Dr Burrell (Buzz) graduated from St George's Hospital Medical School in London in 1986 before completing his specialist general physician training in Derbyshire. He then emigrated to New Zealand as a respiratory research fellow and lecturer for the University of Otago. Buzz was voted Lecturer of the Year in Dunedin 1993 and Runner up New Zealander of the Year in 1997.

A one-year sabbatical in rural hospital medicine and primary health care became eight years at Reefton on the West Coast, with occasional Chatham Islands postings. This was followed by four years at a remote rural hospital and general practice in Western Australia as a solo ‘bush doctor’ for a small mining town and two aboriginal communities. 

Buzz has established a semi-rural general practice in Renwick near Blenheim; he was the GP with special interest in chronic pain for Nelson; and was a regional coordinator and senior lecturer for the University of Otago rural medical immersion programme until moving to Auckland full time in 2020. 

He is a Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners examiner, served a term as Chair of the College Rural Chapter, and is currently interim Chair of New Zealand’s General Practitioners Aotearoa. 

Buzz has completed training as a pain medicine specialist in Auckland and now works part time as a Senior Medical Officer for The Auckland Regional Pain Service. He has published on asthma, COPD, and many topics of primary care. Buzz has also been an adviser to the Ministry of Health on various committees over the years. 

Buzz’s experience drives him to be thorough and evidence-based, with a trusted network of senior colleagues to assist him to give his patients the best comprehensive and up to date care possible.