About Auckland Weight Loss Surgery
Meet our weight loss surgeons:
Grant Beban Bariatric Surgeon
I grew up near Wellington, and attended Otago Medical School in Dunedin and Wellington, graduating in 1993. I then trained in General Surgery in New Zealand, before completing two years of further training in Upper Gastrointestinal and Obesity Surgery at St George Hospital, Sydney.
I returned to a consultant position at Auckland City Hospital early 2007 and have introduced an obesity surgery program. I currently work in public and private practice, and obesity surgery forms a large part of my work.
My particular interests are Surgery for Obesity, particularly laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric sleeve procedures, as well as other forms of laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery and surgery for cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract. I am active in research, education and training, belong to several professional societies and groups, and was on the steering committee for a nationwide strategy on management of morbid obesity in NZ.
I am married with two daughters and live in Epsom.
Richard Babor Bariatric Surgeon
I am originally from Wellington. I attended Auckland Medical School, graduating in 1995. I trained in General Surgery in New Zealand and then undertook further training in upper gastro-intestinal, liver, biliary and pancreas surgery and surgery for obesity at Royal Prince Alfred and St George Hospitals in Sydney, Australia.
I returned to New Zealand in February 2008 to take up a position as a General, upper gastro-intestinal and Bariatric surgeon at Counties Manukau DHB. Currently about half my practice is taken up by obesity surgery.
I live in Mt Eden with my partner, two young sons and our dog.
Craig Birch Anaesthetist
I was born in South Africa and graduated at the University of Cape Town in 1992. I started Anaesthetics in 1995 and worked in the UK and Australia before moving to New Zealand in 1999. I completed the Australasian training in 2001 and have worked as a Specialist Anaesthetist in Auckland since then.
I work in public at Middlemore Hospital where my special interests are Anaesthesia for Difficult Airways, Trauma, Obstetrics, Paediatrics and Obesity Surgery. I am actively involved with teaching and research. My private anaesthetic work includes Obesity Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery.
I am married with 1 daughter, 2 cats, and live in Glendowie.
Olivia Anstiss Health Psychologist
As a Health Psychologist, I am interested in helping people with the management of their physical health conditions. I have been working with bariatric surgery patients as a researcher and a clinician for the past four years, and work in both the public and private sector.
I understand that bariatric surgery is not a “quick fix”. It is a period of adjustment that has consequences in many areas of you life. Commonly I will help patients with their eating behaviours (including emotional or ‘binge’ eating), motivation, stress management, adjustment, and overall quality of life, both prior to and following surgery.
The treatment models I use include cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, appetite awareness training, and psychodietetics (including mindfulness).
I am married with a teenage stepdaughter and live in the Eastern Suburbs.
Memberships –
- Registered Psychologist, New Zealand Psychologists Board
- New Zealand Psychological Society
- New Zealand Institute of Health Psychology
Liz Goodall Bariatric Dietitian
Originally from Auckland, I attended Otago University and have been a qualified dietitian since 2000. I work in both the public and private health systems, with bariatric nutrition forming the majority of my work.
My interest in bariatric nutrition commenced when I was the NZ dietitian for Optifast. During this time I established a special interest group for bariatric dietitians, which continues to meet on a regular basis. I have organised bariatric nutrition seminars in NZ for dietitians and have attended overseas conferences. I was also the president of the Auckland Branch of the Dietetic Association for 3 years.
Apart from my work as a bariatric dietitian, I am also the inpatient dietitian for patients at Mercy and Ascot Hospitals.
Other Staff
