OUR DOCTORS
Spencer Heald
MBChB, FRACP, FCSANZ
ABOUT SPENCER
One of New Zealand’s senior electrophysiologists.
Spencer was born in Wellington and graduated through the University of Otago. He commenced training in cardiology in Wellington Hospital before gaining a NZ Heart Foundation scholarship to travel to the UK. He completed his fellowship whilst at St. George’s Hospital in London, gaining experience in the rapidly developing field of cardiac electrophysiology, and also in interventional cardiology.
He returned as a clinical cardiologist to NZ in 1997, spearheading the development of ablation for treatment of arrhythmias in the Waikato. He is New Zealand’s sole combined interventional cardiologist/electrophysiologist with particular interest in cardiac catheterisation; angioplasty and stenting; radiofrequency and cryotherapy ablation; and complex pacing including defibrillators, resynchronisation devices and lead extraction.
Professor Martin Stiles
MB ChB, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FHRS
ABOUT MARTIN
One of New Zealand’s leading cardiac electrophysiologists, with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.
Martin was born and educated in Hamilton before completing his medical degree with distinction at the University of Otago. He undertook specialist cardiology training across Waikato Hospital, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, and Green Lane Cardiovascular Service in Auckland. He later completed a PhD at the University of Adelaide, focusing on atrial fibrillation and flutter, supported by a New Zealand Heart Foundation Overseas Training Fellowship.
Returning to Hamilton in 2008, Martin has played a key role in advancing cardiac electrophysiology services in the region. He introduced atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation to Waikato and has helped establish the region as a centre of excellence for electrophysiology, including the development of a recognised training programme. His clinical practice includes electrophysiology studies, catheter ablation, pacemakers, defibrillators, and complex device therapies.
Martin is Director of Electrophysiology at Waikato Hospital and Professor of Medicine at the University of Auckland. He is actively involved in research, with a strong focus on atrial fibrillation, implantable cardiac devices, and sudden cardiac arrest. He has published extensively in leading international journals and contributes to global clinical guidelines and consensus statements.
He holds leadership roles across several international organisations, including Chair of the New Zealand Division of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and serves on committees for the Heart Rhythm Society and Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society. He is also a regular invited speaker at international conferences.
Martin takes a collaborative and practical approach to patient care, working closely with patients to guide treatment decisions that best suit their individual needs.
Daniel Garofalo
MD, FRACP
ABOUT DANIEL
A cardiac electrophysiologist specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.
Daniel completed his medical degree at the University of the Republic in Uruguay before moving to New Zealand, where he undertook cardiology training through Auckland Hospitals. He further specialised in electrophysiology with advanced training in internationally recognised centres, including Hospital La Paz in Madrid and Hammersmith Hospital in London.
He has worked across several regions in New Zealand, including Nelson Marlborough and Canterbury, before joining Waikato Hospital in 2021. Since then, he has contributed to the ongoing development of electrophysiology services in the region.
Daniel’s clinical expertise includes arrhythmia ablation and pacemaker implantation. He has also played an active role in introducing new technologies locally, including the Aurora® extravascular defibrillator and the Aveir® leadless pacemaker, as well as contributing to the development of left bundle area pacing in Waikato.
He is a Fellow of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand and holds certification in electrophysiology from the European Heart Rhythm Association.
Daniel takes a patient-centred approach to care, with a strong focus on empathy, clear communication, and shared decision-making to ensure patients feel informed and confident in their treatment.
Kerry Johnson
MBChB, FRACP, FCSANZ
ABOUT KERRY
Kerryanne completed her medical degree at the University of Dundee in Scotland before moving to New Zealand in 2007. She undertook cardiology training across Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, followed by a fellowship in multi-modality cardiac imaging at Leeds General Infirmary in the UK, supported by a New Zealand Heart Foundation scholarship. During this time, she gained advanced international accreditation in cardiac MRI, CT coronary angiography, and transoesophageal echocardiography.
She has worked across a range of centres in New Zealand and the UK, including Waikato Hospital, where she joined the team in 2023, and Waikato Heart in 2024. Kerryanne has contributed to the development of cardiac imaging services, including introducing advanced imaging techniques and supporting regional and national cardiac networks.
Her clinical interests include valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, metabolic health and its impact on the heart, and adult congenital heart conditions.
Kerryanne is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato and has held leadership roles in cardiology training across New Zealand and Australasia. She is also involved in national work to improve access to high-quality cardiac imaging.
She takes a practical and patient-focused approach, with an emphasis on clear communication and helping patients understand their heart health.
