Dr. Tony Whitehead – Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor
Tony came to Kawerau in 1989 and was involved with the establishment of the Tarawera Medical Centre as Kawerau’s first group practice.
He trained in Cape Town and gained a lot of experience working in a number of provincial hospitals in Kwa Zulu Natal. After initial periods rotating through Medicine, Surgery (including Plastics, Urology and ENT) and Paediatrics he spent three years as a surgical registrar doing General, Plastic and Orthopaedic Surgery, before spending a year in Anaesthetics and gaining a Diploma in Anaesthetics. Before embarking on training in Ophthalmology he came to New Zealand for a year to pursue trout and working in Kawerau resulted in a complete career change with Ophthalmology being abandoned in favour of General Practice. Twenty nine years later the initial year seems to have stretched out a bit!
He completed his post-graduate GP specialisation in New Zealand and gained his Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 1994. He subsequently went on to study Sports Medicine through Auckland University gaining a Post-Graduate Diploma. Further training with the RNZCGP resulted in accreditation as a GP teacher. He has also maintained his long interest in Skin Cancer Surgery, currently being a member of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia. He has a Certificate in Dermoscopy and Skin Cancer Surgery from Auckland University and has completed two Advanced Skin Surgery Workshops in Australia as well as a further Certificate in Dermoscopy with the Skin Cancer College of Australasia. In 2018 he was awarded an Advanced Clinical Certificate in Skin Cancer Medicine and Surgery and is the only Skin Cancer College Australasia Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Dr. Tony Whitehead is an Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor with the Skin Cancer College Australasia. This means that he has successfully completed a high level of training with the College and has proven skills in the diagnosis, treatment and management of skin cancer.
Tony was involved in the establishment of the Kawerau PHO and was an inaugural board member for 2 years before chairing the board for 2 terms. The most valuable achievement of this time was finally achieving free Sexual Health and Contraception visits for all ages in Kawerau.(A unique situation as in all other areas of New Zealand this was restricted to people under 25 years. A position we again unfortunately find ourselves in since the amalgamation of the 3 Eastern Bay PHOs.) Because we feel so strongly about this we continue to, as a practice, subsidise visits for smears to ensure that there is no financial barrier for our enrolled patients to access this essential service.
Outside of work he enjoys family time with his wife, Angela, daughter, Edin and son, Paul. Fishing and photography are his two incurable diseases with bird photography being his main interest as can be seen from the photos lining his office. To view his photography or follow his weekly photography blog visit www.tonywhitehead.com