Dr Nick Candy

MBBS, MSurg (Neurosurgery), PhD

Dr. Nicholas Candy is a final year neurosurgical trainee and clinician-researcher specialising in complex brain, spine, and skull base neurosurgery. Having successfully completed his fellowship examinations, he is currently a final-year neurosurgical trainee at the Flinders Medical Centre (FMC), a position he will hold until January 2027 after which he will be awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in Neurosurgery.

In June 2027, Dr. Candy will begin a prestigious Skull Base and Minimally Invasive Cranial Surgery Fellowship under the mentorship of Professor Daniel Prevedello at University of North Carolina. This will further his experience in management of patients with complex skull base pathology such as: pituitary neuroendocrine tumours, meningiomas, chordomas, chondrosarcomas, craniopharyngiomas, and schwannomas.

Dr. Candy holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from James Cook University. He subsequently completed a Master of Surgery (Neurosurgery) at the University of Sydney, where his research evaluated post-traumatic seizure prophylaxis in collaboration with Addenbrooke's Hospital at the University of Cambridge. During his surgical training he completed a PhD from the University of Adelaide, focusing on advanced techniques to preserve endocrine function for patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary surgery.

Dr. Candy serves as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Adelaide and actively supervises postgraduate Masters and PhD research students. He also contributes to the broader medical literature as an Associate Editor for Neurosurgical Review and as a reviewer for several neurosurgical journals.

Dr Nick Candy in a suit and glasses smiling, standing in front of a textured stone wall with small lights.
An anatomical illustration of the human cervical spine and spinal cord, showing vertebrae, nerves, and spinal cord pathways.

Academic and Clinical Background

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Adelaide

    Thesis: Pituitary Gland Preservation in Endonasal Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery

    • 2023 – 2025

    Master of Surgery (MSurg) (Neurosurgery), University of Sydney

    • 2017 – 2018

    Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), James Cook University

    • 2011 – 2016

  • Senior Clinical Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide

    • 6th August 2025 – ongoing

    Clinical Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide

    • 29th June 2023 – 5th August 2025

  • Neurosurgical Accredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Flinders Medical Centre

    • February 2026 – February 2027

    Neurosurgical Accredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

    • February 2025 – February 2026

    Neurosurgical Accredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Women’s and Children’s Hospital

    • February 2024 – February 2025

    Abbie Simpson Clinical Fellow

    • February 2023 – February 2024

    Neurosurgical Accredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Flinders Medical Centre.

    • January 2022 – February 2023

    Neurosurgical Accredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital

    • February 2021 – January 2022

    Neurosurgical Unaccredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital

    • February 2020 – January 2021

    Neurosurgical Unaccredited Registrar, Department of Neurosurgery, Flinders Medical Centre.

    • February 2019 – February 2020

    Surgical Resident Medical Officer, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network from

    • January 2018 to January 2019

    Intern at Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network from

    • January 2017 to January 2018

Illustration of a human head profile showing the brain, spinal cord, and nerve pathways.

Publications

  • Ovenden C, Tan V, Torpy DJ, Chapman I, Saran F, Jukes A, Santoreneos S, Vrodos N, Poonnoose S, Candy N, Psaltis A, De Sousa SMC. Surgical Outcomes in Knosp Grade 3 or 4 Macroprolactinomas: What Role Does Debulking Surgery Play? World Neurosurg. 2026 Jan 22;207:124826. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2026.124826. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41579953.

    McNeil J, Candy N, Jukes A, De Sousa S. Cabergoline monotherapy in GH- and PRL-cosecreting pituitary adenomas. Endocrine Oncology 2026 Jan 6e250077 https://doi.org/10.1530/EO-25-0077

    Candy, N.G., Barry, E.F., Tomatis, V.M. et al. Phase I trial to evaluate safety of Deferiprone-Chitogel to prevent epidural fibrosis in lumbar spine surgery. Eur Spine J (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09581-7

    Ovenden CD, Candy N, McNeil J, Dolovac RB, Castle-Kirszbaum M, Helal A, De Sousa S, Psaltis A. Systematic review of fluorescence-guided surgery in pituitary neuroendocrine tumours. Endocr Oncol. 2025 Oct 1;5(1):e250037. doi: 10.1530/EO-25-0037. PMID: 41049243; PMCID:PMC12495904.

