Dr Teresa Withers

Dr Teresa Withers

Grew up and graduated from High School on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. Gave me an understanding of the island people and island life. We settled on the Gold Coast and I was accepted and completed Medical School at the University of Queensland. Interned and resident years were at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and although initially going to do Paediatric Surgery, after relieving one of the neurosurgical registrars who did his knee skiing, I decided to pursue a career in Neurosurgery. I commenced training at the RBH, having my first and second baby while I was there and then completed training and the exit exam at the Prince of Wales in Sydney. My husband and two kids then travelled to Toronto where he did genetics and I did a fellowship at Sick Kids. What an eye opener since I had never seen snow before and leaving Australia in summer to land in Toronto mid-winter was quite a shock. While there I brought back a Canadian souvenir my third child. On completion of the fellowship I came back to Queensland to be the first female neurosurgeon and settled on the Gold Coast. I am the Director of Neurosurgery at the Gold Coast University Hospital, a member of the SET training board for neurosurgery, a member of the Neurosurgical Court of Examiners, sit on the state surgical advisory board and have a patent safety device for EVD placement. My areas of interest are Neuro-oncology, trauma and Paediatrics