Head & Neck Surgeon Dr James Wykes
BSci (Med) MBBS (Hons) FRACS
Dr James Wykes is a head and neck surgeon with a special interest in treating mouth, throat and jaw tumours; salivary gland conditions; thyroid and parathyroid disease; advanced skin cancers; and microvascular reconstructive surgery. He practises across Sydney and Wollongong at several major hospitals and cancer treatment centres.
Specialties and areas of interest
“A head and neck surgeon’s role is to solve complex surgical puzzles with the finest attention to detail. We integrate surgery with treatment from other members of the head and neck team to provide the best care for the patient as a whole. Working in this area allows me to use surgery, including microvascular reconstructive surgery, to treat people whose conditions have a profound impact on their lives. I always keep sight of the bigger picture, applying my skills, compassion and experience to every person I treat.”
- Dr James Wykes
Qualifications & training
After completing his medical degree at UNSW in 2005, Dr Wykes undertook his general surgical training at Liverpool, Bankstown and Prince of Wales Hospitals in Sydney and completed his fellowship in general surgery in 2012.
Dr Wykes was drawn to head and neck surgery as a complex and rewarding area of medicine where treatment outcomes can affect a person’s health, identity and quality of life in uniquely personal ways. He undertook post-fellowship training in head and neck surgery and microvascular reconstruction at Liverpool Hospital in 2013, the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute at RPA and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in 2014, and St George’s Hospital, London, UK in 2016 in the maxillofacial surgery unit.
Since returning to Sydney, Dr Wykes has worked as a visiting medical officer in head and neck surgery at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, RPA, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong Private Hospital and Bankstown Hospital. He also participates in the general surgery on call roster at Wollongong and Bankstown Hospitals, as well as the facial trauma roster at Wollongong Hospital.
Research & teaching
Dr Wykes is the director of the head and neck fellowship program at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, an internationally renowned program which employs 3 surgeons from a variety of training backgrounds [General surgery, ENT, plastic surgery, Maxillofacial surgery] annually to further their specialist head and neck training. He also holds several teaching positions including senior clinical lecturer at the University of Sydney, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Wollongong and clinical lecturer at UNSW, and is regularly involved in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching. His research interests include clinical research in advanced cutaneous and mucosal malignancy of the head and neck, thyroid and salivary gland cancer and microvascular reconstruction outcomes.
A list of James’ publications can be found here.
Away from medicine, James enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, who all love the great outdoors, especially the beach.
