Welcome to Med-Ex: Enhancing Health Through Clinical Physiology

Greetings, and welcome to Med-Ex. My name is Dr. Charles Simpson, lead physiologist and founder of this practice.

At Med-Ex, we believe the future of medicine is already here. It is shaped by less-invasive procedures that provide highly intelligent, actionable data on your key health metrics. Our mission is to aid the health and independent living of those with undiagnosed health challenges, with a special focus on keeping New Zealand seniors mobile and thriving.

The Med-Ex Philosophy

Advanced physiological insights to support your complete healthcare journey.

Primary care is the vital foundation of your health, but investigating complex physiological symptoms or optimising performance often requires specialised diagnostics and extended time. Med-Ex exists to bridge that gap.

We act as a dedicated testing facility, operating alongside your GP or specialist to provide deep, hospital-grade data on how your body functions at a cardiovascular, metabolic, and cellular level. Whether you are navigating unexplained fatigue, assessing your heart health, or establishing a baseline for longevity, we provide the insights needed to move forward with confidence.

Enhancing Health Through Exercise

Dr Simpson

The Med-Ex Clinical Advantage

  • Dedicated Diagnostic Time: Complex physiology takes time to map. We provide unhurried, comprehensive assessments, ensuring nothing is missed and gathering the precise data your primary care team needs to guide your treatment.

  • Gold-Standard Infrastructure: Located in the Christchurch Hospital Precinct, our clinic is equipped with the same advanced diagnostic hardware trusted by leading global research hospitals and sports science institutes.

  • A Specialist Focus: Advanced physiological testing is our entire diagnostic focus. We handle the specialized data extraction and clinical exercise physiology so your doctor can focus on your overall care plan.

  • Collaborative Care: We do not replace your primary care team; we empower them. Every Med-Ex assessment concludes with a comprehensive, data-rich clinical report to ensure your GP or specialist has the accurate, actionable information they need.

My Clinical Background & Ongoing Research

My approach to clinical exercise physiology is built on over a decade of dedicated research. My academic journey began with a Master’s degree in physiology at the University of Canterbury (researching cardiac/natriuretic peptides), followed by post-graduate studies in clinical exercise physiology in Melbourne, Australia.

I later completed my PhD scholarship at the School of Clinical Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, within the Medical Faculty of UNSW, where I implemented multiple clinical trials with published results. My core focus is on monitored, safe exercise prescription for clinical populations, specifically those navigating cardiovascular disease, guided by the global standards of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

To ensure Med-Ex patients receive the absolute latest medical and scientific technologies, I remain proactively involved in university research. I am currently a Post-doctoral Research Fellow associated with the Free Radical Biochemistry Laboratory (University of Canterbury) and the Sport and Exercise Science Laboratory (Lincoln University).

A Legacy of Care

I am incredibly fortunate to come from a family with a deep background in medicine, and I want to acknowledge those who paved the way for the advanced medical services we rely on today.

My grandmother, Dr. Dorothy Simpson, was a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, one of the first female doctors in New Zealand, and a co-founder of the NZ Woman’s Medical Association. My uncle, Dr. John Campbell, later extended my grandmother's successful General Practice in Redcliffs, Christchurch.

I look forward to continuing this family vein of excellence, applying advanced clinical science to assist you in achieving your health goals.

Warm regards,

Dr Charles Simpson

Exercise Physiologist and Post-doctoral Research Fellow

PhD – Clinical Medicine (UNSW), MSc – Physiology Research (UC), PGD (Hons) – Health and Exercise Science (Melb), PCAET, Associate Fellow SESNZ, ACSM,