Mr Abrie Botha obtained his basic medical degree at the University of Stellenbosch. His post-graduate training as a surgeon was in the North Thames region. He spent two years of full time research in Denver, Colorado and obtained an MD degree at the university of London. His specialist training in Upper Gastrointestinal and minimal access surgery was at The Royal London, Middlesex and Whipps Cross University Hospitals. He has a large experience in minimal invasive oesphago-gastric surgery in particular anti-reflux surgery, hiatus hernia repair, achalasia, obesity, cancer, abdominal hernias and reconstruction, and gallstones. His research and surgical results have been published and presented at numerous national and international meetings.