Assistant Surgeons

  Dr. Jaime Santibañez is a cardiothoracic assistant surgeon based in Sydney who works with a select group of cardiac surgeons across several major hospitals, including Sydney Adventist Hospital, Macquarie University Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

A graduate of the University of Sydney, Jaime has extensive experience assisting in complex cardiac procedures, including minimally invasive techniques. As an assistant surgeon, his role extends beyond technical support to include situational awareness, decision support and coordination within the operating theatre. He believes that clear communication, strong teamwork and a calm operating environment are essential to achieving the best outcomes for patients.

Having worked with surgeons trained in different systems around the world, Jaime is particularly skilled at helping teams integrate diverse working styles — combining the precision and efficiency of European surgical traditions with the collaborative, pragmatic culture of Australian medicine. His focus is on creating an aligned and focused theatre environment where the entire team can perform at their best.

Outside the operating theatre, Jaime enjoys making the most of Sydney’s coastal lifestyle — running along the beach, diving into the ocean for a swim, and celebrating the strong sense of community that surrounds it.

  Dr. James Wood graduated from Edinburgh University Medical School and undertook Surgical Training in the UK gaining the FRCS (Ed) in 1999 before migrating to Australia to continue training in Pediatric Surgery. Now based in Sydney, for the past 10 years he has been assisting 3 cardiothoracic surgeons and assessing the role of cues in learning surgical skills. 

He is an avid supporter of using technology to improve training and in 2014 he graduated from the NSW Medical Devices Commercialization Training Program to help better understand the role of the commercial sector in bringing this to fruition.