Waikato Cardiothoracic Unit

27/03/2026

🚨 🇳🇿 Day 3 Recap for the 2026 Annual Cardiothoracic Surgery Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 🚨

Our conference finished strong with advancements & challenges in perioperative care. First off was a review of outcomes after implementing endoscopic vein (and now radial artery) harvest for CABG. Our own Jacque Roberts, Georgia Miller, and Kelsey Abercrombie.

Dr Graeme Porter from Tauranga hospital and Health New Zealand - Bay of Plenty cardiology highlighted challenges for patients from rural areas and their clinicians preparing for surgery.

Dr Daniel Garofalo shared experiences with Pacific Islands Pacemaker Services and how we can help our neighbours in nearby countries.

The legendary Dr Ianthe Boden brought home concepts in postoperative physiotherapy.

Finally we were again fortunate to hear from Robert Groom about high fidelity simulation in resource challenged areas. A wonderfully diverse group of speakers from various disciplines, sharing their inspiring work.

Huge thanks for all attendees, sponsors, speakers for an excellent conference. It was so great to see progressive conversation, collaboration, and motivation to deliver excellent care to our patients!

None of this could be possible without the vision from Obex Medical and the expertise of Sarah Jonson!

See you for the 2027 meeting in Christchurch! Waikato out 🎤

26/03/2026

🚨 🇳🇿 Day 2 Recap of the Annual Cardiothoracic Surgery Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 🚨

It was great to start off with a talk on patient & cultural perspectives to better integrate personalised care plans. We were fortunate to have Dr Anna Rolleston lend us her time & research to share ways we can improve our care delivery.

We were then challenged to Think Aorta by Alfred Health’s vascular medicine specialist Dr Geoff Lester. A story of resilience, tremendous accomplishment, and ongoing drive to improve the role of patient voices & awareness to a complex and serious disease. He later shared the mission of hearts4heart.

Afterwards we took to the skies to learn about opportunities to integrate improved team culture and safety from experts in the aerospace industry. ✈️

Air New Zealand Captain Nathan Johnston was joined by Dr Marcus Lee to discuss implementing strategies for safety in high stakes environments.

Marina Kunz then shared her work on designing systems for just culture & high reliability. Both talks had innumerable applications to health care.

Professor Martin Stiles & Dr John Doty reviewed the role of arrhythmia teams & atrial fibrillation ablation encouraging us to help patients get their rhythms sorted.

Finally we were fortunate to have presidents from The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand and ANZSCTS share the history and future of their societies- be sure to join & help progress care in our regions. Thanks to Dr. Mayanna Lund and Dr. Ashutosh Hardikar!

We wrapped up an engaging day Trinity Wharf Tauranga with a delegate dinner Classic Flyers Conference & Events Centre.

He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata

Stay tuned as we come in for landing on day 3!





Intermountain Health
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora
Health NZ - Waikato
University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau

25/03/2026

🚨 🇳🇿 Day 1 Recap of the 2026 Annual Cardiothoracic Surgery Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 🚨 held in Tauranga at Trinity Wharf Tauranga .

A full line up of our international experts was a great way to kick off this year’s programme! 🇯🇵 🇦🇺 🇺🇸 🇰🇪

Day 1 took off with abstract presentations and launched straight in to Thoracic Innovations. Dr’s Andrew Maloney from Wellstar Health System and Damien Boyd from St Vincent's Health Australia discussed topics on palliative medicine for heart teams and post operative pain management.

Dr. Ianthe Boden from University of Tasmania and Launceston Hospital shared her groundbreaking work in physiotherapy and new trial data looking at reducing postoperative complications.

Our other international speakers rounded out the afternoon to share their world-class care delivery on complex heart failure and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

We were privileged to have Dr. Stephen McKellar & John Doty from Intermountain Health in Utah and Dr. Soh Hosoba from Nagoya present their cutting edge work. Robert Groom from AGC Tenwek Cardiothoracic Centre discussed shock team development to finish the early afternoon sessions.

Johnson & Johnson sponsored a VATS simulation skills lab- hosted by our own Dr. Felicity Meikle.

Stay tuned for the Day 2 recap!

25/02/2026

🚨 Mark you calendar for 1 March - It's World Pulse Day. 🚨

Did you know 1 in 3 people are at risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm in their lifetime? Arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation ("A-fib or AF"), can be silent problems waiting to cause trouble. Some patients experience palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. Seeing your regular doctor or a heart specialist can keep your rhythm managed and prevent heart failure & strokes. In addition to healthy lifestyles, medications, procedures, and surgery are all ways to treat or cure these common conditions.

As New Zealand sees the first sunrise of the new day, we also start with the first pulses of the new day. 🇳🇿 🌅 🥝

Our team (with the help of some friends) put together a short video about the importance of pulse & rhythm checks. So.... do you know your pulse?

There's lots of ways to get your rhythm sorted if needed - our team is happy to help!

🫀 Be sure to watch the video, tag a friend, and know your pulse! 🫀

Heart Foundation NZ
University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora
Health NZ - Waikato
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
Pulse Day 2026
Heart Rhythm Society
hearts4heart
Arrhythmia Alliance
The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand

15/02/2026

Last week marked another exciting milestone for our cardiac surgery team

After successfully performing Endoscopic Vein Harvest for the past two years (a keyhole way of taking vein from the leg for heart bypass surgery) our RNFSA team have now expanded this approach to the radial artery from the forearm.

In some bypass operations, an artery from the arm is used to improve blood flow to the heart. With this keyhole technique, the artery can be removed through much smaller incisions.

