Miss Joanna Higgins

Miss Joanna Higgins is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon with specialised expertise in Hand and Wrist Surgery. Graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2005, she underwent training in the Midlands before commencing Specialist Training in Wessex in 2007. Completing her Trauma and Orthopaedic training in 2018, she was awarded a nationally appointed subspecialist fellowship at the Pulvertaft Hand Centre in Derby, renowned worldwide for its excellence in hand surgery. Under the mentorship of esteemed plastic and orthopaedic hand surgeons, she developed her skills before being appointed to a substantive consultant post at University Hospitals Dorset in 2021.

Joanna believes in tailoring treatment plans to individual needs and involving patients in decision-making. Her clinical interests cover a wide range of hand and wrist conditions, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dupuytren’s disease, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, fracture management, and degenerative arthritis. She offers innovative approaches for managing conditions such as base of thumb arthritis, including replacement surgery.

Passionate about Quality and Service Improvement in Hand and Wrist Surgery, Joanna is actively involved in the national collaborative initiative, HandsFirst, focusing on enhancing trauma care across the UK. She leads this initiative in Dorset, emphasising procedures under local anaesthetic to empower patients and minimise reliance on general anaesthesia.

Committed to medical education, Joanna serves as the Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Tutor for Poole Hospital, University Hospitals Dorset, providing educational supervision to junior doctors. She is a respected faculty member for the Royal College and directs various international surgical courses. 

With a keen interest in clinical research and academia, Joanna actively participates in international scientific courses and conferences. She holds memberships with prestigious professional organisations such as the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS), British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH), Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS), and Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM).