Meet our panel of medical specialists

Research Review New Zealand works with over 70 local medical specialists to select and advise on the most important research from around the world. They advise on what really matters, what impact it has on local healthcare and what we need to do in our daily practice to accomodate new skills and knowledge. Select a category below to see more about each of our expert advisors.

Mr Flávio Ordones

Mr Flávio Ordones

MD, MSC, FACS ​Flávio is a full-time consultant urologist at Tauranga Hospital. He grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and trained at São Paulo State University (UNESP). He undertook further specialist uro-oncology training at Sirio Libanês Hospital (2015 - São Paulo) followed by a Robotic Surgery and Endourology Clinical Fellowship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (2016-2017). He worked in Brazil as a consultant for 3 years before coming to New Zealand, dedicating a good part of his time treating prostate cancer patients with robotic prostatectomy. His interests include robotic and endoscopic surgery, uro-oncology (prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancer), prostate biopsy, benign prostatic growth, stones, and laser surgery... read more »

Mr Wikus Vermeulen

Mr Wikus Vermeulen

Wikus is a full-time consultant urologist at Tauranga Hospital. He completed his medical, surgical and urological training in Bloemfontein and Pretoria, South Africa. He completed further training in laparoscopic and robotic surgery in Belgium, France and South Africa.  Wikus has been in private practice in Gauteng, South Africa for the last 10 years. He is interested in robotic surgery, urological oncology, stone disease and reconstructive urology. He is also interested in healthcare economics and sustainable leadership in health care.  .. read more »

Mr Andrew Kennedy-Smith

Mr Andrew Kennedy-Smith

Andrew is a full-time consultant urologist at Wellington Hospital, with commitments in both private and public urology practice. He grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa, undertook his specialist surgical and urological training in New Zealand and Australia, and Fellowship training in Cardiff, Wales and Paris, France. His interests include general adult urology, laparoscopic and minimally invasive urology surgery, surgical management of kidney cancer, kidney transplantation, evaluation and treatment of urinary incontinence and prolapse, laparoscopic pelvic floor reconstruction and urology prosthesis surgery... read more »

Mr Michael Holmes

Mr Michael Holmes

Mr Michael Holmes FRACS, MBChB, BSc, is a Consultant Urologist at Waikato Hospital and is in private practice at Urology Waikato. He formerly held the role of Clinical Director at Waikato Hospital. Michael graduated from Otago University in 1988 with concomitant degrees in medicine and science. He has practised in Hamilton as a Consultant Urologist since 2000, and has been clinical director of the Waikato unit for a number of years. Michael’s academic and clinical interests are in penile and prostate cancer. His recent research has focused on reducing infection risks from prostate biopsy and he is planning future research using enhanced ultrasound techniques to improve biopsy strategies. He is married with four children and one grandchild. .. read more »