We were fortunate enough to have Reggie Arcilla an experienced Physician Assistant from the United States join us last week to provide guidance as we introduced this technique safely and carefully.

We are incredibly proud to be the first centre in New Zealand to perform endoscopic radial harvest, continuing our commitment towards better recovery for our patients

04/02/2026

March 1st is World Pulse Day 🫀do you know your pulse?

When was the last time you checked it?
Abnormal heart rhythms are more common than many people realise and a simple pulse check can help pick up early warning signs. Keeping your rhythm sorted with your GP or specialist can help prevent symptoms, heart failure and stroke.

Proud to support awareness alongside Heart Foundation NZ, Arrythmia Alliance, Pulse Day 2026 and the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society.

💡 Know your pulse. If something doesn’t feel right, book in with your GP.
Small checks can make a big difference

14/12/2025

Last week our RNFSA Nurse Specialists were featured on Radio New Zealand talking about the nurse led Endoscopic Vein Harvesting service at Waikato Hospital

This keyhole technique is changing recovery for patients having Coronary Bypass surgery by reducing leg scars, pain and healing time.

A big thank you to our nursing, surgical and theatre teams that support this, and to RNZ for highlighting the work we do

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/581356/new-technique-at-waikato-hospital-leaves-heart-bypass-patients-with-fewer-scars from RNZ.

The traditional way of harvesting a vein to use in the surgery involves a long cut down the leg.

29/11/2025

A big afternoon for Education Friday in the Waikato CTS Unit!

Our registrars began with a session on penetrating chest trauma, guided by one of our consultants who shared experience from high volume US trauma centres - covering best practice for managing firearm injuries to the heart and lungs.

Our RNFSA nurse specialists then updated the team on the unit’s progress with Endoscopic Vein Harvesting (EVH) including what they assess pre-op, key intra-op steps, and the post-op outcomes we’re seeing.

We wrapped up with an excellent Aortic Root Wetlab facilitated by Edwards Lifesciences, where the team revised anatomy, dissected and prepared the root, and practised the Konnect graft with support from our cardiothoracic surgeons.

When a team learns together, excellence becomes a shared outcome

19/11/2025

What a great morning in Kirikiriroa! 🌉🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Some of our Waikato Cardiothoracic Surgery crew laced up their shoes for the annual Round the Bridges event over the weekend.

It was awesome to be out in the community we serve, supporting local health, wellbeing and a bit of friendly team competition!

A huge well done to everyone who took part, cheered from the sidelines, or encouraged their colleagues to give it a go.

Here’s to a fitter, stronger Waikato… both inside and outside the hospital walls. ❤️🫀

31/10/2025

What an incredible morning our Clinical Nurse Specialist, Georgia Miller, had at Fairfield Intermediate School with their Science Enrichment class.

Georgia spent time sharing what a ‘day in the life’ of a cardiac RNFSA looks like, from heart anatomy to the advanced technology and team work that makes heart surgery possible.

Students got a close up look into heart valve implants, surgical instruments and 3D printed sternums- learning how the breastbone is closed after surgery. It’s always inspiring to see young minds so curious about the science behind heart health and surgery.

Thanks for inviting us to be a part of your science program. Future nurses and surgeons in the making 🧑‍⚕️ 👩🏽‍⚕️ 👨🏽‍⚕️

16/10/2025

Did you know the Waikato Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit is active in numerous research projects? 🔬🧬🧪🥼🫀 You can help too!

Our team participates in studies across the spectrum of care - not just locally but international, large scale clinical trials. Recent presentations of our work have been given in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and the US - not to mention publication in multiple journals.

None of this is possible without the support from our research trust. We have former patients, family members, and those in the community asking how they can support these efforts in the Te Manawa Taki Region. Here’s how: individuals & businesses can donate to our research trust through single, recurring, or legacy/willed gifting. These generous donations are tax friendly and help local efforts be seen on a global stage!

Donations don’t go to coffee mugs and t-shirts - the funds support employment of research staff, student interns, and other aspects of projects. But most importantly: patients get the benefit of accessing upcoming, cutting-edge therapy!

Our friends at the Tamahere Country Club are fundraising for our research trust at an upcoming charity event! A charity cricket match & raffle on Sunday 16 November at Woodlands Estate Cricket Oval aims to help maintain the breadth of work by our team. Hats off to the organisers and donors for organising including our unit in this annual event.

Want to get involved/support excellent medical research? Contact us for details on donations and more info about our work done.



Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Health New Zealand | Waikato

22/09/2025

Welcome to our new Cardiac Fellow

Marius has finished his Cardiothoracic surgery training in the UK East Midlands region, where he was an NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Leicester. During his training, he performed just under 250 cardiac operations and over 200 thoracic surgery procedures. His research focuses on organ injury, multimorbidity, frailty and clinical trials. He published just under 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, co-led two local clinical trials and set up three international multicenter trials in the UK.

He is excited to join the team at Waikato, which, in his words, is “the best Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship in the world”, due to the operative exposure, Consultant-level step-up and overall excellent support from the whole team. He is highly pleased to have found at Waikato a Heart team that displays positivity, professional behaviour and focuses on improving the journey and outcomes of Cardiothoracic patients.

During his time at Waikato, he aims to perform more major aortic and mitral valve surgeries, while further refining his general operative, off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, and clinical management skills. These skills will set him up to embark on his Consultant Surgeon journey with confidence. As part of the fellowship, he will engage with local and national research and embark on a hybrid AI research and healthcare programme at Harvard University. ✨