With significant experience in both general obstetrics and specialist roles overseas, including five years as a specialist and consultant in Adelaide and Darwin, Dr Greg Phillipson is now well-established in his hometown of Christchurch. He plays a key role in the COGA team as our in-house expert in fertility and reproductive medicine.

After graduating from Otago Medical School in the mid 1980s, Greg went on to train as a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, before gaining a Certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI). With this sub-specialist expertise, he is able to guide couples through the complexities of genetics and how they might relate to fertility issues.
His experience as Medical Director of Fertility Clinics in Christchurch and Adelaide has given him an overarching view of the services available as well as the compassion and sensitivity needed in this area of healthcare.

With a wealth of experience in male and female fertility management, early pregnancy care, IVF, and fertility delay surgeries, Greg is passionate about the importance of the individual in a fertility plan and about encouraging his patients to make informed choices. He sees IVF as just one solution for couples looking to start families and ensures patients are aware of all factors relating to fertility delay. He knows better than most that sometimes, a minor change can make a major difference to reproductive health.

Greg also specialises in ovulation disorders, endometriosis management, and miscarriage care. A skilled surgeon, he is able to perform laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and tubal surgery, and to reverse both female sterilisation and vasectomies.

His research has been published in leading fertility journals around the world, and he has also held clinical academic appointments at both Otago University and Flinders University in Adelaide. Greg sees mentoring young registrars and trainee doctors as part of his responsibility as a senior doctor. As a fellow of RANZCOG, he is able to further his contribution to the academic side of the profession.

Thanks to his trademark openness and sensitivity, Greg is highly regarded among male patients seeking help with sperm health, same sex couples and single women looking to start a family, and also by couples experiencing fertility delay. Given his areas of expertise, Greg also works with patients who have experienced multiple miscarriages and tubal pregnancies.

When asked about the changes he has seen during his career, he is quick to praise the modern understanding of ovulation and its relationship to age and health for successful pregnancy. He also commends the movement toward individualised rather than a purely scientific approach to healthcare. Greg is committed to meeting the cultural and personal needs of his patients. He sees that for some, a more serious approach is needed while others prefer him to be light hearted, and with his years of experience, he is able to determine which is the best approach for the individual.

In his personal life, Greg can be found in the great outdoors, tramping and travelling around New Zealand. He’s often spotted in the hills above Christchurch – usually on a bike or in a pair of running shoes. A happily involved father of kids now in their 20s, he is kept busy with family life and enjoys travelling when he can.