I grew up in the UK and studied medicine at Bart’s Hospital in London, graduating in 1999 before undertaking basic surgical training in Colchester, Essex. I joined the Royal London Hospital orthopaedic training rotation in 2004 and passed the UK FRCS (Tr&Orth) Fellowship exam in 2008.
In 2009 I travelled with my family to Melbourne for a 12-month fellowship in complex joint replacement and pelvic reconstruction with local surgeons Andrew Bucknill, Richard de Steiger and Sam Patten at the Royal Melbourne and Epworth Richmond hospitals. After this, I completed a 6–month trauma fellowship at the Royal Melbourne. Returning to London in 2011 for a year, we came back to Australia when the opportunity arose in Wagga. Little did I realise at the time that I was following in the footsteps of Australia’s first rural orthopaedic surgeon, Peter Dewey, who had made the journey here from the UK and established the orthopaedic department in the late 1960s. After returning, I passed the FRACS fellowship exam and received Fellowship of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Since arriving in Wagga, we have all had a great welcome, made many new friends and look forward to staying in the longer term.
I have worked at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital since 2012 and have been the Director of the Orthopaedic Department since 2015. I also operate privately at Calvary Riverina Hospital. I am available for consultation at Riverina Orthopaedics most days, with regular clinics in Cootamundra and Albury.
My major interests include:
Professional Associations
Away from work, I try to find some time for DIY, trail and ultra–marathon running,shooting, Krav Maga and travel.
Tara
Personal Assistant to Mr Matthews.
To make an appointment with Mr Matthews please contact Tara on 6925 2070, option 3.
