Meet the Team
Surgical Weight Solutions believes wholeheartedly in a team-based philosophy lead by Mr Michael Booth.
Our vision has always been to create class-leading comprehensive support from the initial consultation through two years post-op.
We have a team of leading professionals willing to offer the support on your journey.
Mr Michael Booth
Our Surgeon - MBChB MBA FRACS
Michael is highly experienced in open and laparoscopic surgery and has over the years performed more than 5000 laparoscopic operations for gallstones, hernia, reflux and weight loss. He has been lucky to straddle the era when major abdominal surgery transitioned into major laparoscopic surgery giving him skills in both open and laparoscopic surgery. He is also an experienced endoscopist.
He also has an appointment at North Shore Hospital (Te Whatu Ora Waitemata) and over the years has trained many upper GI and Bariatric Fellows who are now practicing consultants in New Zealand and overseas. He is a member of a number of Surgical Societies.
He has lead Bariatric clinical research at North Shore including Randomised Controlled trials for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes as well as antireflux surgery. He is particularly interested in the long term outcomes of surgery and has published on this.
We need to look at our outcomes to look forwards in our practice.
He is an Affiliated Provider with Southern Cross Health Care
Mr Suheelan Kulasegarn
Our Surgeon - MBChB, PGDipSurgAnat, ChM(Edinburgh), FRACS
Mr. Suheelan Kulasegaran is a New Zealand trained Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric, Laparoscopic Surgeon, General Surgeon and Endoscopist. He grew up in Hamilton and graduated with Distinction from the University of Auckland Medical School. After earning his Postgraduate Fellowship in General Surgery from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, he completed a year of sub-specialist fellowship training at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He then continued further subspecialist training as a Senior Clinical Oesophago-Gastric Fellow at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, United Kingdom where he further developed skills in thoracoscopic and laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery.
Following this, he served as a Consultant Oesophago-Gastric Surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for a year. Mr. Kulasegaran gained invaluable training and experience working alongside international leaders within the field of Minimally Invasive Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is a busy and internationally acclaimed hospital that performs high volume Minimally Invasive Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery.
During his tenure, Mr. Kulasegaran completed advanced robotic surgery courses, received robotic accreditation, and spent time at various leading institutes in the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom. He completed a Master of Surgery from the University of Edinburgh. He is actively involved in Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric research and has published extensively on benchmarking standards and quality performance indicators in the field of Oesophago-Gastric cancers.
He currently holds the position of an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland. In his public practice at the North Shore and Waitakere Hospital, Auckland, he specialises in Bariatrics, Malignant and Benign diseases of the Oesophagus and Stomach, Reflux disease, Hiatal hernias, Gallbladder disease, and hernias. Outside of work, he enjoys family time, running, road biking, and practising martial arts. He is fluent in three languages.
Available for both urgent and non-urgent consults. Mr. Kulasegaran is dedicated to providing excellent care for patients and their families and can accommodate short-notice appointments.
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Dr Chaey Leem
Our Physician
Chaey Leem is a NZ-trained medical graduate from the University of Otago. He aspires to become the first bariatric physician in New Zealand - a very new field of medicine which is currently under-recognised.
After graduation, Chaey has worked in a wide range of surgical-based rotations including his time with Michael Booth, which greatly sparked his interest in helping patients with obesity.
He is SCOPE certified, an internationally recognised certificate in obesity management.
As a bariatric doctor, Chaey is interested in providing an individualised, patient-centred treatment plan.
He is looking to support patients throughout their entire journey, from before surgery to many years after surgery too.
Emily McRae
Our Psychologist - Psychologist (Regd), MA (Hons) Psychology, Cert Counselling
Emily is a Health Psychologist with over a decade of experience in the field of Health Psychology. To help people 'thrive' is at the core of Emily's psychological approach. Her aim is to help people get the most out of life, enhance their wellbeing, and help people live well. Emily is incredibly passionate about helping people prepare for, and cope with, bariatric surgery. Emily believes that with the right tools and support, bariatric surgery can help people to significantly improve their quality of life. When Emily is not working, you will find her on the sidelines of the Netball court or Rugby field with her three children.
Emily really looks forward to meeting and working with you!
Victoria Liang
Our Dietitian - Registered Dietitian, BSc, MHSc (Nutrition and Dietetics)
Victoria is a Registered Dietitian with over 7 years experience working with a variety of medical and surgical specialities including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and weight loss and bariatric surgery.
Victoria grew up in Hamilton and undertook her training at the University of Auckland where she completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Food Science and Nutrition, followed by her Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Nutrition and Dietetics with First Class Honours.
After completing her studies, she returned to Hamilton to gain valuable experience at Waikato Hospital. She later moved back to Auckland, where she served as a Senior Clinical Dietitian at Middlemore Hospital, specialising in both bariatric and renal care. In addition to her clinical work, Victoria took on the role of Dietetic Student Clinical Coordinator, mentoring and supporting the next generation of dietitians.
Currently, Victoria is in private practice, where she is dedicated to forging meaningful relationships with her clients. She is passionate about providing personalised, evidence-based nutrition advice tailored to each individual’s needs, ensuring that their dietary goals are both sustainable and achievable.
Lyn Pearless
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Lyn is a registered nurse in public and private practice who has worked in a variety of disciplines. Qualified as a Comprehensive Nurse, completed BSc (Nursing), Post Graduate Certificate (Critical Care) and Master Nursing (Hons).
Lyn has been working with Michael Booth since 2003 with the practice having a multidisciplinary focus in line with Centre of Excellence principles
My strengths within the bariatric practice:
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Patient focus, pre and post operative during weight loss journey
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Research for a client centred evidence based approach.
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Papers published with Michael Booth
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Member ANZMOSS (Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society).
Sue Booth
Office Manager
Sue was born and raised in Napier. A daughter of 2 doctors but chose a path of hospitality.
After running her own businesses for over 30 years, Sue joined us in 2023.
Sue's happy places are in the kitchen and the garden. She loves entertaining and spending time in Central Otago. She has one daughter, Dominique, a veterinary surgeon in the USA.
With all of her experience in hospitality, she is client focused.
Maria McDonald
Practice Manager
Maria has worked as an administrator in the private healthcare sector for over 18 years.
She is married with two children and one grandchild.
Maria has a big focus on keeping fit. She enjoys her bush walks with her dog and doing pilates. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Maria has a warm, bubbly personality and loves meeting people and helping them through their medical journey.
Erin Judge
Medical Secretary/Theatre co-ordinator
Having always been in a front facing role, Erin is very passionate about people.
She is a social person, who, in her free time, loves being with friends and family, being outdoors, and making the most of what nature has to offer. She enjoys going for walks, swimming, heading out on the boat and water sports, and a good Kiwi BBQ!
She is really enjoying discovering and seeing the difference we at Surgical Weight Solutionsmake to our patients lives.