    Ovenden C, Mignone E, Chapman I, Torpy DJ, Rankin W, Jukes A, Santoreneos S, Candy N, Psaltis A, De Sousa SMC. Early postoperative decline in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) predicts surgical remission of acromegaly. World Neurosurg. 2025 Nov 3:124611. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2025.124611. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41192502.

    Tong JY, Candy NG, Sung J, Jukes AK, Selva D. In Reply: Transorbital Approach to the Cavernous Sinus After an Exenteration. Oper Neurosurg. 2025 Oct 1;29(4):610-611. doi:10.1227/ons.0000000000001732. Epub 2025 Aug 7. PMID: 40772716.

    Ovenden CD, Candy N, McNeil J, Dolovac RB, Castle-Kirszbaum M, Helal A, De Sousa S, Psaltis A. Systematic review of fluorescence-guided surgery in pituitary neuroendocrine tumours. Endocr Oncol. 2025 Oct 1;5(1):e250037. doi: 10.1530/EO-25-0037. PMID: 41049243; PMCID:PMC12495904.

    Tong JY, Candy NG, Sung J, Jukes AK, Selva D. Transorbital Approach to the Cavernous Sinus After an Exenteration. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2025 May 2. doi:10.1227/ons.0000000000001609. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40314440.

    Candy NG, Zhang AS, Jukes AK, Wormald PJ. Sphenoid sinusitis with extradural empyema in a paediatric patient. J Clin Neurosci. 2025 Jan 9;133:111017. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.111017. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39793314.

    Candy NG, Mignone E, Quick E, Koszyca B, Brown A, Chapman I, Torpy D, Vrodos N, Santoreneos S, De Sousa SMC. The role of BRAF testing of Rathke’s cleft cysts to identify missed papillary craniopharyngioma. Pituitary. 2025 Feb 3;28:30

    Lee KS, Jankowitz BT, Hong C, Candy NG, Poon TL, Cordeiro JG, Vilela-Filho O, Prevedello DM. The delicate nature of a constructive peer review: pearls from the editorial board. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Oct 23;47(1):814. doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-03047-y. PMID: 39441447

    Candy NG, Santoreneos S, Wormald PJ. Pseudocapsular dissection in a large plurihormonal Pit-1 positive PitNET. J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Dec;130:110887. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.110887. Epub 2024 Oct 28. PMID: 39467470

    Helal A, Hammam E, Ovenden CD, Candy NG, Chaurasia B, Atallah O, Jukes A. A systematic review of radiological prediction of ki 67 proliferation index of meningioma. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Dec 2;47(1):881. doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-03074-9. PMID: 39621118.

    Candy NG, Parker A, Wormald PJ, Robinson S, Baguley C, Wickremesekera A. Anterior skull base meningioma with vascular encasement. J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Oct 17;129:110864. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2024.110864. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39423487.

    Van Der Veken J, Candy N, Van Velthoven V. Surgical management of arterial compression of the anterior visual pathway - a systematic review. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Sep 13;47(1):601. doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-02794-2. PMID: 39269532.

    Candy NG, Ramezanpour M, Bouras G, Chegeni N, Chataway T, Ormsby RJ, Jukes AK, Vreugde S, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. Differential proteomic expression in non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumours and pituitary glands. Rhinology. 2024 Dec 1;62(6):750-758. doi: 10.4193/Rhin24.216. PMID: 39140195.

    Candy NG, Zhang AS, Bouras G, Jukes AK, Santoreneos S, Vrodos N, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. Pilot Validation of a 3-Dimensional Printed Pituitary Adenoma, Vascular Injury, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Surgical Simulator. Oper Neurosurg. 2024 Nov 1;27(5):632-640. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000001177. Epub 2024 May 21. PMID: 38771092.

