Margaret Anderson, B.Sc (Pharm), M.B. ChB, F.R.A.C.S.

I obtained a B.Sc Pharm. degree, majoring in chemistry from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. M.B. ChB was studied at Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital and Pretoria Universities. An internship year was completed in Port Elizabeth and in Ladysmith, Natal. This was followed by a Senior Medical Officer position in a country town, Dundee in Natal.

In preparation for the primary surgery examination I accepted a position as general practitioner on a diamond mine, Oranjemund in Namibia. This was followed by studies in London for the primary F.R.A.C.S.

I then accepted a position as surgical registrar at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town. After two years I married a New Zealander and emigrated to New Zealand. My training included a year of thoracic and vascular surgery , a year of plastic surgery, (mostly hand trauma, facial lesions, abdominoplasties and breast reduction), and general surgery. This was completed in Auckland, resulting in a fellowship of the Royal Australiasian College of Surgeons (F.R.A.C.S.) in 1989. The following year I was offered a surgical consultants post in Dunedin. This included research, administrating the paediatric burns unit, implementing changes to burns procedures and teaching. (breast and general surgery) I also ran the Day Procedure Unit. That year the waiting list for our unit improved the most, when compared to other units in New Zealand” Delete word “the” before other.

At the end of 1991 I returned to Cape Town and had a child in January 1992. After some time off, I accepted a part-time position as a Surgical Trauma Consultant at the second busiest teaching hospital in Cape Town, Tygerberg Hospital. My vascular, plastic and general surgical training skills were put to good use during this time, as violence had escalated in the lead up to the elections, when everyone in the country had a vote for the first time.

I emigrated to Adelaide in 1994. Since then I have been involved in body contouring surgery post obesity. This includes abdominoplasties, arm, hip and inner thigh lipectomies and liposuction. Breast surgery includes reductions and implants. I am also interested in weight management issues.