Dr Jean Du Plessis

Dr Jean Du Plessis is a neonatal and perinatal paediatrician committed to providing high quality and nurturing care to newborns.

He has a keen interest in the wellbeing and safety of newborn babies and is an expert in the management of babies with complex issues at birth and beyond. His initiative of monitoring the oxygen levels of babies for two hours after birth is now standard practice in most Western Australian maternity hospitals.

Being the parent of an unsettled baby who is now a strapping adult, he empathises with parents who are in a similar situation. He endeavours to provide parents with up-to-date advice, support and information to help them navigate through concerns regarding their baby’s nutrition, growth and development.

Jean moved to Perth with his family in 2003 to complete his neonatal training at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). He worked at PMH as a consultant and was closely involved in the setting up of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital where he was appointed as the first Head of Neonatology.

Jean joined St John of God Murdoch Hospital in 2021 and continues to work closely with its maternity ward and obstetricians through private practice.

In his spare time, he enjoys watching rugby union and cricket, and is a keen golfer when time permits. Jean also loves going off road and camping in the outback with his family.

Current appointments

Head of Neonatology - St John of God Murdoch Hospital

Consultant Neonatologist - Fiona Stanley Hospital

Past appointments

Head of Neonatology - Fiona Stanley Hospital

Adjunct Associate Professor - University of Notre Dame

Awards and achievements

Top 8 capstone project - Harvard Medical School 2021

Paul Carmen Fellowship in cardiology - Princess Margaret Hospital for Children 2008

Excellence Award - King Edward Memorial Hospital 2007

Qualifications

Fellow Royal Australian College of Physicians - Paediatrics 2008

Master of Health Professional Education (UWA) 2011

Diploma in Child Health (Otago) 2001

Leadership in Medicine certificate (Harvard) 2021

MBChB (Stellenbosch) 1986

Publications

Continuous pulse oximetry during skin-to-skin care: An Australian initiative to prevent sudden unexpected postnatal collapse. Du Plessis, J., et al. (2021). Acta Paediatr 110(4): 1166-1170.

Amniotic band syndrome with pseudoarthrosis of tibia and fibula: A case report.

Ananthan A, Athalye Jape G, Du Plessis J, Annear P, Page R, Rao S. Ir Med J. 2017 May 10;110(5):570

Emergency use of a size 1 laryngeal mask airway in a ventilated neonate with an undiagnosed type IV laryngotracheoesophageal cleft. Philip Russell 1, Neil Chambers, Jean du Plessis, Shyan Vijayasekeran Paediatr Anaesth2008 Jul;18(7):658-62