Mr David J Read CSC completed his undergraduate training at the University of Adelaide in 1992 then trained in general surgery in Adelaide and the United Kingdom, receiving his FRACS in 1999. He completed post-fellowship training in upper gastrointestinal surgery, thoracics, breast cancer surgery, rural surgery, paediatric surgery and burns.
David worked as Consultant General Surgeon at the Royal Darwin Hospital in 2002-17, the latter half of this as Director of Trauma Burns Surgery at the then National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC). He completed specialist colorectal surgical training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and Auckland, and became Head of Trauma Surgery at the RMH in March 2020.
David has an interest in disaster response surgery and was involved in the surgical responses to both Bali Bombings, East Timor, and Ashmore Reef. He pioneered the development of the surgical capability of Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) and responded to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013.
David is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. He has been an active member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trauma Committee, an advocate for road safety and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health.