FIFTH AVENUE - Key Persons
Alex joined Fifth Avenue Family Practice in 2020. She graduated from University of Birmingham in the UK in 2014. Prior to joining the Fifth Avenue Family, Alex worked in hospitals in the UK, Australia and Tauranga. She gained experience in Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, before specialising in General Practice. Alex enjoys all aspects of General Practice and is currently completing a Sports Medicine Diploma through the University of Otago. When she is not working Alex enjoys being creative, she is a keen painter and seamstress. She is also often found at the gym keeping fit, when she is not spending time outdoors with her husband, new daughter and Golden Retriever Louis.
Alison joined Fifth Avenue in April 2018 and became a partner in January 2019. She trained at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, England. However she has called New Zealand home since 2002 and has worked as a local Tauranga GP since 2004. She is passionate about the role of General Practice in promoting wellbeing and the opportunity it gives to practice medicine in a holistic way. She loves being part of a great team of health professionals all with a common goal of providing quality healthcare services. She has a strong interest in mental health and has done additional study in brief intervention approaches . She lives on an avocado orchard with Richard and their 4 children who keep her busy with their sport and dancing activities. She loves to be outdoors having adventures with her family in New Zealand and overseas.
Cameron joined the Fifth Avenue team in September 2023. He is a born-and-bred kiwi and spent his childhood growing up in the mighty Waikato. On deciding on his career to become a doctor, he went on to attend Auckland Medical School. During his medical studies Cameron took opportunities to experience practicing medicine around various parts of New Zealand and abroad. On completion of his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 2015, Cameron took a post at Tauranga Hospital as a junior doctor. Here, he completed further post-graduate training and completed a Diploma in Child Health (DCH) through the University of Otago. Cameron then decided the best way to serve his community, was in the community. He began working towards his chosen field of family medicine/general practice and completed his training in 2022 becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP).
Cameron fell in love with the charm of Tauranga, and ended up getting married to his wife (Dr Megan Hughes - also a GP here at 5th Avenue) in the hills of Ohauiti. Recently, Cameron welcomed into the world his second child, and now spends his spare time with his young family. He enjoys outdoor pursuits including paddleboarding, tennis and mountain biking, he also enjoys creative activities and dabbles in classical guitar.
Cameron enjoys all aspect of general practice, and has special interests in men's health, child health, minor procedures and healthcare equity.
Dan gained his medical degree from St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Medical School in London England (2003), and a BSc hons in neuroscience. He undertook general surgical training before moving to general practice, and became a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners UK in 2009. Dan holds a diploma in Occupational Medicine. He has recently moved to New Zealand (2024) with his family and is looking forward to exploring this wonderful country. Dan enjoys art, playing guitar, cooking, cycling, tramping, and wine tasting. He has been known to attempt to fish but hasn't caught anything yet!
Diana and her husband Luke came to New Zealand in 2008 to work at Tauranga hospital. It was there that Diana's love for women's health and for the Bay of Plenty was established. Diana completed her training in England and then worked in a variety of hospital specialities, including two years in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Tauranga Hospital. Diana joined Fifth Avenue in 2014 and now works in partnership with her husband Luke. Diana has three young children and when not working, loves the outdoors. Now that the children are older, the family are getting back into all the outdoor activities that they moved to NZ for. This includes tramping, kayaking, cycling; allowing them to enjoy the beautiful countryside that the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand has to offer.
Ella grew up in Tauranga and was always keen to come back after her studies and travel. She returned to Tauranga in 2010. She is proud to be back in the Bay along with her husband and daughters Alice and Zoe. She has been working in general practice since 2013. She enjoys all aspects of general practice. When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family as well as surfing, snowboarding and walking.
Working in a variety of health care settings as a registered nurse both in N.Z & overseas, specialising in intensive & cardiothoracic ICU & clinical research, Fhiona has travelled extensively and also completed graduate & postgraduate papers in Nursing & Social Sciences before completing her medical degree at Auckland University. She now keeps busy with her 3 children & when able enjoys running, more travel & getting outdoors.
Originally from Kyiv in Ukraine, Irina has also lived in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Graduated from Charles University, Prague in 2007 and completed GP training in the UK in 2013. After completing her GP training Irina and her husband George moved to New Zealand where they spent three and a half years living and working. They returned to the UK to allow her husband to complete his Respiratory Specialist Training and start a family.
(presently on maternity leave) Originally from the UK, Jen studied at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and graduated in 2008. She continued to work in the North East of England for 2 years before…
Katharina graduated from Southampton Medical School in 2006. Since then, she has worked in both the UK and New Zealand in specialties including emergency medicine, general medicine and general practice. She has also worked two seasons at Turoa Medical centre on Mt Ruapehu. Katharina and her husband recently moved to Tauranga and they are enjoying the best the BOP has to offer. She enjoys running and yoga, but in the winter she will definitely be found on the snow.
(presently on maternity leave) Katharina graduated from Southampton Medical School in 2006. Since then, she has worked in both the UK and New Zealand in specialties including emergency medicine, general medicine and general practice. She…
Kerry joined the practice in 2002 after moving to New Zealand from Wales in 1999. He is married to Nicki who also works at the practice and they have 2 adult sons. Kerry has an interest in all aspects of family medicine but these days as an experienced GP is generally at ease with complex medical problems though particularly enjoys seeing children. He is a keen gardener, has an avid interest in military history and enjoys playing golf regularly. His remaining sporting ambition is to see Wales beat the All Blacks so he can have a few quiet days where his patients will want to avoid him.
