
I am an Associate Professor in Urology, the TD Scott Chair in Urology at the University of Otago and have been in practice as a qualified Urologist for more than a decade, holding senior Academic Urology positions internationally.
I have full vocational registration as Urologist with the Medical Council of New Zealand and my affiliations include membership of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand.
I received specialized training in world renowned institutions in the USA and Europe, including Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic, Weill Cornell Medical School in New York and the Asklepios Hospital in Germany.
My ultimate goal as Urologist is to offer my patients compassionate care, delivered through world-class service and technical expertise.
Qualifications & Training
I qualified as Urologist in South Africa where I received my postgraduate MMed Urology specialization degree cum laude and received the Rector’s Medal for the best postgraduate student in the Faculty of Health Sciences. I was also admitted to the Fellowship of the College of Urologists and received the medal for the best candidate in their final exam (FC Urol SA).
I am currently a New Zealand board certified Urologist, hold specialist registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, and am a member of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) as well as the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
Current Position
I work as a consultant Urologist in the Department of Urology at Dunedin Public Hospital. This is a tertiary academic training hospital where I am part of a comprehensive Urology service which manages the full spectrum of urological conditions.
These include:
- Prostate: Benign conditions as well as prostate cancer
- Kidneys: Stones, infections, trauma, kidney cancer
- Bladder: Abnormal bladder function, infections, trauma, bladder cancer
- Penis: Impotence (erectile dysfunction), tumors, circumcision
- Testicles: Infection, trauma, tumors
My position as Associate Professor in Urology at the University of Otago gives me the opportunity to lead research and be involved in the training of future doctors and -specialists. This part of the job requires me to stay up-to-date with the newest developments in the field. Attending international Urology congresses (including the American Urological Association and Société Internationale D’Urologie) and presenting my scientific research data at these events have been part of my practice since qualifying as a specialist.

Prof Amir Zarrabi presenting at an international conference in Chicago
Research & Publications
Research is a major part of academic medicine and is a great passion of mine.
Evidence of this is the fact that I hold a PhD-degree in Urology, specifically male infertility and -microsurgery.Some of my other research topics include:
- Prostate cancer genetics
- The use of robotics in kidney stone surgery
- Penis transplantation
- Kidney transplantation
- The use of lasers in urology
I have written numerous scientific articles which have been published in international urology journals (Complete list available here), and have presented my research at various national and international meetings and congresses (Complete list available here).
Other Interests
I have been an avid long distance runner, competetive swimmer and multi-sport athlete for many years, and have completed the various ultra-marathons as well as the Ironman Triathlon.