Dr John Dehn's Profile

Hello,

I have been working in North Canterbury, as a GP, for the last 20 years. Initially between Amberley and Amuri , then Amberley  then Pegasus which we started, myself and Dr Robinsom May 13.

I provide general healthcare to people of all ages and enjoy practicing Family Medicine, General Practice including  Musculo-Skeletal medicine, acute medical conditions  and intervention medicine. In General Practice I enjoy meeting people and families, sharing their problems and trying to help with the best available resources. I am always keen to attend conferences and meetings with other health professionals as this keeps me up-to-date with new advances in medicine and outcomes of studies and researches in different medical fields. There is always something new to learn.

Having an ongoing passion to surgery, I have developed a special interest in Skin Cancer.  Over the last 15 years, I participated in many workshops, courses and conferences in Australia and New Zealand, learning and continuously improving my skills in the field of dermoscopy, mole checks and surgical techniques in the management of different types of Skin Cancers. In addition, I have  worked at Burwood Hospital Plastic Outpatient Unit on different occasions over several years.  I believe that early diagnosis and management of skin cancer carries the best outcome, hence we offer an affordable, readily available  service at Pegasus.

I have graduated from medical school in 1980, trained in general surgery and practised as a general surgeon. In 1988, I was tempted to gain new experience and travelled overseas in Africa, Middle East and Europe. I worked for an American Oil Exploration company, being the Crew Doctor, sometimes in places in the middle of nowhere, looking after expatriates and local workers up to 500 persons in some cases.  I have enjoyed the travel, treating diseases I would otherwise have never seen and helping seriously ill patients. In some countries, I was quite happy caring for families and children, who otherwise would have very poor access to medical care.

Then an opportunity arose for me and my family to immigrate to New Zealand. We came for a visit initially, 26 years ago, and loved the country and the people and then decided to move permanently, myself with my wife Molly and my 3 children, George, Joseph and Roger.

In New Zealand, I completed a medical bridging course and sat many exams, which I have all passed. Then I worked in the hospital for about 1.5 years, in different specialities before deciding to join General Practice . Then I completed my Fellowship of the NZ College of GP’s.

My sons, George and Roger are Doctors and presently working at Pegasus, who I am very proud of ,  while Joseph has finished computer science.

I believe the most important in general practice is to listen to your patient and establish a trustful doctor- patient relationship.

Looking forward to meet you soon.

John Dehn