"Just as no two fingerprints are alike, no two patients' needs are identical. My goal is not just to fix a problem — but to restore the unique functional signature of your hand."
Dr David Ma is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon. His path to becoming a hand specialist began with graduating at the top of his class from the University of New South Wales. His exceptional academic record, including the Dean's List and multiple scholarships, laid the foundation for a career dedicated to excellence.
He completed his orthopaedic training through the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA), earning his FRACS and FAOrthoA. Driven by a focus on the upper limb, he then pursued the pinnacle of sub-specialisation: a Post-Fellowship Education and Training (PFET) position with the Australian Hand Surgery Society, based at the prestigious Fairfield Hand Unit and St Luke's Hospital.
This was complemented by international training, including a Microsurgery Certificate from the National University Hospital in Singapore and an Advanced Wrist Arthroscopy course at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong.
Outside of his surgical practice, Dr Ma serves as a Captain in the Australian Army Reserve, a role that reinforces his discipline and commitment to service. He is also a father, and can often be found on the sidelines of a soccer field with his family — an experience that gives him a profound personal understanding of what his patients value most.
Dr Ma believes the best outcomes come from the right people being involved at the right time — not always a surgeon, and not always straight away. He works closely with hand therapists to triage new presentations together, so a patient with early trigger finger, mild carpal tunnel, or a healing fracture gets a coordinated plan from day one — whether that means splinting and therapy, a period of monitoring, or surgical review if things aren't progressing. This close working relationship means faster decisions, fewer unnecessary consultations, and a clear pathway for every patient, surgical or not. Read more about the integrated care model →
Dr Ma holds a Conjoint Associate Lecturer appointment at the University of New South Wales (2013–present). He has multiple publications in leading peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Hand Surgery and Annals of Surgery, and has presented at numerous national and international conferences.
Dr Ma has also volunteered his time teaching hand surgery techniques in Myanmar, working alongside Professor Bruce Conolly, who established Sydney's first dedicated Hand Unit. He remains committed to the same principle that shaped his own training: good hand surgery is learned from, and passed on to, others.
