Bariatric Surgeon, Dr Samuel Baker opened North Queensland Minimally Invasive Surgery in 2003 and North Queensland Obesity Surgery Centre in 2007, with Dr John Avramovic.
Dr Baker was born in Rockhampton and educated in Biloela, Toowoomba and Brisbane. Dr Baker graduated from Medicine (MBBS) at the University of Queensland in 1993. After an intern and house officer year in Townsville and Bowen he completed his basic and advanced surgical training at Westmead Hospital in Sydney and the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2000.
Advanced laparoscopic training was obtained from Dr George Fielding, Dr Les Nathanson and Dr Nick O'Rourke whilst at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Since obtaining his FRACS, Dr Baker has obtained further advanced laparoscopic surgical skills and bariatric surgical training at Mount Sinai, New York with Dr Michel Gagner and other institutions in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Dr Baker has worked in Townsville since 2003 practising a diverse range of general surgery including his special interests of upper gastrointestinal, bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery including adrenalectomy,splenectomy, pancreatectomy, colorectal and hernia surgery. He works in both the private and public hospitals.
Dr Baker is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, member of General Surgeons Australia, Board Member of Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and New Zealand, member of Australasian Trauma Society and a member of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
Dr Baker was the North Queensland AMA representative for General Surgery from 2006-2011 and held the position of Deputy Treasurer of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He is an active member of various surgical committees involved in patient safety and clinical governance both in the public and private sectors.
Dr Baker is married with twin girls. Outside of medicine his interests include travel, photography, cricket, rugby union, cycling and motorsport.