of Severe Trauma 2014
• University of Newcastle: Advanced Surgical Anatomy Postgraduate Training Course: Completed with High Distinction in 2015
• Critical Care Imaging Interpretation 2016
• Applied Imaging Technology Physics course Intercollegiate BSS (RCSEng), Barts Cancer Institute November 2016
• CCrISP (RCSEng), Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Nov 2016
• Critical Care Imaging Interpretation (lightbox Radiology ) Jan 2017
• University of Sydney: Leadership Skills: Strategies for Developing a Leadership Identity Feb 2017
• Surgical imaging: Basic Training (Lightbox Radiology) Apr 2017
• CT - Acute Medical and Surgical Interpretation (Lightbox Radiology) Aug 2018
• RACS; MOSES 2019
• Ethicon Metabolic Mentoring Program 2022
• Level 1 Artisential Laparo-robotic Skill Training 2022
• Level 2 Artisential Laparo-robotic Skill Training 2023

Conferences & Scientific Meetings:

• ANZMOSS 2021, Virtual conference
• 11th International Trauma Conference 2018, Hokkaido Japan
• Sydney Pelvic Floor Meeting 2017, Sydney
• USGA 2017, Melbourne, VIC

Selected Publications:

• Metastatic gastric cancer to the appendix during diagnostic laparoscopy. A case report and review of the literature. Clinical Colorectal Cancer. Pre-print
• Emphysematous pyelonephritis: A twelve-year review in a region canter. Journal of Urological Surgery, 2022;9(3):203 -209
• De Garengeot's Hernia - Waiter, there's an appendix in my hernia. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2021; 91(1-2)
• Avoiding the Falciform Ligament Sign during intraoperative cholangiogram. World J Lap Surgery 2021;14(2): 136-137
• Comparison of colonic neoplasia detection rates in patients screened inside and outside the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Med J Aust 2020; 212 (6): 275 -276
• The Beaded Appendix. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2019; 89 (9) E400-401

Oral Presentations

International

• New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology ASM: Is there a difference in the incidence of colonic neoplasia in patients screened via a governmental screening program and in age-equivalent patients who have FIT testing outside that program? 2019

Domestic

• Staple line reinforcement: Current status of the evidence. Gore Medical. Melbourne 2022
• RACS Laparoscopic Skills Day: Next-generation laparoscopic instruments. Adelaide 2022.

Endorsements & Prizes

• New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology ASM: Best Endoscopy paper. 2019
• Awarded for most impactful paper looking at colonoscopy for fecal occult blood testing in different clinical contexts.
• Medtronic Minimally Invasive Surgery Scholarship: 2022
• Five-figure financial prize for excellence in work related to advanced minimally invasive surgery and robotics

Locations

Hunter Weight Loss

1/37 Llewellyn Street, Merewether, NSW 2291

Referrals via phone, email, website, medical objects, fax

Maitland Private Specialist Suites

Medical Centre 2, Suite 10

175 Chisholm Rd, East Maitland NSW 2323

Parking: Paid parking on site

Referrals via Hunter Weight loss

Phone 49379558

How can you arrange a consultation with Dr Simon Whitcher?

If you would like to know how we can help you further or to book a consultation with Dr Simon Whitcher, please phone  our rooms or request an appointment now online - here.