Clinical Professor of Paediatric Surgery
ONZM MB ChB(Otago) MS(Melb) FRACS (Paediatric Surgery) FAICD
Spencer is a Professor of Paediatric Surgery and the Clinical Director of the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Christchurch Hospital. Until 1996, he was a consultant paediatric surgeon and paediatric urologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and Senior lecturer at Melbourne University.
He was a founding member of the Child Cancer and the Developmental Genetics Research Group, and was a board member of the Rainbow Children’s Trust. He is a current trustee of the Children’s Cancer Research Trust (Canterbury). He has developed a regional service for paediatric surgery throughout the South Island, providing outreach regular clinics and operating sessions in every South Island public hospital.
His clinical research has involved development of measures of outcome in paediatric surgery, gender equity, and the effect of configuration of surgical services on clinical outcomes.
He is the former Vice-President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Chairman of the Governance and Advocacy Committee, Chairman of the Board of Surgical Education and Training, Deputy Censor-in-Chief and Chair of the Court of Examiners of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and has been responsible for the governance of the surgical training programmes in all specialties in Australia and New Zealand. Also, he is a former New Zealand Censor, Chair of the Board of Paediatric Surgery and Senior Examiner in Paediatric Surgery RACS.
He is a previous president of the Australasian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (now known as the Australia and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons) and is the current President of the New Zealand Society of Paediatric Surgeons. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons. He is on the Male Champions of Change STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) group, working towards removing the impediments to gender equity.
He recently retired as the specialty editor for Paediatric Surgery of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery, but remains a Senior Editor of the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. He has written or edited nine textbooks on paediatric surgery and related subjects. He is currently editing the Oxford University Press textbook on Paediatric Surgery.
Research interests
Spencer’s research interests have included:
- Oesophageal atresia and its embryogenesis
- Control of the development of the foregut and hindgut
- iPS differentiation into contracting smooth muscle
- Surgical education and assessment
- Neonatal thoracoscopic simulation model for training in technical skills
- Unconscious bias in surgical selection
- Impediments to gender equity in surgery
Publications
Liddy, H. J., Choi, C., Luenenschloss, N., Beasley, S. W., & Wells, J. M. (2023). Longitudinal force measurement and its relationship to technical competence for esophageal anastomosis in a thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula simulator. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.02.026
Crebbin, W., Guest, G., Beasley, S., Tobin, S., Duvivier, R., & Watters, D. (2022). Learning and teaching stage 4 clinical decision making: Progression from novice to expert. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ans.17955
Castle, C., Beasley, S. W., & Taghavi, K. (2022). Access to emergency paediatric surgery for testicular torsion or intestinal volvulus in New Zealand: A system perspective. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 58(1), 146-151. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15684
Choi, C., Wells, J., Luenenschloss, N., Yi, M., Morison, C., Cook, N., Beasley, S., & Jones, R. (2022). The role of motion tracking in assessing technical skill acquisition using a neonatal 3D-printed thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula simulator. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 57, 1087-1091. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.01.029
Stark, E. M., Beasley, S. W., & Campbell, A. (2021). How electronically available referral guidelines for primary medical practitioners can improve the timeliness of orchidopexy. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1546), 89-94. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Beasley, S. W., Hutson, J., Stringer, M., King, S. K., & Teague, W. J. (2018). Paediatric surgical diagnosis: Atlas of disorders of surgical significance (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 397p. doi: 10.1201/9781315279978
Authored Book - Research
Hutson, J. M., Thorup, J. M., & Beasley, S. W. (2016). Descent of the testis (2nd ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 178p. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-25910-9
Authored Book - Research
Hutson, J. M., & Beasley, S. W. (2013). The surgical examination of children. Berlin, Germany: Springer, 376p. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-29814-1
Authored Book - Research
Najmaldin, A., Rothenberg, S., Crabbe, D. C. G., & Beasley, S. (Eds.). (2005). Operative endoscopy and endoscopic surgery in infants and children. London: Hodder Arnold, 496p.
Edited Book - Research
Hutson, J. M., Wooward, A. W., & Beasley, S. W. (Eds.). (1999). Jones' Clinical Paediatric Surgery: Diagnosis & Management, 5th Edition. Asia: Blackwell Science.
