Obituary: Peter Christie

Dr Peter Christie

Peter Christie, an Auckland hepatobiliary and transplantation surgeon. Died aged 48

Dr Christie was a prime mover and an ardent advocate for the introduction of liver transplantation in New Zealand, having trained in Pittsburgh under Dr Thomas Starzl, a leader in the field.

For some years Christie single-handedly undertook donor retrieval surgery throughout New Zealand for Australian liver units. He was later a foundation member of the New Zealand team, working with Professor Stephen Munn.

He also published a paper on New Zealand's first experience of liver resection following liver cancer.

Dr Christie attended Auckland Grammar School and Auckland Medical School. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1986 and was awarded a Doctorate in 1991 for research into changes in body composition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. He was widely published on this topic.

On his return to New Zealand following postgraduate work in Sheffield, Lincoln and Pittsburgh, Dr Christie was appointed a senior lecturer at Auckland's Medical School in 1992. He also worked as a general hepatobiliary and transplant surgeon at Auckland Hospital.

Hepatobiliary surgery involves disorders of the liver, bile ducts and gall bladder.

He was known by his colleagues as a man of great integrity and common sense. He was highly regarded by medical students and young surgeons for his teaching.

Dr Christie is survived by his wife, Nichola, and three sons, John, Adam and Charles.