Welcome back, Prof Paddy Dewan

This visit has the potential to empower Papua New Guinea to become a centre of excellence in paediatric surgery within the region – Professor Paddy Dewan

Paradise Private Hospital Management & Medical Team warmly welcomed Professor Paddy Dewan (renowned Paediatric Surgeon & Urologist), back to Port Moresby on May 17, 2026. 

Professor Dewan, also known as the Father of Paediatric Surgery in Papua New Guinea, describes his return to PNG as his “most exciting visit yet,” marking another milestone in his more than three (3) decades of service and contribution to paediatric surgery in the country.

Professor Dewan first travelled to PNG in 1993 as part of the Pacific Island Project sponsored by AusAID. Since then, he has completed 27 visits across the country, dedicating his expertise to improving surgical care for children while mentoring and training local medical professionals.

Over the years, his work has become closely associated with his signature operating theatre cap (a traditional Highlands handwoven hat) symbolizing his enduring connection to Papua New Guinea and its people.

Professor Dewan has conducted 1,529 clinical reviews involving more than 1,000 individual patients and has participated in 810 surgical procedures. Many of these operations involved highly complex cases and reoperations, while others focused on demonstrating specialised paediatric surgical techniques to PNG general surgeons as part of ongoing training and capacity building.

His commitment to strengthening paediatric healthcare in PNG also led to the development of a PNG-based Paediatric Surgery qualifying examination curriculum.

Professor Dewan said he is honoured to return to PNG to help lead the next chapter of paediatric surgery development in the country alongside the team at Paradise Private Hospital.