There are few things as important as our health, and when something is wrong with our heart or lungs, we need to find the best possible care.
If you're in need of a cardiothoracic surgeon, Melbourne has some of the best in the world. Check out this list to find the right one for you.
Ultimate List of Heart & Lung Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Melbourne
Dr Dharsh Fernando Cardiologist Melbourne
03 9790 5000
Dr. Fernando is a general and interventional cardiologist who specializes in peripheral vascular intervention. Fellowships in Interventional Cardiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Interventional Vascular Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School round out his education.
Associate Professor Sandeep Prabhu Melbourne
heartscope.com.au/dr-sandeep-prabhu
(03) 8669 4575
Associate Professor Prabhu is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist who received his advanced training at Melbourne's Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospitals. He aspires to a clinical and academic career in cardiac electrophysiology.
He earned his PhD in clinical electrophysiology from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospitals, and then went on to complete an international clinical fellowship in electrophysiology and pacing at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, where he worked with Prof Peter Kistler, Prof Jonathan Kalman, and Prof Andrew Taylor.
A/Prof. Prabhu works as an electrophysiologist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and holds a Heart Foundation and NHMRC Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. He is well-versed in all aspects of rhythm management, including catheter ablation procedures for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, as well as device implantation and management.
Dr Ali Safaa, Interventional Cardiologist - GenesisCare Melbourne
genesiscare.com/au/our-doctors/dr-ali-safaa
(02) 8236 3300
After graduating as Top Medical Student from the University of Babylon in Iraq, Dr. Ali Safaa completed his basic and advanced training at the Gold Coast University Hospital and Prince Charles Hospital in Queensland. Ali's interest in Interventional Cardiology led to a position as an Interventional Cardiology Fellow at the Royal Perth Hospital, where he gained procedural experience and completed several research projects.
Following this, Ali accepted a position as an Interventional Cardiology Fellow at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand, where he focused on complex cases and further developed his skills in a variety of Interventional techniques, having performed 3000 procedures by this point, including over 1200 angioplasties. Ali joined HeartCare Victoria (now GenesisCare) in 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks to become a valuable member of the team.
His research interests include complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and intracoronary imaging, such as Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), as well as coronary physiologic assessment using Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) technology. He also has extensive experience with structural heart disease interventions such as Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty and PFO closures.
Heart & Lung Cardiothoracic Surgeon FAQs
Cardiothoracic surgery treats conditions in the heart, lungs, and chest. Our surgeons perform a variety of cardiothoracic surgeries, from minimally invasive to heart transplants.
A few common cardiothoracic surgeries and procedures include:
- Angioplasty. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA, or balloon angioplasty) helps restore a healthy blood flow to the heart by reopening arteries narrowed by fatty plaque.
- Stent placement. A stent is a small metal coil or tube placed in a narrowed artery to hold it open. To place the stent, your healthcare provider first performs angioplasty or atherectomy to compress or cut away plaque buildup in the artery.
- Ablation. Ablation is typically used to treat abnormal heart rates and rhythms (arrhythmias). It involves ablating (destroying) a very small, targeted area of the heart muscle.
- Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). To correct abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and help your heartbeat more efficiently, your doctor may recommend a device implant. The most common device implants are pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
- Open heart surgery. Open heart surgeries often treat blockages in the coronary arteries or correct problems with the heart valves. Open heart procedures can also repair heart defects and help correct heart rhythm problems.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, often pronounced “cabbage”) is one of the most commonly performed open heart surgeries. In this procedure, a vein from your leg — or an artery from your chest wall or arm — is used to bypass a coronary artery that is narrowed or blocked by fatty plaque buildup.
- Heart valve repair or replacement. If your heart valves have been damaged or diseased, they may fail to open and close correctly. This puts extra strain on your heart muscle. In this case, your healthcare providers may recommend open heart surgery to repair or replace your heart valve(s).
- Ventricular assist devices. A ventricular assist device is an implantable heart pump used to treat heart failure.
