MB ChB (Otago) 1998, PGDipOccMed (Otago) 2008, MAvMed (Otago) 2008Ben was in general practice until six years ago the Otago University Aviation Medicine courses inspired him to change his career to full-time aviation medicine practice. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force where he currently commands the Aviation Medicine Unit which is responsible for all aviation physiology training for aircrew, and aeromedical evacuation training for health personnel. The unit also undertakes research and development projects; current areas of interest include hypobaric hypoxia training, aircrew fatigue, and anthropometry.
Operational experience in the RNZAF has included aeromedical evacuations from the South Pacific and Middle East, including disaster relief operations such as the tsunami in Samoa in 2009 and the Christchurch earthquake of 2011. He was deployed to Afghanistan in a ground support role in 2010.
In addition Ben has worked part-time for Air New Zealand for the past three years and will leave the RNZAF to join Air New Zealand on a full-time basis from April 2012.