Dr Jane Strang
Jane is a New Zealand trained General Surgeon who specialises in General and Colorectal surgery, graduating from Otago University with an MBChB (basic medical degree) in 1994.
Two years after completing that (during which time she worked as a house officer, or general hospital doctor) Jane spent one year training in Chichester England. When she returned, Jane undertook training in General Surgery, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2006 with a further year of training concentrating on laparoscopic colorectal surgery, at Waikato hospital.
Jane has been based in Nelson since 2009. The first year she commuted to and worked at Wairau hospital, so has been based at Nelson Public hospital for 12 years. During that time she has established laparoscopic colorectal surgery as a safe and effective way of treating colorectal problems that require surgery. She has also established ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery), a pathway for enhancing the recovery of patients undergoing colorectal surgery, and this pathway is now being used at Manuka Street hospital. This results in less complications, earlier return to bowel function, earlier mobilization, earlier return to normal activities and often earlier discharge home. It also reduces the risk of adhesion formation (internal scar tissue) and incisional hernia.
Jane established a private practice in November 2011, maintaining and regularly updating her surgical expertise, attending up to three national and international conferences a year. On occasion, she also operates outside the region (usually in Christchurch or Wellington) with colleagues in tertiary centres.
Married to Matthew, Jane adores her blended family with her two children (Rebecca and James) and Matthew's adult brood (Hannah, Jack and Harry). Her interests include many outdoor pursuits with a fervently supportive view towards environmental conservation and hobbies such as music, archery, hiking, biking and more recently, skiing. She loves the cinema, dining and travel.
- Jane received the Denys Sumner Award from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons - this award is given for excellence in clinical teaching of surgical trainees.
- Jane received two awards from The Royal Association College of Surgeons for Outstanding Service to the College
- She has served on the Executive Committee for the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons.
- She was the NZ Representative for the Women in Surgery Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 2002 to 2020.
- Jane was the surgical supervisor for Trainee Interns from 2011 to 2018 (doctors in their last year of basic medical training) who come to Nelson from Christchurch.
- Jane is the supervisor of trainees in General Surgery at Nelson hospital, and is on the national selection committee for those doctors who wish to train as general surgeons.
- She is an ASSET course instructor, a teaching course run by the Royal College of Surgeons to teach registrars (surgeons in training).
- Jane is a Director of Nelson Day Surgery and Tasman Day Surgery (Chair).