Edited Book - Research
Hutson, J. M., O'Brien, M., Woodward, A. A., & Beasley, S. W. (Eds.). (2008). Jones' clinical paediatric surgery: Diagnosis and management (6th ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell, 336p. doi: 10.1097/sla.0b013e31818b7595
Edited Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2021). Necrotizing enterocolitis in unusual cases: Term Infants, congenital anomalies, and comorbidities. In D. J. Hackam (Ed.), Necrotizing enterocolitis: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. (pp. 92-95). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9780429288302
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S., Crebbin, W., & Watters, D. (2014). Surgical decision making. In R. Davies (Ed.), Fundamental skills for surgery. (3rd ed.) (pp. 9-18). Sydney, Australia: McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2013). Ensuring that an "exit" summative assessment achieves its objectives. In M. Berg (Ed.), Cutting edges in surgical training. (pp. 77-84). Gdansk, Poland: Via Medica.
Chapter in Book - Research
Crebbin, W., Beasley, S. W., & Watters, D. A. K. (2013). Teaching and assessing clinical decision making in surgical trainees. In M. Berg (Ed.), Cutting edges in surgical training. (pp. 59-65). Gdansk, Poland: Via Medica.
Chapter in Book - Research
Watters, D. A. K., Beasley, S. W., & Crebbin, W. (2013). Developmental standards for formative assessment across all surgical competencies. In M. Berg (Ed.), Cutting edges in surgical training. (pp. 67-75). Gdansk, Poland: Via Medica.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2012). Torticollis. In A. G. Goran, N. S. Adzick, T. M. Krummel, J.-M. Laberge, R. C. Shamberger & A. A. Caldamone (Eds.), Pediatric surgery (Vol. 1). (7th ed.) (pp. 763-767). Elsevier Saunders.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S., & Day, A. (2012). Abdominal pain and vomiting. In M. South & D. Isaacs (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (7th ed.) (pp. 706-714). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
King, S. K., & Beasley, S. W. (2012). Surgical conditions in older children. In M. South & D. Isaacs (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (7th ed.) (pp. 266-274). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
King, S. K., & Beasley, S. W. (2012). Surgical conditions in the newborn. In M. South & D. Isaacs (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (7th ed.) (pp. 375-379). Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. (2009). Congenital malformations. In D. H. Parikh, D. C. G. Crabbe, A. W. Auldist & S. S. Rothenberg (Eds.), Pediatric thoracic surgery. (pp. 281-312). London: Springer. doi: 10.1007/b136543
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. (2005). ACE procedure. In A. Najmaldin, S. Rothenberg, D. C. G. Crabbe & S. Beasley (Eds.), Operative endoscopy and endoscopic surgery in infants and children. London: Hodder Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. (2005). Anti-reflux surgery - Nissen fundoplication. In A. Najmaldin, S. Rothenberg, D. C. G. Crabbe & S. Beasley (Eds.), Operative endoscopy and endoscopic surgery in infants and children. London: Hodder Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. (2005). Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. In A. Najmaldin, S. Rothenberg, D. C. G. Crabbe & S. Beasley (Eds.), Operative endoscopy and endoscopic surgery in infants and children. London: Hodder Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2005). Acquired conditions of the anorectum and perineum. In D. M. Burge, D. M. Griffiths, H. A. Steinbrecher & R. A. Wheeler (Eds.), Paediatric surgery. (2nd ed.) London: Hodder Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2005). Oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistual. In D. M. Burge, D. M. Griffiths, H. A. Steinbrecher & R. A. Wheeler (Eds.), Paediatric surgery. (2nd ed.) London: Hodder Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2001). Surgical problems. In K. Oates, K. Currow & W. Hu (Eds.), Child health: A practical manual for general practice. (pp. 280-304). Sydney: MacLennan and Petty.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Abdominal pain and vomiting in children. In M. J. Robinson & D. M. Roberton (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (5th ed.) (pp. 650-659). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Abdominal Pain and Vomiting in Children. In M. J. Robinson & D. M. Roberton (Eds.), Practical Paediatrics, 4th Edition. (pp. 650-659). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Acquired conditions of the Anorectum and perineum. In J. Atwell (Ed.), Royal College of Surgeons Paediatric Surgery. (pp. 376-379). London: Edward Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Acute Neonatal Surgical Conditions. In M. J. Robinson & D. M. Roberton (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (4th ed.) (pp. 320-325). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Common surgical conditions in children. In M. J. Robinson & D. M. Roberton (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (5th ed.) (pp. 762-771). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Common Surgical Conditions in Children. In M. J. Robinson & D. M. Roberton (Eds.), Practical Paediatrics, 4th Edition. (pp. 762-771). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Esophageal Atresia - Surgical Aspects. In M. J. Stringer & K. T. Oldham (Eds.), Long term outcomes in Pediatric Surgery and Urology. (pp. 166-180). London: W B Saunders.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Oesophageal Atresia and Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula. In J. Atwell (Ed.), Royal College of Surgeons Paediatric Surgery. (pp. 187-196). London: Edward Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Thoracic Injuries. In J. Atwell (Ed.), Royal College of Surgeons Paediatric Surgery. (pp. 692-695). London: Edward Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1998). Torticollis. In J. A. O'Neill, M. Rowe, J. L. Grosfeld, E. Fonksalsrud & A. G. Coran (Eds.), Pediatric Surgery, 5th Edition. (pp. 773-778). Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1997). Esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula. In K. T. Oldham, P. M. Colombani & R. P. Foglia (Eds.), Surgery of Infants and Children: Scientific Principles and Practice. (pp. 1021-1034). Philadelphia: Lippincott Raven Publishers.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (1997). Vitellointestinal (omphalomesenteric) duct anomalies. In L. Spitz & A. G. Coran (Eds.), Concise Paediatric Surgery. (pp. 211-222). London: Chapman and Hall Medical.
