Clinical Practice
Dr. Andrew Finlayson focuses on minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum, emphasizing complex pelvic cancer surgery. He contributes to the multidisciplinary cancer teams at Hollywood and Sir Charles Gairdner hospitals, ensuring a comprehensive approach to cancer care. His expertise extends to surgery for inflammatory bowel disease, perianal conditions such as fistulas and hemorrhoids, and pelvic floor surgery, covering prolapse repair and incontinence. Additionally, he provides a broad general surgical service, including laparoscopic hernia and gallbladder surgery.
Dr. Finlayson also plays a vital role in delivering a general surgical emergency service at King Edward Memorial Hospital. Collaborating with gynecologists, he contributes to the treatment of endometriosis and advanced gynecological cancers, both in public and private healthcare settings.
Background & Training:
Graduating from the University of Western Australia in 2002, Dr. Finlayson completed his internship and resident training at Royal Perth Hospital. His journey in general surgery included basic and advanced training through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons at various hospitals in Perth and regional Western Australia.
Following his general surgery training, Dr. Finlayson pursued a three-year fellowship specializing in colorectal surgery. This comprehensive training included a year at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he later returned as a consultant surgeon. He further honed his skills through the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand post fellowship-training program, involving training at Royal Melbourne Hospital. There, he enhanced his laparoscopic skills and learned advanced techniques such as sacral nerve stimulation and investigation of pelvic floor disorders.
Dr. Finlayson's training also included a year at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, a regional referral center for recurrent rectal cancer, providing valuable exposure to complex pelvic surgery. Upon completing his training, Dr. Finlayson returned to Perth, where he was appointed as a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Osborne Park Hospital. He is also an integral part of Perth Colorectal Surgery, with private appointments and surgeries conducted at Hollywood Private Hospital.
Surgical Education:
Actively engaged in surgical education, Dr. Finlayson supervises and teaches future surgeons at various levels, from medical students to fellowship candidates. He serves as the course facilitator for Basic Laparoscopic Colorectal Skills at CTEC - Clinical Training and Evaluation Centre at The University of Western Australia.