    Jensen ED, Candy K, Candy NG, Nguyen T, Cheng A, Sambrook P. Mycotic aneurysm secondary to odontogenic infection causing bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis: a rare but important complication. AJOMS Vol 1. 2024;17.

    Candy NG, Jukes AK, Ooi EH, Valentine R, Vrodos N, Santoreneos S, Floreani S, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. The Evolution of Pituitary Surgery in an Australian Healthcare Framework. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2024. DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786044

    Candy NG, Jukes AK, Patel S, King T, Bouras G, Vrodos N, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. Neuronavigation in endoscopic skull base surgery and the accuracy of different MRI sequences. J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Apr 11;123:203-208. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.04.006. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38608532.

    De Sousa SMC, Jukes AK, Candy NG, Chapman IM, Torpy DJ, Shivalingam B, Wormald PJ, Santoreneos S. Tumour fibrosis in dopamine agonist-exposed prolactinomas is a diminishing concern. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2024 May;20(5):314. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-00976-y. PMID: 38509199.

    Mathew A, Gorayski P, Candy N, Saran F, Le H. Proton beam therapy for clival chordoma: Optimising rare cancer treatments in Australia. J Med Radiat Sci. 2024 Mar 19. doi:10.1002/jmrs.774. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38501158.

    Candy NG, Wu KC, Finger G, VanKoevering K, Prevedello DM. Management of frontoethmoidal osteoma causing pneumocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid leakage with minimally invasive techniques: illustrative cases. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2024 Feb 5;7(6):CASE23699. doi:10.3171/CASE23699. PMID: 38315987; PMCID: PMC10849144.

    Laure Taher Mansour, Nicholas Candy, Jake Nowicki, Alistair Jukes, Steve Chryssidis and Marguerite Harding, An Infratentorial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Mimicking Cervical Myelopathy: A Case Report Infratentorial dAVF Mimicking Cervical Myelopathy, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, (2024) doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2024.108149

    Candy NG, Van Der Veken J, Van Velthoven V. 'What's in a name', a systematic review of the pterional craniotomy for aneurysm surgery and its many modifications with a proposal for simplified nomenclature. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2024 Jan 16;166(1):11. doi: 10.1007/s00701-024-05888-4. PMID: 38227061; PMCID: PMC10791755.

    Candy NG, Jukes AK, Van Der Veken J, Torpy DJ, Vrodos N, Santoreneos S, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. The Learning Curve for Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery: Evaluating Endocrine Outcomes. J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Feb;120:14-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.12.020. Epub2023 Dec 30. PMID: 38160655

    Candy N.G, Santoreneos, S. (2023) Giant Intracranial Epidermoid Tumour: Decision Making in a Complex Case. Neurosurg Cases Rev 6:151. doi.org/10.23937/2643-4474/1710151

    Candy, N.G., Ovenden, C., Jukes, A.K. et al. The learning curve for endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery: a systematic review. Neurosurg Rev 46, 241 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-023-02136-8

    Candy NG, Ashokan A, Lim WY, Kidd SE, James C, Abou-Hamden A, et al. Non- surgical management of chronic granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis with intracranial extension a case report and literature review. Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023;9:725-8

    Candy, N.G., Hinder, D., Jukes, A.K. et al. Olfaction preservation in olfactory groove meningiomas:a systematic review. Neurosurg Rev 46, 186 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-023-02096-z

    Kolias AG, Adams H, Timofeev IS, Corteen EA, Hossain I, Czosnyka M, Timothy J, Anderson I, BultersDO, Belli A, Eynon CA, Wadley J, Mendelow AD, Mitchell PM, Wilson MH, Critchley G, Sahuquillo J,Unterberg A, Posti JP, Servadei F, Teasdale GM, Pickard JD, Menon DK, Murray GD, Kirkpatrick PJ,Hutchinson PJ; RESCUEicp Trial Collaborators. Evaluation of Outcomes Among Patients With Traumatic Intracranial Hypertension Treated With Decompressive Craniectomy vs Standard Medical Care at 24 Months: A Secondary Analysis of the RESCUEicp Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. 2022 Jul 1;79(7):664-671. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.1070. PMID: 35666526;PMCID: PMC9171657.

