MEET THE TEAM

Ōtautahi Orthopaedics is a private orthopaedic clinic, offering the skills of a talented team of private consultant orthopaedic surgeons.

Tim Chuang

BHB, MBChB, FRACS

Hip, Knee & Trauma
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Tim Chuang is thrilled to be part of Ōtautahi Orthopaedics, a team dedicated to providing comprehensive care across all orthopaedic subspecialities, including shoulder and elbow, hip and knee, foot and ankle, paediatrics, sports, and spine. Born in Taiwan and raised in Christchurch, Tim is a University of Auckland alumnus and a New Zealand-trained surgeon with extensive experience across both the North and South Islands. After completing his orthopaedic training in 2018, he undertook fellowships in Tumour at Middlemore Hospital, arthroplasty in Christchurch, and trauma at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada.

Tim's research interests are diverse, focusing on clinical outcomes of hip and knee arthroplasty and rehabilitation following significant pelvic, acetabular, and lower limb trauma. Since August 2021, he has been serving as an orthopaedic consultant at Te Whatu Ora Waitaha, supervising non-training orthopaedic registrars and lecturing at the University of Otago School of Medicine.

Dedicated to his community, Tim is passionate about hip and knee replacements, revision arthroplasty, and post-traumatic conditions. Alongside his wife, Chuiee, a GP, and their two young children, he is committed to making a difference in Christchurch and Canterbury. Tim welcomes the opportunity to discuss how the team at Ōtautahi Orthopaedics can serve the region's orthopaedic needs.

Richard Cowley

MBChB, FRACS

Spine, Hip & Knee
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Richard is an Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in Spine Surgery and arthritis of the hip and knee. He has received extensive training both in New Zealand and abroad, becoming a fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 2020. Richard completed sub specialty spine fellowship training at Auckland City Hospital and Foothills Hospital with the Calgary Spine Team. His expertise includes Trauma, Tumour, Infection, and Degenerative conditions of the spine, as well as elective hip and knee replacement surgeries.

Based in Christchurch, he works as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon for Te Whatu Ora, offering tertiary level care for a range of spinal conditions. Richard is actively involved in the medical community, being a member of various associations such as the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association, Spine Society of New Zealand, and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons. He is also dedicated to teaching and training future medical professionals at the University of Otago.

For consultations, Richard sees patients at Otautahi Orthopaedics in the Forte 4 building at the corner of Columbo and Kilmore St. He also performs surgeries at St. Georges, Southern Cross, and Forte Hospital. His approach to care emphasizes providing the same high standard of treatment he would want for his own family.

Nikki Hooper

BHB, MBChB, FRACS (Ortho)

Paediatrics, Foot & Ankle,
Arthroplasty
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. Nikki Hooper brings a wealth of experience and expertise in orthopaedic surgery, with specialised interests in paediatrics, foot and ankle disorders, and hip and knee replacements.

A proud native of Ōtautahi, Nikki completed her comprehensive training across various institutions throughout New Zealand. She further honed her skills with a paediatric orthopaedic fellowship at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada and a foot and ankle fellowship through Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.

Since returning to Ōtautahi in early 2020, Nikki has held a pivotal role as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha, where she is dedicated to providing exceptional care in the public healthcare sector. She also serves as the convenor of the Orthopaedics and Advanced Surgery module at the Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago, nurturing future generations of medical professionals.

In addition to her clinical and academic roles, Nikki is deeply committed to advancing diversity and equity within the medical field. As co-chair of LIONZ (Ladies in Orthopaedics New Zealand), she actively promotes the professional development and empowerment of women in orthopaedic surgery. She is passionate about delivering equitable healthcare for patients across all backgrounds and her dedication to fostering inclusivity underscores her belief in creating a supportive and diverse community within orthopaedic surgery in New Zealand.

At Ōtautahi Orthopaedics, Nikki offers personalised care and advanced surgical solutions. Her surgical expertise is utilised at premier medical facilities across the city including St George’s Hospital, Southern Cross Hospital, and Forte Hospital, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate treatment for her patients.

Brad Stone

BCom, FCCA, MBChB, FRACS

Foot & Ankle, Hip & Knee
Orthopaedic Surgeon

Brad is an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in foot and ankle surgery, as well as surgical treatment of hip and knee arthritis.

A Canterbury native, Brad was raised on a farm in Windwhistle, in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Following on from an initial career as a Chartered Accountant, Brad attended medical school in Dunedin and Wellington, before undertaking orthopaedic surgical training in centres all across New Zealand, from Invercargill to Whangārei.

After completing orthopaedic training in New Zealand, Brad has undertaken fellowship Foot & Ankle and Shoulder sub-specialty training in Bristol, United Kingdom. Brad specialises in joint replacements of the ankle, knee and hip, as well as arthritis, deformity and sports injuries of the foot & ankle. Brad has a particular interest in arthroscopic procedures of the foot and ankle, including minimally invasive bunion correction. Brad consults from his rooms in Forte 4 and operates at Forte, St Georges and Southern Cross hospitals. He splits his time between here and his public appointment with Te Whatu Ora Waitaha.

In his public practice, Brad also specialises in trauma and management of complex diabetic foot conditions. He remains actively involved in training junior doctors and medical students, and is a Senior Lecturer for the University of Otago. Brad is a member of the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association, the New Zealand Foot & Ankle Society and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Brad is committed to a patient-centred approach, incorporating surgical innovation to enable improved solutions in common and complex lower limb orthopaedic conditions.