Chris Nunn
MBChB, FRACP, FACC, FCSANZ
ABOUT CHRIS
An experienced cardiologist with a background in interventional cardiology and a strong focus on general cardiology care.
Chris completed his medical degree at the University of Otago before undertaking cardiology training in Wellington. He further advanced his expertise through overseas experience at the University of Florida as a White Parsons Fellow, gaining specialised training in interventional cardiology.
Chris has had a long-standing career in cardiology across the Waikato region, including many years at Waikato Hospital before continuing his work with Lakes District Health Board. Since beginning practice in Waikato in the mid-1990s, he has played a significant role in advancing cardiac services in the region.
He was instrumental in establishing the emergency angioplasty programme for acute heart attacks at Waikato — the first of its kind in New Zealand — and also led the development of a community thrombolysis programme for rural patients in the Coromandel, which was later expanded across the wider Waikato region.
Chris has contributed to research and publications in interventional cardiology and community-based heart attack treatment, including early work on primary angioplasty. He has also held a number of leadership roles within the profession, including Chair of the New Zealand Training Committee for Cardiology, Chair of the New Zealand Interventional Cardiology Group, and Head of Department for Cardiology at Waikato Hospital.
He takes a patient-focused approach to care, ensuring patients are well informed and supported to make decisions about their own health. He places strong emphasis on helping patients understand their condition and the implications for their long-term wellbeing.
Originally from Auckland and raised in Wellington, Chris brings decades of experience and a practical, grounded approach to cardiology care.
Cherian Sebastian
BSc, MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ
ABOUT CHERIAN
Born in India and graduated in Medicine from the University of Calicut. He migrated to New Zealand as a house surgeon at Auckland Hospital in 1988. He trained in Cardiology at Wellington Hospital and was awarded a New Zealand Heart Foundation Overseas Training Fellowship to go Oklahoma, USA where he trained in Interventional Cardiology and Echocardiography.
On returning to New Zealand he established the first Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Taranaki Base Hospital in 2001. He joined Waikato Hospital in 2002 and has worked with Waikato Heart and Midland Cardio-Vascular Services since then.
He is the former Director of Cardiac Catheterisation laboratory and Clinical Director of Cardiology and is the current Director of Cardiology Training at Waikato Hospital.
His current fields of expertise at Waikato Hospital and Midland Cardio-Vascular Services are Cardiac catheterisation, Coronary angiography, Angioplasty and Stenting, Echocardiography and Trans-Oesophageal Echocardiography (TOE).
Vijaya Pera
MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ, Interventional Cardiologist
ABOUT VIJAYA
Dr Vijaya Pera is a Cardiologist at Waikato Heart. He graduated from S.V. Medical college in India, followed by further training in UK. He completed Cardiology training in New Zealand and was awarded Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2013. He completed 2-year Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, USA in 2015.
His main interests are General Cardiology, Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Failure. He specialized in all aspects of coronary intervention including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), assessment of coronary lesions using fractional flow reserve (FFR), intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
OUR SONOGRAPHERS
Mathew Varghese
BSc, PGDipCVT, BSE
ABOUT MATHEW
Mathew is an experienced Cardiac Sonographer with over 25 years working in cardiology, including more than a decade as a specialist echocardiographer.
He began his career in India, completing a Bachelor of Science followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Cardiovascular Technology, before further specialising in echocardiography in the United Kingdom. During this time, he achieved accreditation with the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), reflecting a high standard of clinical expertise in cardiac imaging.
Mathew has worked internationally across India, the UAE, and the UK, and has spent over 12 years as a Specialist Cardiac Sonographer at Waikato Hospital. He joined Waikato Heart in recent years, bringing a wealth of experience in performing and interpreting diagnostic cardiac ultrasound studies.
His clinical expertise includes adult transthoracic echocardiography and advanced imaging techniques such as 3D imaging, myocardial strain analysis, contrast and bubble studies, as well as stress echocardiography using both exercise and dobutamine protocols.
Mathew takes a patient-centred approach to his work, focusing on clear communication and creating a calm, supportive environment. He prioritises both patient comfort and the delivery of high-quality imaging to support accurate diagnosis and care.
Outside of work, Mathew enjoys staying active through badminton and spending time with his family, often supporting his sons in their cricket and enjoying time together on weekends.
OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM
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Anglesea Consulting Suites
Suite 1, 2nd Floor
Anglesea Medical Precinct
Hamilton, NZ
P. 07 957 6080
F: 07 957 6081
E: reception@waikatoheart.co.nz
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