- Heart transplant. A heart transplant replaces a severely diseased or malformed heart with a new heart from a human organ donor. This procedure is considered for late-stage heart failure after other attempts have failed.
- Carotid surgery. The name carotid endarterectomy is a mouthful, but it is a relatively simple surgery that removes plaque in one of your carotid arteries (the main arteries in your neck that supply blood to the brain).
Cardiac surgeons perform surgery on the heart, the aorta, the pulmonary vein, and other important structures related to cardiac health. They do not typically diagnose heart disease. Before visiting a surgeon, you may already have a diagnosis from a cardiologist. After determining that you need surgery, they will refer you to a cardiac surgeon.
A cardiac surgeon will monitor your condition directly after surgery. Once you are recovering at home, though, you will typically return to the care of your cardiologist.
Differentiating between a cardiothoracic surgeon and other cardiac surgeons can be a challenge, given that they perform almost similar functions. However, a cardiothoracic surgeon’s work is comparatively more demanding. Here are the major differences:
- Cardiothoracic surgeons perform invasive procedures while cardiologists normally carry out minimally invasive procedures.
- Cardiologists diagnose disorders and perform interventions on the heart. However, they cannot perform open-heart surgeries.
- Cardiac surgeons concentrate on heart problems only, while cardiothoracic surgeons perform a wide range of surgeries on different organs in the thorax.
- Cardiac surgeons often follow up with their patients for longer periods to provide post-operative care and monitor the condition of their patients.
Typically, you will only see a cardiac surgeon if a cardiologist recommends it. A cardiologist will diagnose your condition and determine if you need surgery. If you do, they will refer you to a cardiac surgeon.
In some cases, a different type of doctor, like a pulmonologist or gastroenterologist, may make the recommendation, depending on the condition.
A need for cardiac surgery is the only reason to see a cardiac surgeon. Your cardiologist will otherwise help you manage your overall heart health.
As with any other form of surgery, cardiothoracic surgery has several risks. These include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Persistent pain after surgery
- Air leakage from the lungs
- Stroke
- Death
To avoid these risks, seek the help of a reliable cardiothoracic surgeon.
Dr Gregory Szto - Peninsula Heart Centre Melbourne
0438 231 165
Under the direction of Associate Professor Aubrey Pitt and Professor Garry Jennings, Dr. Szto, a Monash University graduate with first-class honors, finished his internship and specialist training at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.
Dr. Szto received advanced coronary intervention training at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the tutelage of the late Professor Thomas J. Linnemeir, a pioneer in coronary angioplasty. Greg learned various aspects of coronary stenting during his four-year tenure, including rotablator decalcification atherectomy, valvuloplasty, peripheral arterial angiograms, and renal, carotid, and iliac artery stenting. He took part in numerous clinical trials and gave presentations at cardiology conferences in the United States.
Dr Palanand Arunothayaraj (Arun) Cardiologist Melbourne
03 8790 8366
Dr. Arun is a General Cardiology consultant who specializes in Heart Failure and Device Implantation for heart rhythm disorders and heart failure management.
Dr. Arun completed advanced cardiology training at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne and worked as a cardiology registrar at South Cleveland Hospital in Middlesbrough, UK, and the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland before returning to Frankston to take up his public position at Peninsula Health. Dr. Arun established his private practice at Peninsula Private Hospital and is well known in the Frankston and surrounding communities for his management and care of patients.
Along with his training and extensive experience in device implantation in the UK and Australia, Dr. Arun has gained in-depth practical knowledge in this field. Dr. Arun understands the difficulties and challenges of device implantation and follow-up as a high volume operator in device implants. A priority in device implantation is optimal patient selection and safe implantation technique to maximize patient benefit while minimizing complications. Dr. Arun enjoys sharing his knowledge with his colleagues and medical practitioners in order to raise awareness about the benefits of this treatment option and thus improve patient care.
Dr Mariusz Wolbinski - Peninsula Heart Centre Melbourne
0419 876 429
PHC is an ever-changing practice, and with a young and talented doctor with extensive experience in structural heart disease, we saw an opportunity to learn and develop new techniques and technology as a result of his recent training.
