Surfing Doctors Profile: Dr Jack Wilkinson
Some background on Dr Wilkinson
Dr Jack Wilkinson grew up in Australia and now works as an ED Registrar at Coffs Harbour A graduate of Griffith University’s MD Class of 2019, he completed his internship and RMO years at Sunshine Coast University Hospital before moving to Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital, where he worked in the Emergency Department in 2022.
Medical Interests
He hopes to specialise in anaesthetics but remains broadly drawn to the full spectrum of critical care medicine, the intensity, teamwork, and precision that mirror the ocean’s demand for focus and respect.
Dr Jack Wilkinson at Lagundri Bay, Nias
Surfing Background
When he’s not on shift, you’ll find him in the water at his local break, Mudjimba in Queensland, or making the most of a free weekend at Crescent Head and Limeburner’s Creek National Park. He calls his recent summer at Crescent Head his best surf trip yet — a welcome reward after long stretches in Kempsey ED.
Dr Wilkinson and His Travels
Travel has always been part of his rhythm. He’s trekked the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, backpacked through Europe, and surfed his way through PNG, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Not every trip has been perfect — Portugal’s Nazaré in 2017 was “flat and cold” — but every journey has reinforced his love for exploration and the sea.
The Best Thing About Surfing?
For him, the best thing about surfing is simple: immersion. “It’s the beauty of nature, the wildlife, the elements,” he says. His favourite piece of advice in the lineup came from an old friend: “The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.”
Surfing Inspirations?
While not a professional, his biggest surfing inspiration isn’t a world champion but Pulitzer Prize–winning William Finnegan, whose memoir Barbarian Days captures the restless, searching spirit of a lifelong surfer better than anyone else ever has.
Board Quiver
These days, his quiver includes a 9’6 log, a 6’1 Hayden Shapes Holy Grail (34.9 L), and a well-loved Hypto that’s seen more reef than most.
Carving at Nias on a recent trip to Sorake Beach
See more: Surfing Doctors Gallery