Mr Jon Morrow
Bariatric, Laparoscopic & General Surgeon – BHB, MBChB, FRACS
Jon has more than 15 years of surgical knowledge and expertise in the surgical weight loss field.
Born and raised in Auckland, Jon’s passion for medicine led him to graduate from Auckland University in 1997. He then earned his Fellowship in General Surgery (FRACS) in 2008. Further driven to help individuals achieve lasting weight loss and health, he pursued subspecialty training in weight loss surgery at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Holy Spirit Northside Hospital. This expertise in gastric banding, sleeve, and bypass procedures empowers him to guide patients through both primary and revisional surgeries.
Beyond his technical skills, Jon finds deep fulfillment in witnessing patients’ journeys.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of their transformation, see their confidence soar, and know I’m making a positive impact on their lives.”
Since 2010, Jon has served as a consultant general and bariatric surgeon at Middlemore Hospital. He actively nurtures the next generation of surgeons by mentoring junior doctors and has even developed a comprehensive database to ensure the safety and efficacy of bariatric procedures.
His dedication extends beyond the hospital walls. Jon actively participates in professional organisations like the Australia and New Zealand Metabolic obesity Surgical Society (ANZMOSS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).
Sarah Stanley
Practice Coordinator
Welcome to Discover Weight Loss.
Embark on your journey with us, and Sarah will be your friendly guide from the very beginning.
Combining administrative expertise in both public and private healthcare with empathy for your life-changing decision, she’ll navigate you through your bariatric journey.
Her goal is to ensure that your journey with Discover Weight Loss is as stress free as possible. If you have any questions or problems, let Sarah know and she’ll do her best to resolve the issue for you.
Sarah will answer all your non-clinical, administrative questions. If you have a clinical question, she will direct your enquiry to the most appropriate person in the Discover Weight Loss team. Please be aware that whilst Sarah will endeavour to answer some of your routine questions, an initial consultation is usually required.
Once you’ve had your first consultation, and the decision has been made to go forward for surgery, Sarah will start to coordinate all the appointments you need with the rest of the Discover Weight Loss team.
Dr Adam Harper
Anaesthetist – MBBS, FFA RCSI
Adam was trained in the U.K. at The Royal London Hospital. He moved to New Zealand in 2005 having been seduced by the people and lifestyle here during a fellowship in 2003.
Bariatric surgery has been a passion in Adam’s professional career. He was actively involved in the early development of anaesthesia for weight loss surgery in the U.K.
Adam will contact you prior to your surgery and will help ease your anxieties around the surgery as well as looking after you during your hospital stay.
My website: www.adam-harper.nz./
Dr Mahnaz Afsari
Anaesthetist
Dr Mahnaz Afsari completed her medical degree at Otago University. She then went on to complete her anaesthetic training in Auckland, Melbourne and finally Toronto where she met her husband and had her two children. After a detour in Perth, Western Australia, she has finally come back to work at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland.
Mahnaz will be in touch prior to your surgery and look after you during your inpatient journey.
Cecilia Westmacott
Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist – PGDip HSc
Cecilia has a long and varied nursing career. Her nurse training commenced at Wirral University Hospital, Cheshire qualifying as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) 1986. She went on to complete a specialist programme in adult intensive care nursing at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital, London and has worked in intensive care for over 20 years, in both clinical and senior managerial roles.
She moved from the United Kingdom to New Zealand in 2004 gaining her citizenship to NZ along the way.
Cecilia’s career remained in the critical care field until moving to Middlemore Hospital in 2012 working with the general surgical team and became the bariatric clinical nurse specialist in 2016. She featured in TVNZ’s ‘The Big Ward’ TV series. Specialising in this practice for over 8 years, she has worked closely with Jon and the Discover Weight Loss team since 2021.
A highly experienced senior nurse, Cecilia has cared, educated and supported over a thousand patients in both public and private, supporting and guiding patients on their weight loss journey. She successfully completed a post graduate courses both at Kings College London and Auckland University gaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing.
Cecilia is a member of the Australia and New Zealand Metabolic Obesity Surgical Society (ANZMOSS).
Apii Nore-Upoko
Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist – BHSc
Apii was born and raised on a small island in the Cook Islands called Mauke. She moved to Auckland at the age of 16 for further schooling and completed her high school years at James Cook High.
In 2005, Apii went and studied nursing at Manukau Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science Nursing in 2007.
In 2008, she starting working as a General Surgery theatre nurse at Middlemore Hospital and became a Clinical Specialty Nurse in 2013. During her time with general surgery, she enjoyed bariatric surgery and was involved in the TVNZ series of the Big Ward. She worked in the operating theatres for 10 years.
In 2017, she took a Clinical Specialty Nurse position with the Pain Team at Middlemore Hospital. However, she returned to general surgery and became the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the bariatric service in September 2021.
Apii completed post graduate studies at the Auckland University where she attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing. She is currently working towards getting her Masters in Nursing.
Apii joined the DWL team in 2023. She is an exceptional senior nurse who enjoys working with many bariatric patients both in public and private in supporting them to achieve better health outcomes. Her beautiful smile and mannerism are adored by both patients and colleagues. She embraces her Cook Islands culture by always wearing a flower in her ear.
Sherman Waitai-Cross
Health & Wellness Coach, Personal Trainer – BBus, NZIHF, REPs
Sherman grew up in West Auckland, in family friendly locations such as Herald Island and Kaukapakapa.
He joined Inland Revenue after leaving school then entered the finance industry and completed his Bachelor of Business. He also had a keen interest in health and fitness, which he pursued and researched in his own time.
After 21 years in the finance industry, Sherman decided to make a change. He obtained qualifications in Personal Training with the NZ Institute of Health and Fitness (NZIHF), and Foundation and Advanced Coaching with Momentum Coaching (International Coach Federation aligned).
He is registered with the NZ Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) as a personal trainer, and is currently studying with Precision Nutrition.
“Every person has their own formula for health and wellness, and coaching is a way of finding and sustaining that formula that changes as our lives evolve.”
Dr Susan Mahon
Registered Neuropsychologist/Psychologist – PhD Psychology, PGDip Psych Practice
Susan is a registered psychologist and has a PhD in neuropsychology with an interest in rehabilitation psychology. Susan provides psychological assessment and evidence-based treatment approaches including acceptance and commitment therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy, to help clients achieve their goals.
Alongside her clinical work, Susan holds an academic position as a senior lecturer in psychology at AUT. Her particular interest is in rehabilitation psychology, where she is the programme leader. This branch of psychology is aimed at maximising the independence, functional status, health, and social participation of individuals with chronic health conditions.
She is actively involved in research, having presented both at a national and international level, and published in a number of peer-reviewed journals.
Susan is a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society and American Psychological Association (APA). She is a professional affiliate for the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology and International Neuropsychological Society.
Kylie Russell
Dietitian – BSc, PGDip, MHSc
Kylie is an Advanced Clinical Dietitian with over 13 years experience in both public and private practice across Auckland. She is experienced in working with a variety of medical and surgical specialties, with a particular specialisation in gastroenterology, general surgery and weight loss surgery.
Kylie graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) through the University of Otago in 2009 (Distinction). She has a strong research interest and went on to complete a Master of Health Science (MHSc) in 2014 through the Department of Surgery at Auckland City Hospital and the University of Auckland (First Class Honours).
Kylie provides lectures at both The University of Auckland and Massey University for the dietetic training program and is an active member of the Auckland Branch of Dietitians New Zealand.
My website: www.kylierusselldietitian.co.nz
Bianca Berton-Scarlet
Dietitian – BSc, MDiet
Bianca grew up in between Queenstown and Auckland. She completed her BSc majoring in Human Nutrition and gained a Masters of Dietetics at the University of Otago.
Her working life began as a private practice dietitian in Dunedin, specialising in digestive health, women’s health, weight management and disordered eating. She also worked in the community and residential care facilities in a variety of specialties.
Bianca found a strong passion for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bariatrics early on in her career. In 2021 she co-founded The Friendly Food Co which creates low FODMAP seasonings for people with IBS.
As a dietitian, Bianca believes in working with clients to create sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes. Her practice is evidence-based and takes a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Bianca is an active member of Dietitians NZ and the Gastroenterology and Bariatric Special Interest Groups.
My website: www.thefriendlyfoodco.nz
Elize Baker
Dietitian – BSc, MHSc (Nutrition/Dietetics)
Elize grew up in Wellington, often visiting The Netherlands.
She began her training gaining a BSc with first class honours at Massey University, before moving to better weather to achieve a MHSc in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Auckland.
Elize began her working life developing and teaching nutrition and science courses. Following that, she worked as a dietitian for Waitemata DHB across Waitakere and North Shore hospitals in a variety of specialities.
Her favourite areas were surgical and gastroenterology, prompting her to set up her own full-time private practice in 2018, predominantly specialising in bariatric surgery. She also saw patients for gastroenterology, disordered eating, general nutrition and healthy eating advice.
“Eat like you love yourself.”
Her dedication extends beyond her practice. She previously served as President of the Auckland Branch of Dietitians NZ and now co-convenes the Bariatric Special Interest Group, actively shaping the field.
My website: www.munchdietetics.co.nz
Sarah Shaw
Dietitian – BSc, PgDipDiet
Sarah grew up in the Auckland area and after a few years down south, qualified in 2008 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics from the University of Otago. Since then she has worked mainly in the areas of bariatric surgery and chronic kidney disease in both New Zealand and the UK.
Sarah also works with the bariatric surgery team at Middlemore Hospital alongside Jon and previously Cecilia and is a member of the Dietitians NZ Special Interest Group for bariatric surgery.
Sarah enjoys being able to build relationships with her clients and help support them through their health journey and create sustainable change for the future. She offers both in person at zoom based consults based on client preference.
Laura Peat
Dietitian – BSc, MHSc (Nutrition/Dietetics)
Laura undertook her training at the University of Auckland where she completed a BSc in Food Science and Nutrition, and a MHSc in Nutrition and Dietetics with first class honours.
She gained diverse experience at Bay of Plenty DHB before returning to Auckland to specialize in rehabilitation nutrition, eating disorders, and digestive health across private practices.
A move to Dunedin was the beginning of Laura specialising in bariatric surgery nutrition and her special interest in binge eating disorder. Laura now has her own private practice, and she works in Queenstown, Invercargill, and offers virtual consultations.
Committed to forming relationships with clients, Laura is always there for guidance and to support healthy lifestyle habits and behaviour formation. Her practice style strikes a balance between collaboration and being evidence-based, ensuring both patient input and optimal care.
Beyond her professional commitments, Laura actively contributes to the dietetic community by serving as the Vice President of the Dietitians New Zealand Southern Branch and Co-Convener of the Dietitians New Zealand ACC Special Interest Group.