A New Zealand-trained interventional cardiologist who worked with national cardiology leaders at Wellington and Waikato Hospitals, he was inspired to pursue an advanced fellowship at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York from 2018 to 2020, focusing on dedicated keyhole heart valve treatments, many of which have yet to be introduced globally. Drs. Susheel Kodali, Vinnie Bapat, Isaac George, and internationally renowned Martin Leon reinforced his interest in innovation and evolving technologies, as well as his desire to work within a team of likeminded cardiologists.
Dr Alexander Adel Consultant Cardiologist Melbourne
centralparkspecialistcentre.com.au
(03) 9132 9832
Dr Adel currently works at Specialists Melbourne, which is located on Bay Street in Port Melbourne. He received his bachelor's degree from Monash University before beginning his internship and basic physician training at Eastern Health. He completed three years of advanced cardiology training at Austin Hospital and Western Health, followed by a Fellowship in non-invasive imaging, which included echocardiography, stress echocardiography, cardiac CT and MRI modalities. Assessment of coronary plaque burden on CT coronary angiography and various echocardiography topics have been published.
Heart failure management, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, and heart disease prevention, are among his special interests.
Dr Vivek Gupta - Peninsula Heart Centre Melbourne
0431 025 021
Dr. Vivek Gupta is a general and interventional cardiologist who earned a Master of Public Health from Deakin University after graduating from one of India's top medical schools in 2004.
After completing his basic physician training at Austin Hospital in 2013, he went on to pursue advanced cardiology training in Launceston before completing his cardiology fellowship at Monash Medical Centre, one of Australia's most prestigious interventional training programs.
Vivek Gupta has quickly adapted to everything PHC and is a valuable member of our team. He has established a solid foundation from which he can provide our patients with a friendly and caring management approach. His popularity among hospital employees is well known and deserved. Vivek regularly spends his lunch hour mingling with his coworkers, nurses, and allied staff in the coffee shop, fostering both new and long-standing relationships.
Dr Didier Grolaux Cardiologist Melbourne
(03) 9770 0844
Dr. Didier Grolaux is a physician from Australia. Didier is a trained Cardiologist (Heart Specialist) with a practice in Frankston.
Dr Rodney Teperman Consultant & Interventional Cardiologist Melbourne
(03) 9789 6011
Dr. Rodney Teperman received the Robert Powell Prize for Surgery after graduating from Monash University with first-class honours in 1996.
He began his internship at The Alfred Hospital in Victoria in 1997, followed by physician training in 1998, and finished his Royal Australasian College of Physician examinations in 2000, passing on the first try. He was one of the youngest trainees to be asked to work as a registrar in The Alfred Hospital's prestigious transplant, cardiac, and trauma intensive care units.
In 2001, he was one of only two candidates accepted into the Advanced Cardiology Training Program at The Alfred Hospital. He was trained in all facets of cardiology, including the care of cardiac transplant patients, as one of the select few registrars invited to train at Frankston Hospital at the time. It was at this point that he fell in love with the Mornington Peninsula and realized how important it was for local patients to have more access to cardiac care.
Dr. Teperman graduated from The Alfred Hospital's Advanced Training in Echocardiography (a cardiac ultrasound) program in 2003, earning the Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound (Cardiac), which recognizes excellence in the performance and interpretation of this modality. In 2003, Dr. Teperman moved to London, Ontario, Canada, to pursue an intensive Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology. He performed over 1000 angioplasty and stenting procedures in Canada and received training in Intravascular Ultrasound, Fractional Flow Reserve Measurement, and Rotational Atherectomy.
Dr Joseph Amin - GenesisCare Melbourne
genesiscare.com/au/our-doctors/dr-amin-joseph
03 8793 3800
Dr. Joseph Amin received his Masters in Cardiology in 2003 and gained extensive clinical experience at the National Heart Institute - Egypt before moving to Australia in 2005 and completing his Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2010. Joseph's aptitude for coronary intervention led him to pursue an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Townsville Hospitals, as well as contribute to clinical research advances in the management of atrial fibrillation with atrial pacing following CABG and the impact of initiating "Code STEMI" on Door To Balloon Time. Joseph, who is passionate about supporting the development of our next generation of physicians, regularly contributes to Grand Round presentations, where he shares his knowledge on current management of STEMI and antiplatelet therapy after angioplasty.
