January 12, 2009

House Surgeon Receives Rhodes Scholarship

West Coast District Health Board House surgeon, Dr Peter Cox has a clear idea of where he is going in 2009. Peter has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which will see him heading off to Oxford University in mid-year.

While at Oxford, a university that his mother also studied at, Peter will undertake a D.Phil. in one of the few programmes in the world to offer taught, clinical and research aspects of Cardiovascular Medicine.

In the long-term, Peter plans to become a cardiovascular surgeon, working in New Zealand.

Peter has come to the West Coast District Health Board with a very strong academic background. He graduated with his MB ChB with distinction in medicine and surgery from the University of Otago in 2007. That year he won the Sir Gordon Bell Prize in surgery for trainee interns and was second in the JAD Iverach Prize in Medicine.

Dr Peter Cox has had previous experience of the West Coast, coming to Buller Health for a period as part of his fifth year medical student course. The opportunity to return to the West Coast and enjoy the friendly and welcoming nature of everyone and also experience that breadth of experiences and support that a rural hospital offers was something that he was keen to take up.

Dr Cox also has a very strong sporting background and is ranked among the top ten decathletes in the Commonwealth in 2006. Unfortunately injury robbed him of the chance to compete at the trials for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Peter is looking forward to also being able to compete in some of the European athletics meets while he is based in Oxford.

For more information please contact

Bryan Jamieson
Community Liaison Officer
West Coast DHB
PO Box 387
Greymouth 7840
Phone (DDI): (03) 769-7665
Mobile: 027 245-9595
Email: