Dr Massimo Giola is Back Working in Medicine in Tauranga 14 Dec 2015

Massimo Giola, who worked at Tauranga Hospital from 2010 to 2013 as General/Infectious Disease Physician, is back after completing a second specialty training in Sexual Health Medicine in Auckland.

Massimo Giola, who worked at Tauranga Hospital from 2010 to 2013 as General/Infectious Disease Physician, is back after completing a second specialty training in Sexual Health Medicine in Auckland.

Originally from Italy, where he obtained his Medical degree in 1991, Massimo specialised in Infectious Diseases in 1996, and studied antiretroviral drugs’ pharmacokinetics before completing a PhD programme in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology from 2005 to 2008.  In 2009 he came to New Zealand, first to the deep south Invercargill then to Tauranga.

It is Tauranga that has won Massimo’s heart, for its warm climate and Mediterranean feel. He and partner Andrea, who works in Clinical Coding, are building a house in Ohauiti to settle after years of travelling.

Massimo is currently working part-time (Tuesday to Thursday) in an Acute Medical role for the DHB. You will chat with him sooner or later when he is carrying the GP phone on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Massimo apologises in advance if sometimes he sounds a bit grumpy when the hospital is very busy and acute beds are in short supply!

On Mondays and Fridays Massimo is working with other providers (like the BOP Sexual Assault Support Services) and doing sessions of private practice in General Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health Medicine (including Transgender Medicine) at Suite 9 - Promed House.

He says he is honoured to be continuing his community engagement by serving as a Trustee on the Board of the NZ AIDS Foundation.

Massimo is always hopeful that Bruce Springsteen will tour New Zealand before retiring, but until then is finding some consolation in books (especially sci fi and fantasy), travels, movie festivals, and cooking (risotto alla Milanese and tiramisu - his signature dishes).