Dr. Francis T. Hall
ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Specialist Head and Neck Surgeon
MB ChB 1986 Otago; FRACS 1998; ABOHNS 2003
Dr. Francis Hall is a veteran Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist based in Auckand, New Zealand. At the heart of Dr. Hall’s practice is ensuring that each and every one of his patients are treated with compassion and are cared for throughout their entire patient journey.
Dr. Hall brings home to New Zealand, years of international experience gained in Australia, Canada and the United States. Areas of expertise and interest include head and neck cancer surgery, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), thyroid and parathyroid surgery, neck ultrasound, sialoendoscopy and general ENT surgery.
Medical History
Dr. Hall graduated from the University of Otago Medical School in 1986. He completed advanced training in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and was made a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1998.
He then completed three separate fellowships in Head and Neck Surgery:
• 2000: Head and Neck Surgery with Dr. Chris O’Brien at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
• 2000 – 2001: Skull base surgery and transoral laser surgery with Dr. Bernie Lyons at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
• 2001 – 2003: American Head and Neck Society Fellowship with Dr. Patrick Gullane, Dr. Ralph Gilbert and Dr. Jeremy Freeman in Head and Neck Surgery, Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery and Microvascular Reconstruction at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada.
While in Canada he passed the American Board of Otolaryngology exam and become a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS), he is “Board Certified”. Being board certified (ABOHNS) in America is the equivalent of FRACS in New Zealand. He is one of a very few New Zealand ENT surgeons who has the ABOHNS qualification.
Soon after, Dr. Hall returned to New Zealand and worked at Wellington and Hutt Hospitals for seven years. In 2008, Francis became the first surgeon in New Zealand to perform sialoendoscopy and presented his first two years of results at the New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (NZSOHNS) annual scientific meeting in 2010.
He then moved to Detroit, USA and worked at Henry Ford Hospital for five years. While working as a surgeon at Henry Ford, he was selected to train in robotic surgery and gained a vast amount of experience in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). He brought this experience back with him to New Zealand in 2016. In 2016, along with his colleague Dr. Andrew Cho, the pair became the first surgeons in New Zealand to perform transoral robotic surgery. They also persuaded Southern Cross Health Insurance to fund transoral robotic surgery for cancer of the tonsil and tongue base. Since then, he has appeared on television on two occasions highlighting the advantages of TORS.
Such breadth of experience from looking after patients with head and neck conditions in four different countries (NZ, Australia, Canada and America) means that Dr. Hall can treat his patients as individuals and tailor their treatment to their specific needs. He is a high-volume experienced head and neck surgeon who enjoys all aspects of head and neck surgery, from the initial assessment, the operation to following-up on his patients post-treatment.
When you come for a consultation with Dr. Francis Hall, you can expect Francis to take the time to explain your (or your child’s) condition and the different options available, allowing you make to make an informed treatment choice.
Awards and Notable Achievements
- Wilson-Allison Memorial Award in Clinical Dermatology
- 2nd Place in the Australasian Medical Protection Society Competition
- Hour Detriot Top Doctor in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
- First New Zealander to be accepted for the American Head and Neck Society fellowship programme
- First surgeon in New Zealand to perform sialoendoscopy and presented his first two years of results at the New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (NZSOHNS).
- Alongside his colleague Dr. Andrew Cho, the pair became the first surgeons in New Zealand to perform transoral robotic surgery (TORS).
- Research and Clinical Papers – While working in Canada Dr. Hall conducted translational research in Thyroid Cancer. In America, he conducted translational research in parathyroid glands succeeding in growing parathyroid cells in the laboratory. Francis has presented at academic scientific meetings in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and America. He has numerous publications in international peer review journals and has written several book chapters and edited a whole section on sinonasal cancer in a 2016 book (Surgical Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery).
Meet the Team
Lisa Henigan
Practice Manager
Lisa comes from a strong background in medical administration and started working with Francis in 2017. Originally from Christchurch, Lisa began her career nurse-aiding at Sunnyside Hospital at the age of 19 and then a few years later moved on to the role of medical secretary at the forensic community team. Following this, Lisa moved on to various other medical secretary roles, including cardiology, infertility, breast, orthopaedics, paediatric, women’s health and has remained in the health system since. Lisa is genuinely passionate about providing a caring and compassionate experience for every patient.
Dr. Fiona Russell
Specialist Anaesthetist
MBChB Dundee Scotland 1991; FFARCSI Dublin, Ireland 1996; FANZCA 2002; Paediatric Anaesthetic Fellowship, WCH, Adelaide 1998-1999 Dr. Fiona Russell is a Generalist Anaesthetist with a special interest in breast surgery, cosmetic surgery, ENT, gynaecology surgery and plastic reconstructive surgery. Dr. Russell moved to NZ in 1999, with her husband, after working as a Paediatric Anaesthetic and Research Fellow at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. Outside of anaesthesia, she enjoys spending time with her family and outdoors exploring New Zealand.
Dr. Graham Knottenbelt
Specialist Anaesthetist
Dr. Graham Knottenbelt is a specialist anaesthetist who works across the Starship Hospital Auckland District Health Board and is a partner at Epsom Anaesthesia Partnership Private Practice. He has a strong interest and high volume of practice in airway and ENT anaesthesia. Dr. Graham has been a specialist anaesthetist for the last 15 years and has gained his qualifications in Johannesburg, South Africa and continued anaesthetic training in Melbourne, Glasgow and Bristol in UK.