the braemar ISSUE TWENTY SEVEN APRIL 2015 way... 100% owned by the Braemar Charitable Trust

What’s new at Braemar? Braemar paediatric surgeon Askar Kukkady achieved worldwide recognition when he led the team that separated con-joined twins in Hamilton, a decade ago. But he says his work provides highlights every day…

to return to India. But his wife had a of the spine and pelvis). The condition dream. ‘She said she dreamt we were is a one-in-three-million anomaly living in a very green, peaceful and there were fewer than 30 cases of country; a very beautiful country, successful separations at the time and .” none in Australasia.

So he listened to his wife’s heart and Today, the twins, who are nearly 11, travelled here with their two little girls. are bright and healthy girls. For his work, Dr Kukkady received health and But when he arrived in this country, innovation awards and was named as with no job and no home, he found one of the top 10 New Zealanders of his paediatric qualifications weren’t the Year in 2004. recognised. “I was advised by colleagues to change my field of He says the 22-hour operation, in medicine. That was never an option which he led a team of 55 specialists for me, so I went right back to square and medical staff, was undoubtedly the one and did my FRACS (Fellow of the highlight of his medical career to date. Royal Australasian College of But adds that the field of paediatrics Braemar paediatric surgeon Askar Surgeons) qualification.” provides similar – but perhaps not as Kukkady’s career in New Zealand dramatic – high points every day. began with a dream. But it was almost Seven years after his arrival, and now stymied from day one. working as Consultant Paediatric “It is profoundly satisfying to make Surgeon at Waikato , he children better. It can be challenging In 1997, Dr Kukkady was weighing up headed the team that performed one – for example operating on a newborn his next career move after completing of the most difficult and rare weighing 500-600gms – but when paediatric surgical training as operations, separating pygopagus the outcome is successful, it is International Fellow at The Children’s conjoined twins (joined at the base hugely uplifting.” Hospital in Los Angeles. He intended

www.braemarhospital.co.nz He says any procedure has to look at He says a lot of what he does is the outcome for the patient at age 70, reassuring. “Parents want to be Mr Askar Kukaddy not just for 5-10 years. “We want the reassured. If you are not sure, send Qualifications children to be healthy adults.” the child to us.” MMB BS 1983 Master of Surgery (MS) 1988 Transferring the care of child patients He says parents can feel confident Magister Chirurgiae (MCh) when they reach adulthood is often about the standard of care in in (Paed) 1990 hard. “Some patients we deliberately New Zealand. “We can be very proud FRCS (Edin) 1994 follow. Others we farewell reluctantly. that our specialists are well trained.” FRACS (Paeds) 2003 It can be heart-wrenching when they move on.” At , Dr Kukkady Rooms at specialises in paediatric surgery, Specialists @ Anglesea, He says he was drawn to paediatrics paediatric , paediatric Gate 2, Suite 32, Anglesea Clinic, because he has always loved endoscopy, laparoscopy and Thackeray St, PO Box 228, interacting with children as patients thoracoscopy. Hamilton or otherwise. “But also professionally, Phone: 07 834 0717 the field of paediatric surgery offers Mobile: 021 382 637 such a variety of procedures – Head Fax: 07 834 0729 and Neck, Thoracic, Urology and IN APRIL, HE MOVES Email: [email protected] Abdominal. We provide the whole HIS PRACTICE ROOMS Areas of Specialisation surgical package for children.” TO SPECIALISTS @ Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology. ANGLESEA, AT ANGLESEA Dr Kukkady says many parents in Paediatric Endoscopy, Laparoscopy CLINIC IN THACKERAY and Thoracoscopy New Zealand are well-informed when STREET IN HAMILTON. it comes to their children’s health. Specialist Training “They will sometimes tell me things Master of Surgery (General), India I need to research.” Postdoctoral Training in Paediatric Kind Regards, Surgery, India But parents sometimes assume the Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of worst outcome. “If a child has a lump Edinburgh, UK in their neck, they believe it is cancer. International Fellow in Paediatric Surgery, I don’t blame them. They assume Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, USA what happens to adults, happens to Fellow of the Royal Australasian College children. But children are not small of Surgeons (Paediatric Surgery), adults. They don’t look like them; they NZ/Australia don’t behave like them; they don’t Positions & Memberships have the same diseases. Cancers in Dr Greg Spark – Deputy Chairman Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and children are very uncommon.” Urologist, Waikato Hospital Visiting Paediatric surgeon and Thames Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Member, Australasian Association SPECIALIST SELECTOR of Paediatric Surgeons Member, New Zealand Society of Check out braemarspecialists.co.nz for full details of all Paediatric Surgeons the surgeons working at Braemar Hospital. Currently working at Braemar Hospital? Scan for more > Yes

www.braemarhospital.co.nz 24 Ohaupo Road, Hamilton PO Box 972, Waikato Mail Centre 3240 Phone: 07 843 1899 | Fax: 07 834 3944