Specialist Details

Dr Oliver Florica

Dr Florica earned his MD in 1990 from Carol Davila Medical University in Bucharest, Romania. He interned in South Africa, then furthered his experience at Groote Schuur Hospital (Cape Town) and Witwaterstrand University, (Johannesburg) training in a variety of surgical specialties including trauma, emergency, general surgery, orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgical emergencies, intensive care and life support techniques.

In 1995 Dr Florica moved to Australia to continue training in General Surgery at Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital and Royal Melbourne Hospital where he qualified as a Specialist in 2002 earning his FRACS. Since then, laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery has become the focus of Dr Florica's practice. His experience of over 1000 laparoscopic surgeries regularly includes gallbladder, bowel (colo-rectal), hernia and anti-reflux procedures.

Dr Florica's main surgical interest is laparoscopic gastric banding as a weight loss solution for obesity sufferers. Since 2003 he has completed courses and has been mentored in a range of bariatric surgeries including gastric banding (Prof Paul O'Brien) (St George Hospital) (Hills Private Hospital), general weight loss surgery (Dr P Dumbrell)(Society of American Gastrointestinal Surgeons, Dallas USA), sleeve gastrectomy (Mercy Bariatrics, Perth), and gastric bypass (Dr Nguyen, Los Angeles Laparoscopic). Dr Florica has performed more than 200 laparoscopic gastric banding system insertions with no major technical complications and his results are consistent with best practice standards. For more information about Dr Florica's gastric banding practice please visit his website at http://www.sydneygastricbanding.com.au.

From 2004 Dr Florica has been practicing privately, and patients are seen for surgery at the Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San), Wahroonga. He also regularly schedules patients for colonoscopies and other endoscopies at Castle Hill Day Surgery. While most of his work is performed in the Hills District, Dr Florica enjoys occasional rural and humanitarian secondments, providing support to communities in need. One such deployment was opening and operating an Australian subsidized operating theatre in Nauru with Ausaid in 2003.

He has also contributed research papers, lectures and other presentations on laparascopic surgery and gastric banding among other surgical interests for peer review. Highlights include presentations at the Society of American Gastrointestinal Surgeons (2006), the 11th World Congress Conference of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (2006) and the International Association of Surgeons and Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO)(2007).

Dr Florica is a member of the Australian Medical Association, the Obesity Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, European and Romanian Association of Endoscopic Surgeons and the Romanian Surgical Society.

On a personal note, he lives in the Hills district with Rebecca Keeley, also a Doctor (GP), and their 2 young children. When not working he likes to spend time building and flying light aircraft.