About Us: Introduction
The University Department of Surgery at Austin Hospital is one of three Departments of Surgery within The University of Melbourne and incorporates surgery at Northern Hospital. The other Departments include Royal Melbourne Hospital (with Western Hospital) and St. Vincent's Hospital.
A Heads of Departments of Surgery meeting is held at quarterly intervals to discuss issues common to the three departments. The Chairman of this Group is appointed on a one year rotating basis from the respective Heads of Departments.
History
top of pageThe Department of Surgery at Austin Hospital was first established in 1967 with Professor Howard H Eddey as Foundation Chairman, a position which he held for 10 years. Professor Eddey had a major role in the planning of the Clinical Science Building and the Harold Stokes building of the new hospital. He was a powerful administrator. In 1976, Professor Ken J Hardy was appointed Professor and Head of Department Surgery at Austin Hospital. He held the post until December 2000. In November 2002, Professor Chris.Christophi was subsequently appointed.
When the Department of Surgery was established, the University reached agreement that the Professors of Medicine and Surgery would head the respective Hospital Divisions. This led to the development of a truly university teaching hospital with integration of fulltime and visiting medical staff into the hospital and university departments. This arrangement also allowed the University Departments to show clinical leadership and influence strategic developments within the respective specialties of the hospital.
The Repatriation General Hospital campus (RGH) of the Department was established in 1971 with the appointment of Associate Professor Ken Hardy. Professor Gabriel Kune was appointed as Foundation Professor in 1988. Professor Donald G McLellan was appointed in 1991 as Professor of Surgery and Head of the Repatriation campus, an independent Department with separate research and clinical facilities. In 1995, the responsibility of RGH was transferred from Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to the state government which then amalgamated RGH with the Austin Hospital. The University Department of Surgery at RGH was closed following the departure of Professor McLellan.
To offset the reduction in clinical and teaching facilities, Preston and Northcote Hospital (PANCH) was transferred from the St Vincent’s Clinical School to the Austin. PANCH subsequently relocated to Epping as Northern Hospital in 1998. Associate Professor Hamish Ewing initially at PANCH is now Head at Northern Hospital.
The Department of Surgery now includes Austin Health and Northern Hospital. Clinical and teaching facilities occur in both sites while research laboratories are at the Austin site.
Departmental Profile
top of pageThe Department of Surgery at Austin Hospital occupies the eight floor of the LTB, part of the ninth floor of the LTB, and the Kronheimer building. Apart from its own clinical role within the Hospital, the Department also has strong relationships with specific hospital surgical Units.
The aims of the Department are achieved on the basis of a strong organizational structure and efficient administration. The three major principles of the Department of Surgery are:
- to develop excellence and leadership in the art and science of clinical surgery.
- to develop excellence and leadership in areas of basic, clinical and translational research in specific areas of interest.
- a commitment to the highest standard of undergraduate and post graduate teaching.
The primary clinical focus of the Department is in the area of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and in Transplantation. The clinical unit of the Department of Surgery is a leading tertiary referral centre for surgical diseases in HPB predominantly in the fields of pancreatic cancer and liver malignancy. Apart from major liver and pancreatic resections, the Department has particular expertise in focal thermal ablation of liver tumors using laser techniques and in minimally invasive surgery. The unit also incorporates the Victorian Liver Transplant Unit and renal transplantation. The Victorian Liver Transplant Unit is one of six state liver transplant units in Australia. It includes pediatric transplantation at the Royal Childrens Hospital and has an international reputation in this field.
Research
top of pageThe Department has a commitment to basic and clinical research. It has strong national and international collaboration. Basic research within the Department is predominantly carried out by four principal groups:
- The HPB group led by Professor C Christophi, was established in 2003. This group is investigating the mechanisms of liver metastases with a specific emphasis on the role of tumor angiogenesis, cytokines and growth factor stimulation. In addition the role of ischemia reperfusion injury in liver transplantation is being assessed.
- Regulatory Peptides Group led by Professor A. Shulkes (SPRF).This is a leading international group investigating the role and structure of regulatory peptides in gastrointestinal malignancy.
- Transplantation Immunobiology Group led by Professor Mauro S Sandrin. This internationally renowned group has recently joined the Department and is investigating the biochemical and cellular basis of xenotransplantation and transplantation rejection.
- The Cancer Biology Research Group is lead by Associate Professor Graham Baldwin. This internationally renowned group focuses on the mechanisms of proliferation by which peptide growth factors stimulate proliferation in the normal gastrointestinal mucosa and development of gastrointestinal cancers.
These groups have attracted numerous sources of funding including NH&MRC, ARC, NIH, VCC and have been the recipients of several individual research awards and invitations to present at international forums.
Clinical research has focused on the development of data bases to prospectively analyse prognostic determinants and long term results for various treatment modalities in liver and pancreatic malignancy and liver transplantation. In addition, the Department is involved in various trials of immunosxxupression and chemotherapy in liver transplantation and HPB malignancy at national and international levels. Research programs from other affiliated specialist surgical units are coordinated through the Department.
Teaching
top of pageThe Department is committed to excellence in undergraduate and post graduate teaching.
All members of the Department are involved in teaching of the undergraduate medical curriculum as administered by the Dean of the Clinical School. The Department has an ongoing teaching research program for Science (Postgrad Dip, Honours, Masters), AMS, MD, MSc, MSurg and PhD research students. The Department has an active academic program for the Advanced and Basic General Surgical Trainees within the Austin Cluster.