Mr Brian Whitley has been in specialist practice in Hamilton, New Zealand for 28 years, a time that saw the unit expand to serve New Zealand’s largest hospital catchment in all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery. He has nurtured cohorts of junior doctors into training in the specialty and then through the training program and supporting them as consultants.
Brian’s involvement with ANZAOMS has been significant in terms of personal sacrifice, longevity and his impact; he has served on several strategic ANZAOMS Committees, has been Chair and Treasurer of the Research and Education Foundation, has been past Chairman of the New Zealand Branch of ANZAOMS and a member of the Regional Surgical and National Committees. In addition, he has been a solid supporter of local dentists, being past President of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch of the New Zealand Dental Association. Indeed, in 2017, he was voted by the national body of the New Zealand Dental Association as Outstanding Dentist of the Year.
He is a highly sought-after speaker on many instructional courses. Brian has been involved at a governance level at Braemar Hospital through roles on its Credentialing Committee, Clinical Committee and on its Board of Directors.
However, it is perhaps his humanity for which Brian is held in such high esteem by his colleagues; overtly for example through the Smiles for the Pacific Volunteer Program as an executive since 2014, or less tangibly with readily available advice or support for colleagues in need or specialty issues. It is for these reasons, that we believe Brian’s service to ANZAOMS to be genuinely distinguished.