Chapter in Book - Research
Beasley, S. W. (2020). Torticollis. In P. Puri (Ed.), Pediatric surgery. (Online ed.) Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_94-1
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2018). Intussusception. In P. Puri (Ed.), Newborn surgery. (4th ed.) (pp. 714-718). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S., & Taghavi, K. (2017). Surgical embryology. In S. A. Mirjalili (Ed.), Anatomy for the Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE). (pp. 139-157). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3883-9_7
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2013). Vitellointestinal (omphalomesenteric) duct anomalies. In L. Spitz & A. G. Coran (Eds.), Operative pediatric surgery. (7th ed.) (pp. 445-457). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2010). Chylothorax. In D. K. Gupta, S. Sharma & R. G. Azizkhan (Eds.), Pediatric surgery: Diagnosis and management (Vol. 1). (pp. 491-494). New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers, Medical Publishers.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2010). New Zealand and the South Pacific. In R. Carachi, D. G. Young & C. Buyukunal (Eds.), A history of surgical paediatrics. (pp. 355-380). Singapore: World Scientific.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2007). Abdominal pain and vomiting in children. In D. M. Roberton & M. South (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (6th ed.) (pp. 713-721). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2007). Acute neonatal surgical conditions. In D. M. Roberton & M. South (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (6th ed.) (pp. 378-382). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2007). Common surgical conditions in children. In D. M. Roberton & M. South (Eds.), Practical paediatrics. (6th ed.) (pp. 263-272). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2006). Esophageal atresia: Surgical aspects. In M. D. Stringer, K. T. Oldham & P. D. E. Mouriquand (Eds.), Pediatric surgery and urology: Long-term outcomes. (2nd ed.) (pp. 192-207). Cambridge University Press.
Chapter in Book - Other
Beasley, S. W. (2003). Intussusception. In P. Puri (Ed.), Newborn surgery. (2nd ed.) (pp. 557-560). London: Arnold.
Chapter in Book - Other
Liddy, H. J., Choi, C., Luenenschloss, N., Beasley, S. W., & Wells, J. M. (2023). Longitudinal force measurement and its relationship to technical competence for esophageal anastomosis in a thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula simulator. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.02.026
Journal - Research Article
Castle, C., Beasley, S. W., & Taghavi, K. (2022). Access to emergency paediatric surgery for testicular torsion or intestinal volvulus in New Zealand: A system perspective. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 58(1), 146-151. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15684
Journal - Research Article
Choi, C., Wells, J., Luenenschloss, N., Yi, M., Morison, C., Cook, N., Beasley, S., & Jones, R. (2022). The role of motion tracking in assessing technical skill acquisition using a neonatal 3D-printed thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula simulator. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 57, 1087-1091. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.01.029
Journal - Research Article
Crebbin, W., Guest, G., Beasley, S., Tobin, S., Duvivier, R., & Watters, D. (2022). Learning and teaching stage 4 clinical decision making: Progression from novice to expert. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ans.17955
Journal - Research Article
Crebbin, W., Guest, G., Beasley, S., Tobin, S., Duvivier, R., & Watters, D. (2021). The influence of experience and expertise on how surgeons prepare to perform a procedure. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 2032-2036. doi: 10.1111/ans.17019
Journal - Research Article
