There are currently 7 SMOs (Consultants) working on the Intensive Care Unit
Dr Dan Owens BSc(Hons), MBBS, MHSM, PGCert (Med ED,) FRCA (UK), FFICM (UK), FANZCA, FCICM
Clinical Head of Department
I trained in both Anaesthesia and Intensive care in London (UK) and am a fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Faculty of Intensive Care medicine (FICM), as well as the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). I have completed fellowships in Liver Transplant Anaesthesia at King’s College Hospital and worked in many of the tertiary Intensive Care units in London.
I have an interest in Education and completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Healthcare and Biomedical sciences education at St George’s University of London. I have co-authored a revision text for the UK Intensive Care examination.
Following the completion of my training I worked as a consultant Anaesthetist specialising in major trauma in one of the UK major trauma centres.
I arrived in Northland in 2016 and have been the Clinical Director since 2021.
In 2025 I completed a Master of Health Service Managment through Massey University.
I am also a member of the CICM NZ National Committee and am a member of the SIMG assessment commitee and the New Zealand chair of the SIMG assessent panel.
Dr Ryan Jang FCICM, FANZCA
Supervisor of Training/ Simulation training lead
(Biog to follow)
Dr Emma Blair MBChB, FANZCA, Cert. Ed.
Registrar leave and roster
I qualified in Anaesthesia in 2009 and have always had an interest in Intensive Care Medicine. After completing a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia I developed my interest in echocardiography, education and perioperative medicine. I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound through the University of Melbourne in July 2014 and my Certificate of Clinical Education through the University of Auckland in 2015. Since working in Whangarei I have also developed my interest in simulation and look forward to promoting simulation throughout the hospital. Our unit is a great place to work in- the whole team is very supportive and committed to providing quality patient care.
Dr Leon Cloherty FRCA (UK), FFICM (UK), FANZCA
Deputy Clincal Director, PAR lead
(Biog to follow)
Dr Michael Kalkoff FANZCA/ DESA/ Specialist Anaesthetist CH
ANZICS CORE database lead
I am employed at the NDHB as specialist Intensivist/Anaesthetist since January 2005.
After finishing medical school in Freiburg Germany I moved to Switzerland. There I gained my specialist accreditation in 2002 and became a Diplomate of the European Society of Anaesthesiology.
After moving in 2002 to New Zealand I worked at Waikato Hospital as Specialist in the Departments of Intensive Care and Anaesthesia. In 2005 I joined the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care of the Whangarei Base Hospital (NDHB) as full term consultant. From 2007-2013 I served as Head of Department in the Intensive Care Unit. In 2013 I became a Fellow of the ANZCA (FANZCA). My medical interests lie in:, acute medicine, Telemedicine, the transfer of critically ill patients, renal replacement therapy in ICU, critical care research and evidence based blood transfusion management (having started the ‘Blood is a Gift’ campaign at Whangarei Hospital in 2012).
Outside the hospital its: family, windsurfing, mountainbiking, skiing, Tennis, hiking, nature, fishing, traveling.
Dr Ben Murrin FCICM
M&M lead, Aeromedical transfer lead
(Picture and Biog to follow)
Dr Stefan Wiese MD, Dr.med., DESA, EDIC, FANZCA, FESAIC
Education lead
(Picture and Biog to follow)