Professor Fiona Wood AO
Early Life and Medical Training
Born in the north of England, Professor Fiona Wood began her medical career at St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School in London. It was there that she was first drawn towards plastic surgery, recognising her desire to combine research, innovation, and surgery in her career.
She trained under plastic surgery team consultant Brian Mayou, who would become one of the most influential figures in her life.
While working at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, Professor Wood developed strong experience and interest in congenital conditions such as cleft palate. Her exposure to many forms of scarring further deepened her clinical curiosity. She was later accepted to Queen Victoria Hospital in Sussex, home to a burn unit, marking the beginning of her lifelong dedication to burn medicine.
Moving to Australia and Finding Mentorship
Professor Wood moved to Australia in 1987. Soon after arriving, she sought out the late Harold McComb, a brilliant plastic surgeon and Founding Member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. She described him as:
"An extraordinary man and an extraordinary plastic surgeon. He was always questioning the boundaries and looking to improve.”
Professor McComb became an inspirational figure in her life. In recognition of his influence, the Fiona Wood Foundation was originally established in 1999 as the McComb Foundation.
Leadership in Burns Medicine
After completing her medical training in Australia, with key areas of focus in cleft palates and burns, Professor Wood made the decision in the early 1990s to dedicate her career to burn medicine. In 1991, she became Western Australia’s first female plastic surgeon. That same year, she was appointed Director of the Burns Service of Western Australia (BSWA).
Her leadership and ability to drive innovation were quickly recognised. Under her direction, the Burns Service of Western Australia gained international recognition as a leader in burn care.
From the earliest days of her work, Professor Wood’s focus has been on improving long-term outcomes for burns patients. She has consistently believed that more can be done to facilitate scarless healing, not only physically, but in mind, body and spirit.
Understanding that collaboration leads to better outcomes, she has built multidisciplinary teams committed to advancing knowledge and translating research into bedside treatments.
Responding to Global Tragedy
Traumatic global events have increased public awareness of the importance of burn medicine, and Professor Wood and her team have been at the forefront of crisis response.
In October 2002, she was thrust into the international media spotlight when the largest proportion of survivors from the 2002 Bali bombings were transferred to Royal Perth Hospital. She led a team treating 28 patients with burns ranging from two to 92 per cent of their bodies, many suffering from severe infections and delayed shock.
The response was a major operation involving four operating theatres, 19 surgeons and 130 medical staff working around the clock, not only to save lives, but to improve the long-term quality of life for the 25 survivors.