Kiran started work at Fifth Avenue in 2010 and joined as an associate one year later. He was born in South Africa. He emigrated to New Zealand in 2002 and has lived in Tauranga since 2005. The sunny Bay of Plenty reminds him of his coastal upbringing in Durban.
Having spent several years training in mental health, he practices with empathy and compassion. He values the relationships formed with his patients and the variety that general practice brings. Kiran has a special interest in skin cancer detection and management having completed advanced training in dermoscopy and training in skin cancer surgery. He has also completed his diploma in cosmetic medicine and is an active member of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine.
In his spare time, Kiran enjoys spending time with his friends and family and Oscar. (his Cocker Spaniel) He enjoys running, biking, snowboarding and baking (mostly eating).
Lorna is a UK trained GP who has recently emigrated to New Zealand with her husband Dan and their 2 children. She trained at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Medical School, University of London, graduating with honours (distinction in paediatrics) in 2003. Since then Lorna has worked at a variety of hospitals in London and Essex, UK - gaining experience in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, acute care and internal medicine. Lorna completed her Membership of the Royal Collage of General Practitioners in 2008. She joined a practice in Harwich, Essex shortly after and worked there as a partner until moving to Tauranga in Jan 2024.
Whilst working as a GP, Lorna has also held a complimentary role from 2018-2023 as Clinical Lead for Elective Care in the North East Essex area (health care commissioning). She enjoys the challenge of juggling various roles, and has a special interest in holistic management of complex conditions.
Lorna and Dan have come to settle in New Zealand for good, and are looking forward to integrating into the community of Tauranga. Outside of work Lorna enjoys reading, running and time in nature.
Luke is passionate about whole of life care. He gains great joy from caring for multiple generations across families. With a general medical, emergency medicine and Hauora medicine background, Luke couples these with an interest in musculoskeletal medicine and minor surgery. Since joining the practice in 2013 Luke has taken on various governance and strategy positions in the wider health service both in BOP and nationally. In order to ensure his patients are cared for whilst pursuing this work, Luke shares his practice with wife Dr Diana Ford. Luke is passionate about working with his patients to achieve the health goals they prioritise. Outside of work he still plays rugby, social cricket and is working through the length of New Zealand Te Aroroa trail with his son George.
Megan grew up in Hamilton and completed her medical training in Auckland, before moving to Tauranga in 2016 to work at Tauranga Hospital. Whilst there she gained experience in a wide range of specialties before training in general practice. She enjoys all aspects of general practice, with particular interest in women's and children's health. She has been working locally as a GP in partnership with her husband Cameron who has also joined Fifth Avenue. They have two young children and enjoy family time on the weekends, along with outdoor activities in the beautiful Bay.
Sam moved to NZ in 2011 after completing her medical training in India. She has worked in Tauranga and Auckland hospitals in various medical and surgical specialities before beginning her career in general practice. Sam enjoys the diversity of general practice and working with people of all ages, however her main interests are in preventative medicine, mental illness and paediatrics. Outside of work you will find her enjoying time with her young family and trying out new food and recipes.
Tania entered general practice after 5 years of hospital medicine in various locations around NZ- during which time she did Diplomas in Paediatrics, and in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She joined Fifth Avenue Family Practice in 2013. She enjoys the wide variety of work within general practice, especially children's and women's health. She and husband Andy have 3 teenage children, and live on a lifestyle block, which keeps them busy outside of work. They love the outdoors, including mountain biking and running, skiing and tramping.
Todd worked in hospital medicine for 5 years, with a particular interest in paediatrics, emergency medicine and cardiology, before moving to General Practice at Fifth Avenue in 2003. He specialised in General Practice and has been a partner at Fifth Avenue since 2005. Todd enjoys all aspects of general practice and family medicine and has a particular interest in paediatrics (children's health) and skin cancer medicine and surgery. Todd is an accredited Skin Cancer Doctor with the Skin Cancer College of Australasia, having completed his advanced training in both skin cancer and in dermoscopy (skin cancer diagnosis). Todd offers a full skin cancer clinic, with full skin checks, including photography where needed, biopsies and skin cancer treatments including advanced surgeries such as skin flaps and grafts. Todd also offers a range of other procedures including "No Scalpel Vasectomy", ingrown toe nails, excision of cysts and lipomas, and joint and carpal tunnel injections.
Outside of work Todd enjoys travelling, tramping, snowboarding and surfing. Todd is involved in our health equity team, working to ensure everyone can get the help they need from the health system, and has completed Te Reo level 1 and 2 through Te Wanagna o Aotearoa.
Job Titles:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Member of Our Health Care Homes
Julia is a member of our Health Care Homes team and He Waka Eke Noa - 5 th Ave Māori Health Group.
Brenda started working at 5th Ave June 2021 as Nurse Practitioner. She has a special interest in diabetes management and long-term condition management. Brenda enjoys working with people to support and improve their health outcomes.