    Candy N, Tsimiklis C, Poonnoose S, Trivedi R. The use of antiepileptic medication in early post traumatic seizure prophylaxis at a single institution. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. JOCN 2019 198-205 July 2019

    Clark A, Guilfoyle M, Candy N, Budohoski K, Hofmann R, Barone D, Santarius T, Kirollos R, Trivedi R. Stereoscopic Three-Dimensional Neuroanatomy Lectures Enhance Neurosurgical Training:Prospective Comparison with Traditional Teaching. World neurosurgery. 2017;108:917-923.e915

    Candy N, Young A, Devadass A, Dean A, McMillen J, Trivedi R. Dual lumbar bronchogenic and arachnoid cyst presenting with sciatica and left foot drop. Acta neurochirurgica. 2017;159(10):2029-2032

    Candy N, Young A, Allinson K, Carr O, McMillen J, Trivedi R. Metastatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Unknown Origin Arising in the Femoral Nerve Sheath. World neurosurgery. 2017;104:1047.e1041-1047.e1046.

    Clark A, Barone D, Candy N, Guilfoyle M, Budohoski K, Hofmann R, Santarius T, Kirollos R, Trivedi R. The Effect of 3-Dimensional Simulation on Neurosurgical Skill Acquisition and Surgical Performance: A Review of the Literature. Journal of surgical education. 2017;74(5):828-836

    Candy N, Ng E, Velu R. Paclitaxel-coated balloon reduces target lesions revascularization compared with standard balloon angioplasty. Journal of Vascular Surgery 2017;65:558-70

  • Candy N, Psaltis AJ. Endoscopic Management of Skull Base Neoplasms. Scott-Brown’s Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 9th edition, Volume 1, Section 4, 2026

Abstract digital artwork resembling a symmetrical, organic structure with intricate, flowing lines and a central spherical element, in soft shades of blue, white, and gray.

Presentations

  • Candy NG, Zhang A, Bouras G, Jukes A, Santoreneos S, Vrodos N, Wormald PJ, Psaltis A. Pilot Validation of a 3D Printed Pituitary Adenoma, Vascular Injury, and CSF Leak Surgical Simulator. Oral presentation at North American Skull Base Society / World Federation of Skull Base Societies Meeting 2025

    Candy NG, Zhang A, Jukes A, Wormald PJ. Sphenoid Sinusitis With Intracranial Extension Managed Via Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal And Transpterygoid Approach In An 11 Year Old. Oral presentation at North American Skull Base Society / World Federation of Skull Base Societies Meeting 2025

    Candy NG, Mignone E, Quick E, Koszyca B, Brown A, Chapman I, Torpy D, Vrodos N, Santoreneos S, De Sousa S. Use of BRAF studies to revise the diagnosis of Rathke’s cleft cyst to papillary craniopharyngioma. Oral presentation at Australia and New Zealand Pituitary Alliance Scientific Meeting 2024

    Invited speaker, Pre-Vocational Australasian Surgical Society 12th of July 2023, Surgical Interview Preparation

    Invited speaker, Australia and New Zealand Pituitary Alliance Scientific Meeting July 2024, Paediatric case presentation of craniopharyngioma

  • Candy NG, Jukes A, Patel S, King T, Bouras G, Vrodos N, Wormald PJ, Psaltis AJ. Neuronavigation in endoscopic skull base surgery and the accuracy of different MRI sequences. Oral presentation at Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

    Mignone E, Candy NG, Torpy D, Chapman I, Santoreneos S, Koszyca B, De Sousa SMC. The Clinical Conundrum of Rathke's Cleft Cyst or Papillary Craniopharyngioma. Endocrine Society of Australia Clinical Weekend 2024

    Finger G, Candy NG, Wu K, Callejas C, VanKoevering K, Prevedello D. Management of Frontoethmoidal Osteoma Causing Pneumocephalus and CSF leak: Case Reports and Literature Review. Poster presentation at North American Skull Base Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2024.