Dr Joseph Amin offers General Cardiology consultations in Berwick and Mulgrave, as well as coronary intervention procedures at Mulgrave Private Hospital and sessional consultations at Lakeside Square Medical Precinct in Pakenham.
Dr Brian Zakhem Cardiologist Melbourne
(03) 9561 9688
Australian physician Dr. Brian Zakhem is a doctor. Glen Waverley is the home of Glen Waverley-based Cardiologist (Heart Specialist) Brian.
Chest pain and acute coronary syndrome management In-stent restenosis management, Intracranial imaging Techniques of intracoronary physiology, Microvascular disease.
Dr Kiran Munnur - Interventional & Consulting Cardiologist Melbourne
heartscope.com.au/dr-kiran-munnur
1800 202 111 | (03) 9560 7558
Monash University awarded Kiran a PhD for his work in cardiac CT. He specializes in CT plaque analysis and is very interested in the study of plaque progression and its relationship to future cardiac events. He has had his work published in prestigious journals and presented at national and international conferences. He has an outstanding academic record, having received a distinction in MBBS, ranking second in the Australian Medical Council, and scoring above the 95th percentile in US and UK licencing examinations. He has received Australian Postgraduate and CSANZ scholarships.
Kiran is a good communicator who cares about his patients. Being at the cutting edge of research, education, and technology enables him to provide the best possible care to his patients.
Dr Rajika Karunadasa Cardiologist Melbourne
(03) 8797 5352
Rajika graduated from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka in 2006 and received her FRACP before pursuing further training in echocardiography at St Vincent's Hospital and completing her specialist...
Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging and Consultation, Heart Failure Management, Echocardiography, Stress Echocardiography, and Stress Testing.
Dr Bryan Wai Cardiologist Melbourne
mulgraveprivate.com.au/specialists/dr-bryan-wai
03 8793 3800
Dr. Bryan Wai is a cardiac imaging specialist and clinical cardiologist. He is an echocardiographer (transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, as well as exercise and dobutamine stress echocardiography) and CT coronary angiography specialist. After completing a Cardiac Imaging Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, he returned to Melbourne in March 2013. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Melbourne and completed cardiology residency at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Barwon Health, and Austin Health. He completed non-invasive cardiac imaging fellowships in which he learned transthoracic echocardiography, stress echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance.
Dr Sergei Mitnovetski - Melbourne Heart & Lung Surgeons
(03) 9515 0656
Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Sergei Mitnovetski practices in Melbourne and has previously held positions at the Monash Medical Centre, St. Vincent's, Austin, The Alfred, and Royal Children's Hospitals in Melbourne, Australia; John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle; Bristol Heart Institute at Bristol Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom; Toronto General Hospital in Canada; The Townsville Hospital; and Gold Coast University Hospital.
Dr. Mitnovetski performs cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures and has previously worked extensively in transplantation surgery/ECMO support and congenital cardiac surgery. Dr. Mitnovetski has also had extensive experience dealing with chest trauma.
Heart Surgeon Melbourne believes in providing excellent and unwavering cardiac care. We have extensive experience in all aspects of cardiovascular medicine and intervention. Our cardiologists are dedicated to disease prevention, preventive strategies, and proactive patient care. The Melbourne Heart Specialists team will ensure that patients and referring doctors receive the best service possible, with minimal appointment delays and maximum efficiency.
Associate Professor Gavin Wright Thoracic Surgeon Melbourne
emhl.com.au/associate-professor-gavin-wright
03 9419 2477
He currently serves as the Director of Surgical Oncology at St. Vincent's Hospital, a thoracic surgeon at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the Lead for Lung Cancer Research and Education at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. At the University of Melbourne's Department of Surgery, he holds the title of Clinical Associate Professor. Although lung-conserving surgery for lung cancer and minimally invasive surgical methods (such as robotic surgery) have been the focus of his surgical practice, he also has expertise in complex major surgery for lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymoma, and other chest tumors.
