Dr Flávio Vasconcelos Ordones, a urologist, trained in Adelaide from 2016-2017, "really enjoyed the environment and how the health system works."

On returning to Brazil, he admits he felt unhappy. That's when he and his wife, also a doctor, decided to move to Aotearoa New Zealand. “In Brazil, you get accustomed to bodyguards, high fences, cameras, and dealing with corruption due to the prevalent violence,” he says.

During the pandemic in 2020, Dr Ordones and his wife Cinthia flew to Hamilton on work visas as specialists. However, the work part was tricky at the beginning because the registration process with Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa Medical Council New Zealand took almost two years.

Initially, he had a job offer at Waikato Hospital, in Hamilton Kirikiriroa, where his wife now works, but it was a temporary 12-month position, and they couldn't wait that long. As a result, he lost that offer. For the first six months, he flew to Brazil three times to operate on patients there. Fortunately, at the end of 2020, Dr Ordones received a new job offer and waited another six months to complete the registration process. In July 2021, he finally began working as a urologist at Tauranga Hospital, where he still works.

“My experience in Tauranga has been great. The city's climate is milder compared to other parts of Aotearoa New Zealand, which is ideal coming from Brazil. The department where I work is great; we have two consultants who pioneered techniques for prostatic hyperplasia. This offers abundant research opportunities, supported by a dedicated clinical trial unit. Overall, it's been good.”

Tauranga also has Grace Hospital, a private hospital equipped with a robot where he can continue performing robotic-assisted operations.

Further developing his career, Dr Ordones initiated—along with his colleague Wikus Vermeulen—a new program at Tauranga Hospital, introducing a better method for prostate biopsies. Previously conducted under general anaesthesia, they are now performed under local anaesthesia.

In May this year, Dr Ordones presented the results of this new approach—Transperineal Prostate Biopsy under local anaesthetic—at the latest North American Urological meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The presentation demonstrated besides freeing up theatre space, the initiative is also saving a significant amount of money for the healthcare system.

Currently, he is working on developing a machine learning-based predictive model for prostate cancer. “This model aims to create an online calculator that assesses risks for patients needing a biopsy.”

Over the next six months, he aims to publish this project, anticipating it will enhance the decision-making process in healthcare. He hopes to expand into projects such as offering robotic-assisted operations for urology public patients in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Dr Ordones' journey into medicine was influenced by his father's career with the major pharmaceutical company, Fresenius. Accompanying his father on visits to hospitals as a child sparked his interest in the medical field. This early exposure played a significant role in his decision to pursue medicine.

“During medical school, I found myself drawn to the surgical pathway from the start. It was during my general surgery training that I discovered my passion for urology, particularly its versatility, which allows for both minor procedures and complex oncological surgeries.

“The appeal of minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery—my main reason for training in Adelaide—further solidified my interest.”

Currently, Dr Ordones practices general urology, endourology, with a special interest on uro-oncology and robotic-assisted operations.

“I've been fortunate. Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Brazil have all provided me opportunities to build a career as a urologist and uro-oncologist,” he says.

Outside of work, Dr Ordones enjoys spending time with his 14-month-old daughter and indulging in his passion for music. "I play the acoustic guitar and drums," and is eagerly waiting for an opportunity to join a band in the future.