Dr Michael France is an Australian and Internationally trained surgeon. Michael specialises in laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract, but his particular interest lies in Bariatric otherwise known as Weight Loss Surgery.

Michael was born and educated in New Zealand, completing his medical degree in Auckland New Zealand winning the Sir Carrick Robertson Prize for the highest overall marks in surgery.

Michael completed his basic surgical training in New Zealand before carrying out his formal general surgical training in Adelaide South Australia, and obtaining his Fellowship from the Royal Australaisan College of Surgeons in 2003.

During his training he spent 3 years as a research fellow under Professor Glyn Jamieson and Professor David Watson studying various aspects of upper gastrointestinal surgery in the Department of Surgery, Adelaide University.

In 2004 Michael moved to the USA where he completed a fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and gastrointestinal surgery at the University of North Carolina. He was one of the first Australasian surgeons to be formally trained in laparoscopic gastric bypass for morbid obesity. During his fellowship Michael continued to develop his expertise in upper gastrointestinal surgery as well as being formally trained in laparoscopic colorectal, biliary, splenic and hernia surgery.

In 2005 Michael returned to Australia to take up a position as a consultant surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia. He continued to develop his laparoscopic expertise including the laparoscopic diagnosis of lympho-proliferative disorders such as lymphoma.

Over the last 17 years Michael’s Bariatric Practice has grown and developed to such a degree that it is now his main focus. Michael was one of the first surgeon’s to perform Sleeve Gastrectomy in Australia and his expertise was recognised in 2011 when he was selected as one of a few international surgeons to form an expert panel on Sleeve Gastrectomy which published the first consensus statement on Sleeve Gastrectomy. Beyond Sleeve Gastrectomy Michael has built on his initial experience in Gastric Bypass surgery in particular its application to revisional surgery for people who have had previous weight loss surgery. He continues to be a leader in new surgical techniques, introducing the SADI procedure in 2019 after traveling to New York and Madrid to gain specialist training. He is currently the only surgeon in Adelaide to offer Duodenal Bypass procedures. Michael has performed over 3000 Bariatric Procedures providing both experience but also innovation. He strives to produce the best results for his patients both in terms of outcomes and safety.

Outside of work Michael is a proud Father to 3 amazing boys who are fast turning into fine young men. He shares a passion for travelling and tennis with his partner Dr Casie Staehr. Occasionally Michael can be found assisting Casie who is an Obstetrician Gynaecologist with Caesarean sections especially if they occur after hours when assistants are hard to come by. Over the years they have shared several patients together especially given that weight loss surgery generally results in an increase in fertility. Being from New Zealand Michael is a fanatical supporter of the All Black rugby team.