Dr Gratian Punch is a Specialist General Surgeon. His subspecialty interests include Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB), Upper-Gastrointestinal (Upper GI), bariatric, skin cancer, hernia, thyroid and trauma surgery. Dr Punch is dedicated to providing individualised care of the highest standard to his patients at all times, both in a public and private hospital setting.
After growing up in Alstonville NSW, Gratian completed an undergraduate Medical Science Degree at the University of Sydney and graduated with First Class Honours in 2002, with publication of his research in Infectious Diseases. He went on to study Medicine, also at the University of Sydney completing his post-graduate MBBS with laboratory research based Honors in 2007.
Medical school followed by his years as an intern and resident strengthened his passion and commitment to General Surgery. In 2010, Dr Punch commenced specialty training through The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) which incorporated intensive training across all disciplines. Gratian graduated as a Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2015. It was during this time that Dr Punch was accredited by the Conjoint Committee for Colonoscopy and Endoscopy to perform diagnostic and therapeutic gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
Dr Punch advanced his sub-specialty training with the Australia and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association (ANZHPBA). Commencing in 2016 the Fellowship in HPB Surgery involved two-years of clinical training and research in high volume, mixed HPB and Upper GI units dedicated to the full spectrum of benign to oncological management of complex HPB/Upper GI surgical care.
His first year was based at the Monash Medical Centre and Jessie McPherson Private Hospital (Melbourne) with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques applied to liver, biliary and gastro-oesophgeal surgery, including laparoscopic surgery for morbid obesity. During his second year, based at Westmead Hospital (Sydney), Dr Punch received further training with an emphasis on liver, pancreas and oesophageal surgery for both benign and malignant pathology. Dr Punch applied specific HPB techniques including intra-operative ultrasound, ablation, laparoscopic and open complex major resections including vascular resections for advanced cancer where appropriate.
In 2018 Gratian is proud to return home to the Northern Rivers and will be working at the Lismore Base Hospital, Casino and District Memorial Hospital, Ballina District Hospital and St Vincent’s Private.
Dr Punch welcomes all general surgery referrals.