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Frank FrizelleProfessor of Surgery

MB ChB MMedSc(Otago) FACS FRACS FNZMA FASCRS FRCSI(Hon) FASA(Hon) FRCSEd(Hon)

Email frank.frizelle@cdhb.health.nz

Frank is Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Editor in Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal and president of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ). Frank is also chair for Movember of their ANZ prostate cancer register (PCOR), and chair the Christchurch Cancer Foundation. He is medical advisor to Bowel Cancer New Zealand and deputy chair to the ANZ binational bowel cancer register, a board member of the CSSANZ research foundation, and the ANZ post-fellowship training board in colorectal surgery.

He trained in general surgery in New Zealand before undertaking post fellowship training in colorectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic USA, and Scotland. He returned to New Zealand in 1996 as senior lecturer in surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, before being appointed Professor of Colorectal Surgery in 2000, and became Head of the Academic Department of Surgery in January 2006. Frank relinquished this role in 2019 after 13 years as HOD, and was Clinical Director of General Surgery 2022-24 for the Canterbury and West coast regions .

Frank has previously been on the New Zealand Cancer Control Committee, and chaired the New Zealand Guidelines group on colorectal cancer management, and the National Standards for Colorectal Cancer. He was also the chair of RACS section of colorectal surgery and chair of the committee on post-fellowship training in colorectal surgery.

He has been Editor in Chief of the New Zealand Medical Journal since 2002.

Frank has published over 500 publications in peer-reviewed journals and over 50 book chapters, and given more than 300 presentations at national and international meetings, resulting in over 14,000 citations, and an H index>60

Research interests

  • The aetiology, of sporadic colorectal cancer, including the role of the microbiome and certain bacteria
  • The epidemiology early onset colorectal cancer including factors that are driving this change including the role of microplastics
  • The diagnosis, management and outcome of colorectal cancer
  • The aetiology, management and outcomes of patients with diverticular disease including the role of the microbiome
  • Medical legal and publication issues related to medicine in general and surgery specifically

Publications

Thompson, N., Waddell, O., McCombie, A., Frizelle, F., & Glyn, T. (2024). Treatment patterns in metastatic early-onset rectal cancer. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ans.19329 Journal - Research Article

Frizelle, F. (2024). The need for transparent reporting of ethnicity in health research [Editor's reply]. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1603), 150-151. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Frizelle, F. (2024). Ad hominem: Author information or conflict of interest [Editor's reply]. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1601), 83-84. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Frizelle, F. (2024). When do you need to get ethical approval for your research? New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1602), 13-14. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Frizelle, F. (2024). Commissioners or board: Which is best for the role of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora? New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1602), 9-12. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

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