Dr. Oliver Florica, MD FRACS

Here’s a rephrased version of your story:

I graduated from Gheorghe Lazar College in 1984, the top institution for mathematics and physics in Bucharest and Romania. I then attended Carol Davila University, finishing my studies in 1990.

I began my internship in Romania and completed it in Johannesburg by 1992. In 1993, I started my surgical training at Groote Schuur Hospital and pursued a Master's Degree in Surgery at the University of Cape Town, specializing in trauma and intensive care. In 1994, I returned to Johannesburg for further training at Witwatersrand University in orthopaedic trauma, bone infections, neuro-vascular microsurgery, and small joint arthroplasty.

In 1992, I suffered the tragic loss of a close friend to crime in Johannesburg, which led me to promise that, despite South Africa becoming my adopted home, I would leave as soon as possible.

In 1995, I accepted a position in Tasmania, which was below my training level, without hesitation. I spent a year in unaccredited surgical training in Launceston and then took an intern position in Hobart the following year. During these two years, I completed the USMLE for practicing in the United States, passed the surgical training exam, and earned my private pilot's license.

From 1997 to 2002, I underwent accredited surgical training in the combined Tasmanian-Victorian program, finishing at Royal Melbourne Hospital, and passed my fellowship exam at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. During this time, I met my partner, a decorated officer in the Australian special forces, and we have been together for over 25 years.

Throughout my training, I was often treated as a qualified specialist, even in intern roles. This allowed me to gain extensive experience, performing thousands of surgeries across specialties like general surgery, bariatrics, GI surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics, urology, and cardiac surgery. I had my first cardiac bypass experience as an intern in Hobart. I greatly valued the toughness and fairness of Australian surgeons, and it was rewarding to represent them well. I trained in around 55 hospitals and worked with over 300 specialists, consistently earning excellent assessments in both South Africa and Australia. This experience led me to consider myself a surgeon of excellence.

In 2001, I gained my third citizenship.

In 2002, as a newly qualified surgeon, I worked as a locum at Goulburn Base Hospital. Within days, I treated a 19-year-old patient, Andrew Howarth, who had suffered a fall at work. After intubating him, a brain scan revealed a life-threatening clot. With no proper equipment available, I used an orthopaedic drill to relieve the pressure. To everyone's surprise, Andrew regained consciousness and later expressed his gratitude for saving his life.

I then moved to Sydney and became the Director of Surgery at Baulkham Hills Private Hospital, often working 100-hour weeks while on call across multiple hospitals. My first child was born in 2002, almost in the hospital corridor, and my second child arrived in 2004 in the front seat of my car while I was on call. My wife still jokes that I was trying to push the baby back in. Now, my child is a medical student, and I plan to pass on my muscle car, an environmental disaster with a six-liter engine, to him one day.

These events prompted me to step back from administrative duties and focus solely on private practice, prioritizing family. However, private practice also left little room for free time. After eight years, life settled down, and we welcomed another set of children.

On January 31, 2003, I performed emergency surgery on Nauru's President, Bernard Dowiyogo, during a national celebration, as he was facing a life-threatening condition. Despite his prior health complications, he recovered after surgery, and I went on to perform over 30 major operations in three weeks with basic equipment. I aimed to improve surgical services in Nauru and establish an endoscopy service, part of Australia’s medical aid during John Howard's tenure. During my stay, the hospital, jokingly called “No Go Home,” became a sought-after destination for medical care in a struggling country. Before I left, the president offered me the position of Nauru Surgeon, along with land and financial incentives, and even gifted me a very expensive bottle of Penfolds Grange, which was corked when I opened it years later. I donated my locum payment to the Australian College of Surgeons for the Pacific Island Program and later donated my income to a Catholic hospital in Western Sydney to improve medical services in underserved areas.

In my private practice, I specialize in complex surgeries. For a decade, I was on call for emergency surgeries, often being on call more than 20 days a month. Currently, my work focuses on bariatric, plastic/cosmetic, and digestive/colorectal beside other general surgeries, primarily using minimally invasive techniques.

Over 20 years, I have maintained a flawless record in Sydney, a city known for its high litigation rates, without facing any lawsuits or deaths, even in major surgeries. My cosmetic surgeries have transformed many patients, reflecting the high quality of my work.

In 2015, I became one of the first general surgeons in Australia to use the Da Vinci robot, pioneering the total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia mesh repair with this technology. Today, I use flexible laparoscopic instruments, a highly advanced yet affordable approach to minimally invasive surgery.

That same year, my son was among the few children allowed into the Da Vinci lab in Silicon Valley, where he performed simulations on the Xi Da Vinci robot. He is now a medical student.

In 2019, my patients nominated me for Australian of the Year. Although I did not win, I felt deeply honored by their recognition, especially since it came from war veterans.

Aviation has been a lifelong passion for me. I owned seven aircrafts, having built three experimental ones and refurbished others. My latest acquisition was a twin engine vintage model used in the Vietnam War, which I used for family trips. I love retro aircraft and old wines. I’ve flown my private plane to many locations in Australia and the USA, as well as into Montreal, Canada. One of my proudest moments was crossing the Pacific Ocean from California to Sydney in a single-engine Cessna C172 in 2011, making me the only pilot to complete that direct over-water journey in the smallest category aircraft.

Reflecting on my journey, I wouldn't change a thing, despite the difficulties. Like Don Quixote battling windmills, my path has been full of challenges. I've made mistakes and have regrets, but I’ve grown spiritually and professionally in ways I never imagined.

I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has trusted and inspired me throughout my career.

I’ll close with a quote from one of my role models, alongside my parents:

“Every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times more...” — Elvis Presley

Let's talk

Listening to your feedback and reading your comments makes me very happy. Contact me if you have any questions, comments, information, or to request an opinion or an appointment. I will get back to you shortly. 

Dr Oliver Florica