Dr Willingham then returned to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to begin specialist training in General Surgery. On completion of his Fellowship and admission to the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 2006, he returned to his regional heritage and commenced practice in Toowoomba.

Dr Willingham has a keen interest in bariatric or weight loss surgery and enjoys the transformative effect this can have on his patient’s lives. He was the first surgeon in the region to introduce minimally invasive keyhole techniques for weight loss surgery. Dr Willingham aims to empower people with tools to increase their ability to a healthy lifestyle, and has provided this service to over 1500 Darling Downs residents.

​Dr Willingham is a visiting Surgeon at all Toowoomba’s hospital facilities and his rooms are located in the Downs Specialist Centre. His other clinical interests include:

• Gastroscopy 
• Colonoscopy
• Laparoscopic gastrointestinal and gallbladder surgery
• Bariatric Surgery
• Colorectal Surgery
• Hernia Surgery
• Anti reflux and hiatus hernia surgery

Outside of the hospital, Dr Willingham enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, playing social tennis and enjoying the family friendly lifestyle that Toowoomba living allows.