Your Palmerston North Weight Loss Surgery Team

Dr Alexandra Gordon is a consultant Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon working at both Palmerston North Public Hospital and Crest Private Hospitals in New Zealand. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Auckland in 2006 and then completed her formal training in General Surgery, receiving her FRACS in 2013. She gained further specialist skills and experience by working abroad in Australia (Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney) and the United Kingdom (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh), completing the ANZGOSA (Australia and New Zealand Gastric & Oesophageal Surgery Association) post-fellowship training program in 2016.

During her time in these large hospitals, she trained under expert Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeons and gained huge experience in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. In addition to weight loss surgery, she also treats patients with cancer of the stomach, oesophagus and pancreas. She is an experienced laparoscopic surgeon and routinely performs keyhole surgeries for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hiatus hernia and gallstones. She is a past Supervisor of Training in General Surgery and a current Examiner in General Surgery for the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Dr Gordon established weight loss surgery in the Manawatu, performing the first sleeve gastrectomy in Palmerston North in 2017. She began offering sleeve gastrectomy at Crest Private Hospital in 2018. She enjoys helping patients on their weight loss journey and is happy to be able to provide safe, effective gastric sleeve surgery for patients in the lower North Island.

Dr Catherine Eckersley is a consultant anaesthetist and works at both Palmerston North and Crest Hospitals in New Zealand. Originally from Scotland, Dr. Eckersley studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 2000. She completed her anaesthesia training in 2010, and moved to Palmerston North to take up a consultant anaesthetist post.

As an experienced consultant anaesthetist in bariatric surgery, Dr. Eckersley brings her extensive expertise to every surgery, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care and attention. Her empathetic approach and understanding of the unique needs of bariatric surgery patients make her a trusted advocate for those on their weight loss journey.

Working with Dr Gordon since 2017, and as a core senior member of the Palmy Weight Loss Surgery team, she is passionate about making sure that patients feel safe and informed about their anaesthetic, and is keen that your anaesthetic experience is as positive as possible.

Kristen White is an experienced New Zealand Registered Dietitian with a passion for helping people achieve better health through food. Working with Dr. Gordon since 2017, she supports bariatric surgery patients to optimize their nutrition before and after surgery. It’s her privilege to help guide patients as they learn to navigate a new way of eating and living after surgery.

Over the last 20 years, Kristen’s worked as a clinical dietitian across the health care spectrum. In addition to her private practice at Kotare Wellness Ltd, she works as a self-management facilitator at THINK Hauora. She studied nutrition and dietetics at Penn State University and Iowa State University and holds a MSc from the University of Minnesota. She also completed advanced training in health coaching and the nutritional management of obesity, and is a Monash FODMAP trained dietitian.

An experienced Registered Nurse, Pauline trained at Taranaki Polytechnic, and has worked in Aotearoa New Zealand, the USA, and the UK. Her career has included patient care in medical and surgical settings, as well as paediatrics, at the Police Medical College, and agency nursing.

She is now Dr. Alex Gordon’s Clinic Nurse at Crest Specialist Centre. When not there, Pauline works in PACU at Crest Hospital, so she may see you when you wake up from your anaesthetic.

Pauline is also a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion groups at both Southern Cross and Crest Hospitals, and is excited to work on goals and strategies for improving peoples’ health journeys and outcomes.

Outside work, she has three beautiful children and one precious grandchild. She loves to watch rugby, is learning Te Reo Māori, and travel - but most of all love spending time with family and friends.