Meet the Paediatricians

MBBS (Hons), FRACP, JP

Dr Con James is a consultant general paediatrician who has been one of Sydney’s leading paediatricians for the past four decades. He completed his medical training with honours through the University of New South Wales before completing paediatric training at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (then Prince of Wales Children’s Hospital). He worked in the public system at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Canterbury Hospital and then at Sydney Children’s Hospital, as well as running a thriving private practice. In addition, Con has been a senior examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and has been involved in training successive generations of paediatricians since 1980. 

Con has expertise across the whole range of paediatric conditions from birth through to adolescence, particularly unsettled infants, asthma, eczema and ADHD. 

BMedSc, MBBS, PhD, FRACP

Dr Ben Balzer is a consultant general paediatrician who provides comprehensive care for children from birth to adolescence. 

Ben completed his qualifications (Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery) at the University of Sydney with prizes in paediatrics and ophthalmology in his final year of study. 

Ben completed his paediatric training through Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, where he gained a wide variety of experience in general paediatrics, subspecialties (such as neurology and rehabilitation) as well as in neonatology, adolescent and young adult medicine, paediatric emergency and intensive care. In his final year of training, Ben was the General Paediatric Fellow at Sydney Children’s Hospital, where he gained further experience in complex paediatric and adolescent health issues, dermatology, high-risk asthma, development and behavioural issues and eating disorders. He enjoys working with multidisciplinary teams to provide the best possible care for his patients and their families.

Ben is passionate about teaching and has previously been the UNSW teacher of the year for Sydney Children’s Hospital as well as an ongoing role teaching paediatric trainees. He has been heavily involved in committees and leadership within Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 

Ben has been involved in research for over a decade, completing a PhD in puberty and adolescence through the University of Sydney in 2020. His widely cited research has been published in many leading journals and he has presented his findings at several national and international conferences. He prides himself on staying well-informed of the latest advances in the field and encourages families to bring any questions and research to the consultation.

Outside of work Ben enjoys spending time playing with his children and watching them grow (too fast!) as well as running half marathons (not fast at all!). As a father he understands the challenges of raising children and will work with you to provide the best possible care that aligns with your values, goals and the most up-to-date medical practice.

Some of Ben's areas of expertise:

• Newborn care: settling difficulties, feeding and growth issues including reflux
• Growth and development concerns in childhood
• Behavioural concerns including ADHD
• Anxiety
• Eczema, asthma
• Adolescent medical issues including eating disorders and fatigue