Mr Naveed Alam Thoracic Surgeon Melbourne
03 9419 2477
Naveed Alam is a Thoracic Surgeon in Melbourne who has been in practice as a consultant since 2005. Since 2011, he has also been consulting in Tasmania. He completed fellowships at the National Cancer Institute of Canada and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after finishing medical school and surgical training in Canada.
Mr Alam is interested in minimally invasive surgery (VATS and robotic), thoracic oncology, and surgical education. Through his work with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and as a member of the Asian Thoracoscopic Education Program, he is heavily involved in training junior and senior surgeons on a national and international scale. He is also a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne.
Associate Prof. Andrew Newcomb Cardiothoracic Surgeon Melbourne
melbourneheartsurgeon.com.au/dr-andrew-newcomb
(03) 8580 2434
Andrew Newcomb, an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, specializes in heart failure, congenital, thoracic, and aortic surgery. His subspecialty training includes complex valve surgery. Mr. Newcomb accepts all cardiothoracic patients.
Aortic surgery that is complex, such as the David procedure and endovascular aortic dissection treatment. Coronary bypass surgery entails all types of arterial revascularisation. Pacing and high-voltage devices, such as the implantation of an epicardial left ventricle lead
Mr Jim Dimitriou Cardiothoracic Surgeon
melbourneheartsurgeon.com.au/dr-jim-dimitriou
(03) 8580 2434
Mr Jim Dimitriou is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon trained in Australia. Jim received his medical training at Austin Hospital, Alfred Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Under the supervision of Professor Tirone David, he then completed a 12-month intensive fellowship in complex aortic surgery, mitral valve repair, and heart failure surgery at Toronto General Hospital.
Jim welcomes all patients with cardiothoracic conditions. He specializes in complex aortic surgery, coronary surgery, total arterial revascularization, and cardiac pacing.
Adrian Pick Cardiothoracic Surgeon Melbourne
03 9509 9577
Mr. Pick is an expert in both cardiac and thoracic surgery. Coronary artery disease for bypass, aortic valve replacement or repair, mitral valve replacement or repair, and arrhythmia surgery for atrial fibrillation are all common cardiac causes. His expertise extends beyond these procedures; he frequently performs two or even three of the aforementioned procedures in a single operation, as well as rare and complex cardiac surgery. There is no typical age group for cardiac surgery; Mr. Pick has successfully operated on patients as old as 90.
Mr. Pick has carved out a niche in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, preferring to repair mitral valves through a 5-6cm incision through the ribs rather than the standard sternotomy. He can also perform a single coronary bypass graft "off-pump," or without stopping the heart. These techniques call into question long-held beliefs about heart surgery.
Mr. Pick specializes in keyhole procedures for lung cancer on the thoracic side of the practice. He will determine how much lung tissue must be removed in order to cure a patient of lung cancer. It could be a wedge, a lobe, or even the entire lung. Mr Pick offers a five-year lung cancer surveillance program following lung cancer resection, as well as tissue retrieval for characterisation and palliative procedures for pleural effusions.
Mr Peter Skillington Cardiothoracic Surgeon Melbourne
03 9347 0106
Cardiothoracic surgeon Mr. Peter Skillington practices in this field. He trained in cardiothoracic surgery and general surgery in Australia before starting his practice. He next underwent additional training for 12 months at Southampton General Hospital in Southampton, United Kingdom, and for another 12 months in Boston, United States, where he underwent paediatric cardiac surgery for 6 months at Boston Children's Hospital and adult cardiac surgery for 6 months at Brigham Women's Hospital. Currently serving as the Clinical Cardiac Institute at Epworth Hospital in Richmond and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital's Deputy Directors. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardio and Thoracic Surgery are two organizations to which he has close ties. He presided over the ANZSCTS from 2001 to 2003.