INVITED SPEAKERS
Associate/Professor Michelle Tarbox
Dermatology and Dermatopathology
Texas Tech University, USA
Dr. Tarbox earned her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine where she graduated at the top of her class and was recognized for her outstanding surgical skills with the Francis C. Jackson Award for Excellence in Surgery. Dr. Tarbox then completed her internship in Internal Medicine and her Dermatology Residency at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where she was recognized for her patient care and dedication to teaching. During her senior year in residency, Michelle successfully applied for a Women’s Dermatologic Society Mentorship Grant and traveled to Sydney, Australia to study dermoscopy with Dr. Scott Menzies at the Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Institute. She completed a dermatopathology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic following successful completion of her residency. She then served as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology for three years at St. Louis University in Missouri where she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for her department in 2012.
In 2013, she returned to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center where she currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Dermatopathology. She served as the Assistant Dean for Medical Student Affairs from 2015 to 2020. She was awarded the Dean’s Clinical Teaching Award in 2016 and the early career award for excellence from the Lubbock County Medical Society. Dr. Tarbox is also a regular volunteer with the Lubbock Impact Free Clinic and was honored with the Community Service Award from the Lubbock County Medical Society in 2022. Dr. Tarbox has lectured for the AAD, the Brazilian Dermatologic Society, The Mexican Association of Dermatology, The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the World Congress of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathologists on topics ranging from dermoscopy to cosmetic dermatology, to infectious diseases, maintenance of certification, patient satisfaction, clinicopathologic correlations, and dermatopathology. For the past several years, she has also been a co-host and co-creator of the Dermasphere Podcast which now has over 140 episodes with over 450,000 total plays and an average audience size of 3,000 – 4,000 dermatologists, and dermatologically interested allied health professionals and medical students. She and her co-host Luke Johnson review recent practice relevant articles in the world of dermatology every two weeks on the Dermasphere Podcast.
Mr Brandon Adams
Cosmetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Da Vinci Clinic, Tauranga, NZ
COSMETIC, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON MBCHB, FRACS (PLASTICS), BTECH (BIOMEDSCI), BMEDSC (BIOETHICS)
Mr Brandon Adams is one of New Zealand’s most respected cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgeons who works privately at Da Vinci Clinic and at Grace Hospital in Tauranga, as well out of Central Health in Rotorua. Drawing on 12 years of experience in complex plastic and reconstructive surgery, Brandon brings a considered approach to consultations ensuring only the best treatments are offered to achieve desired results.
After completing his training in New Zealand, Brandon was awarded FRACS (Plastics) from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and in 2012 he received an ASAPS Advanced Aesthetic Fellowship in Cosmetic Surgery from the Institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. In 2013 Brandon was the Head and Neck Reconstruction and Microsurgery Fellow at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane Australia, gaining valuable experience working alongside Australia’s leading surgeons.
Dr Eugene Tan
Academic Dermatologist and Adjunct Lecturer
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
FACD, FRACP, FACMS
Dr. Tan is an academic dermatologist and Adjunct Lecturer at University of New South Wales. Prior to moving to New Zealand, he lived in Melbourne and was a consultant at The Alfred Hospital where he provided dermatologic surgery services and educated registrars. Dr. Tan is passionate about sustainability and is a member of the Environmental Sustainability Group (ESG) of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. He has published articles on sustainability and continues to collaborate with researchers globally on the topic.
Dr Neil Mortimer
Specialist Dermatologist
Skin Centre, Tauranga, NZ
BSc(hons), MBChB, FRCP(UK), FRACP, FNZDSI, FACMS
Dr Mortimer is a Specialist Dermatologist and Fellowship trained Dermatologic surgeon. He completed his specialist training in the United Kingdom and subsequently completed a prestigious American College of Mohs Surgery Fellowship under the direction of Dr Salmon, one of the world’s most talented and progressive Dermatologic Surgeons, in 2007.
He is Co-Director of an American college accredited fellowship training programme in Mohs surgery and cutaneous oncology and has lectured widely at national and international meetings. He teaches Dermatology trainees Dermatologic surgery and cutaneous oncology and in recognition, was awarded an honorary consultant of Waikato teaching hospital.
He maintains an academic and innovative practice in cutaneous oncology and Dermatologic surgery and has published over 60 articles in international peer reviewed literature and has authored chapters on skin cancer for the Royal College of Physicians (UK) training manual ‘Medical Masterclass’.
He is the inaugural and current President of the New Zealand Society of Mohs Surgery.