Dr. van Vuuren’s journey to becoming a surgeon began with a lifelong love for crafting and creating with her hands. As a child, she could often be found knitting, sketching, and perfecting her modelling projects. This early passion for precision and problem-solving naturally evolved into her career in plastic surgery, where she combines technical expertise with an artist’s touch. For Dr. van Vuuren, the ability to restore and repair isn’t just a profession; it’s a calling that allows her to help patients reclaim their quality of life.
Originally from Melbourne, Dr. van Vuuren completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Melbourne, before pursuing medical studies at the University of Queensland. As a medical student Dr. van Vuuren spent time in Vietnam, observing cleft lip and palate surgeries. This transformative experience highlighted the profound, life-changing impact that a surgery can have—not just for patients but also for their families.
Once qualified Dr van Vuuren returned to Victoria where she set out to establish the foundations to proceed with her surgical training. A rotation in palliative care during this time deepened her understanding of how surgical decisions influence patients’ lives, particularly in later stages, and the value of compassion to patients going through medical treatment that can feel dehumanising.
She discovered her passion for the hand, drawn by the intricate biomechanics of fingers and joints, but it was seeing the impact of hand injuries on patients’ lives that fuelled her to pursue the technical skills and training to provide the precise reconstruction to return a hand to function.
Dr. van Vuuren then moved on to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne before relocating to New Zealand. There, she enjoyed the challenges of regional practice while training in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, managing a diverse range of trauma cases and surgical presentations. Her time at Middlemore Hospital was especially pivotal, as she completed a prestigious hand surgery fellowship at the trauma centre, refining her skills and reinforcing her commitment to collaborative decision-making with patients.
After 12 years of extensive experience in New Zealand, Dr. van Vuuren returned to Australia with her young family to continue her practice. Her diverse and rigorous training enables her to handle a wide range of cases, from complex facial fractures to intricate hand injuries—and everything in between. Patients can feel confident knowing they are in the care of a surgeon who not only possesses advanced technical skills but also deeply values their well-being.