    Zhang A, Candy NG, Santoreneos S, Vrodos N, Jukes A, Psaltis A, Wormald PJ. A 3D printed anterior base of skull model can provide high fidelity training scenarios for pituitary adenoma resection, carotid injury and CSF leak repair. Oral presentation at Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

    Invited speaker, Flinders University Surgical Society 24th of September 2019, Expert Anatomy Session: Neuroanatomy

    Candy NG, McMillen J, Poonnoose S, Trivedi R. The use of antiepileptic medications in early post traumatic seizure prophylaxis at a single institution. Poster presentation at NSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

    Candy NG, Clark A, Guilfoyle M, Budohoski K, Barone D, Hoffmann R, Santarius T, Kirollos R, Trivedi R. Stereoscopic 3D Neuroanatomy Lectures Enhance Neurosurgical Training: Prospective Comparison to Traditional Teaching. Poster presentation at NSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

    Candy NG, Ng E, Velu R. Drug Eluting Balloons Reduce Target Lesion Revascularization Compared to Balloon Angioplasty. Oral Presentation at RACS Annual Scientific Congress 2016

Abstract digital artwork with flowing shapes and lines in shades of blue, gray, and white, resembling a complex organic or technological structure.

Video Publications

An anatomical illustration of a human head in profile, showing the brain, eyes, nerves, and skeletal structure in a detailed and stylized manner.

Courses and Conferences

  • Course Organiser. 2nd Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery Course. 22nd of November 2024, Adelaide, Australia.

    Course Organiser. 1st Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery Course. 14th of November 2023, Adelaide, Australia.

    Invited Speaker. Neuro and Spine Nurses Education Day, 14th of October 2023, Medtronic, Adelaide, Australia

    Invited Faculty. Emergency Burrhole Course, 23rd of April 2023, Australasian Student Surgical Conference, Adelaide, Australia

    Invited Faculty. Adelaide University Surgical Society Neuroanatomy Event. 2nd April 2023, Adelaide Australia

  • NASBS Pre-Meeting Dissection Course, 2025. Louisianna State University

    United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CK, 2023

    United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, 2023

    Dean Southwood Memorial Temporal Bone Course, 2023. Ray Last Anatomy Lab

    IRCAD Masterclass 360 Degree Skull Base Surgery 2023, IRCAD Strasbourg

    State of the Art Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery 2023, Ohio State University

    Cranial Access Course 2022, Stryker Education/University of Melbourne

    Transorbital Skull Base Surgery: International Hands-On Course, 2022. Weill Cornell Medical College

    Cambridge Lectures in Neurosurgical Anatomy 2019, University of Cambridge

    Approaches to Neurovascular Surgery Dissection Course 2019, University of Cambridge

    RACS Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patient, 2019

    Basic Neurosurgical Skills Course, 2018, University of Tasmania

    Applied Surgical Anatomy: Brain and Spinal Cord Regions 2018, University of Tasmania

    Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care Course 2018, Flinders Medical Centre

    RACS Emergency Management of Severe Trauma (ATLS) 2018

    Adult Life Support 2 Course (ACLS), 2018

    Basic Life Support Course, 2017

    RACS Generic Surgical Sciences Exam, 2017

  • NASBS/WFSBS Joint Annual Meeting 2025

    Neurosurgical Society of Australasia 2024

    Australia and New Zealand Pituitary Alliance 2024

    Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress 2023

    Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

    Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

    Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, 2016

    Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress 2016

    Australasian Student Surgical Conference 2016

Affiliations

Logo of COGNO, Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology, featuring a gray brain with a blue puzzle piece design.
Logo for the Skull Base Society featuring the text 'Australian & New Zealand Skull Base Society' and a graphic of interconnected circles in shades of green and blue.
Logo of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
CNS logo with butterfly inside a laurel wreath and the year 1951
Logo of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia featuring a circular emblem and the organization's name.
Logo of the NeuroSurgical Research Foundation (NRF) featuring a yellow human head silhouette and the text NRF.
Adelaide University logo with a stylized 'A' and the words 'Adelaide University' in purple text.
Logo of the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) featuring a skull and North America map
Logo of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons with the acronym AANS and the full organization name.