Rate My Professor Stephen Inns

Associate Professor Stephen Inns serves as a key academic and clinician in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, where he holds the position of Gastroenterology Sub-Convener. Qualified with an MBChB from the University of Otago, an MD(Research) from the University of London, and fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), Inns brings extensive expertise in gastroenterology. His doctoral thesis investigated the effects of diet on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), laying the foundation for his ongoing research interests. Prior to his current role, he completed a three-year specialist fellowship in luminal gastroenterology and endoscopy at University College Hospital, London. Inns contributes to education by teaching gastroenterology in the MICN401 course and supervising postgraduate research students.

His research extends to the development of specialist nursing services in gastroenterology and broader clinical investigations in IBD. Notable publications include the co-authored textbook Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Lecture Notes (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, ISBN 1405183217), providing foundational knowledge in the field. Peer-reviewed articles authored or co-authored by Inns encompass "Adalimumab for Crohn’s disease in New Zealand—a prospective multicentre experience" (New Zealand Medical Journal, 2014), examining treatment outcomes in a real-world setting; "Survey of UK and New Zealand gastroenterologists' practice regarding dietary advice and food exclusion in irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease" (Frontline Gastroenterology, 2013), assessing clinical dietary practices; "Clinical Audit of Endoscopy Referrals for Acute Upper GI Bleeds" (International Medical Journal, 2013), evaluating referral processes; "Blinded Randomised Controlled Study of the Effect of a Discharge Communication Template on Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescribing" (New Zealand Medical Journal, 2012), investigating prescribing behaviors; and earlier works such as "Eosinophilic oesophagitis: an emerging important cause for undiagnosed dysphagia" (New Zealand Medical Journal, 2006) and "Changing face of colonoscopy: a comparison between audits of colonoscopy at Wellington Hospital from 1987 to 2002" (Internal Medicine Journal, 2004). Inns practices clinically as a gastroenterologist at Hutt Hospital, with special interests in IBD, IBS, investigation of iron deficiency anaemia, dyspepsia and reflux disease, small bowel investigation, and interventional endoscopy including endoscopic mucosal resection. His contributions advance education, research, and patient care in gastroenterology.