Dr. Paul G. Anderson transforms decades of surgical experience into gripping novels and humanitarian efforts, bridging the worlds of medicine and storytelling to empower, educate, and entertain.
Few individuals can transition from life-saving surgery to penning page-turning novels with equal credibility. Dr. Paul G. Anderson, a pioneering general surgeon based in Adelaide, South Australia, has done just that. With a background in hepatobiliary and laparoscopic bariatric surgery, Dr. Anderson has evolved from operating rooms into the world of fiction, bringing with him the grit, humanity, and moral tension that define both medicine and life.
From co-founding Specialists Without Borders to authoring the “Christian de Villiers” thriller series and the reflective memoir Surgical Tales, Dr. Paul G. Anderson bridges science and storytelling to connect with a wide, diverse audience.
A Surgeon’s Global Journey Fuels Fiction with Purpose
Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, Dr. Anderson’s life and career span multiple continents. He studied medicine in Hamilton, Scotland, California, and South Africa, ultimately settling in Australia, where he would become a pioneer in minimally invasive bariatric surgery.
But his experiences extend far beyond hospital walls. From war-torn Congo to crash sites and rural clinics, Anderson has treated patients in high-pressure, high-risk environments that tested more than his clinical skills; they tested his compassion and adaptability. These raw, human experiences laid the groundwork for his novels, where fact and fiction blur in ethical dilemmas and global intrigue.
Dr. Anderson explains that his writing is driven by the moral tension he has witnessed both in operating rooms and during humanitarian missions.
The Christian de Villiers Series
Through his thriller trilogy, Dr. Anderson explores themes of political corruption, identity, and the legacy of violence, all through the eyes of Christian de Villiers, a doctor caught in global conflicts.
- Does It Hurt to Die introduces readers to Christian’s search for truth after his father’s mysterious death during apartheid-era South Africa. The plot unveils unethical genetic experiments and hidden state secrets.
- Old Lovers Don’t Die follows Christian into the heart of Africa, where he must survive warlords, revive an old love, and uncover a sinister plot involving Chinese exploitation and biochemical threats.
- Let Him Die brings the story to Australia, where Christian faces the mafia, wrongful accusations, and danger to his family after refusing to be bribed for a surgical decision.
While gripping in pace, these novels are rooted in real medical ethics and global health politics, drawn from Anderson’s first-hand exposure to the consequences of inequality and power.
A Memoir That Cuts to the Heart of Medicine
Unlike the high-stakes pace of his fiction, “Surgical Tales” is intimate, honest, and reflective. In this memoir, Dr. Anderson shares stories from decades in surgery, highlighting not just successes but also the emotional and spiritual weight of being responsible for human life.
Whether recounting his presence at a terrorist bombing in Cape Town or training indigenous nurses in New Zealand, Anderson uses each chapter to expose the deeper truths behind medicine: courage, humility, and the fragile line between life and loss.
He believes that the memoir is not solely focused on the events that took place in the operating room but rather on the profound impact those experiences had on him personally.
Available through his official site, the book gives aspiring surgeons and curious readers alike an unfiltered look into a doctor’s world beyond the scrubs.
Specialists Without Borders
Beyond writing and surgery, Dr. Anderson founded “Specialists Without Borders,” a nonprofit that delivers medical education to under-resourced regions. Unlike traditional aid groups that focus on short-term care, SWB empowers local professionals through long-term knowledge transfer.
- Programs have included surgical training in Africa, educational partnerships in South America, and skill development in Southeast Asia.
- The goal: create sustainable systems of care by equipping local teams with expertise and tools.
This global work adds another layer to Anderson’s storytelling because his stories don’t just come from imagination. They come from action.
Dr. Paul G. Anderson is not simply a surgeon who writes. He is a truth-seeker, educator, and humanitarian who uses his tools; scalpel or pen, to heal, teach, and tell important stories. From the battlefield clinics of Congo to the pages of bestsellers and the classrooms of developing nations, his work is unified by one goal: to bring light to the darkest corners of human experience through both action and art.
To explore his books or learn more about his medical education work, visit paulganderson.com.
Follow him on Instagram for updates on his writing, medical missions, and advocacy work.
