General Surgery
We operate five surgical units at Royal Perth Hospital for patients needing treatment for conditions relating to the bowel, pancreas, colon, oesophagus, gall bladder, thyroid, breast and liver.
The General Surgery Department also works closely with the State Major Trauma Unit at RPH.
We are a leading department using international best practice in the treatment of bowel, stomach and intestinal cancers, and pancreatitis.
RPH employs more than 20 consultants, with an efficient on-call system to ensure all patients are offered excellent care.
Our medical staff continue to receive regular updates on the latest surgical techniques and best practice methods of treatment.
| Clinic name/ condition | Location | Day | Face to face | Is Telehealth available? | Procedure |
| Colorectal Clinic | Outpatient Clinic, Desk 1 196 Goderich St Perth |
Mon & F/N Thu | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| Upper GI/HPB Clinic | Outpatient Clinic, Desk 1 196 Goderich St Perth |
Tues | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| Endocrine Clinic | Outpatient Clinic, Desk 1 196 Goderich St Perth |
Wed | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| Breast Clinic | Outpatient Clinic, Desk 1 196 Goderich St Perth |
Mon | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| General | Outpatient Clinic, Desk 1 196 Goderich St Perth |
Wed, Thu | ✔ | ✔ | X |
Unit 1
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Associate Professor Mary Theophilus FRACS |
Associate Professor Mary Theophilus is a specialist colorectal and general surgeon who is dedicated to the east metropolitan health region. |
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Dr Graham Hool FRACS Consultant General Surgeon |
Dr Abe Jacob graduated from medical school in UTAS with Honours in 2007. Following this he moved to Melbourne where he trained in General Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital gaining experience in general surgery including trauma and transplant surgery. |
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Dr Ruben Rajan FRACS |
Dr Ruben Rajan is a colorectal/general surgeon and gastrointestinal endoscopist. |
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Dr Patrick Tan FRACS |
Dr Patrick Tan is a consultant general surgeon at Royal Perth Hospital and Bentley Hospital. Dr Tan manages all colon, rectal and anal conditions which include colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, anorectal disease including sacral nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence and pilonidal disease. His general surgical work is limited to abdominal wall hernia surgery, small bowel disease and gallstone disease. Dr Tan graduated from University of Western Australia in 1990 and completed training in General Surgery with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 1997. He undertook sub-specialty training in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Southern California 1998 to 2000. |
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| Dr Zi NG FRACS | Dr Zi Qin Ng is a specialist colorectal and general surgeon. He completed his medical degree at the University of Western Australia with honours in 2014. He was awarded the Royal Perth Hospital Clinical Association Prize in Surgery and Helen Jane Lamard Prize in Surgery during his medical degree. Dr Ng subsequently underwent general surgery training in Perth and became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2023. Following this, he has gone on to pursue two years of subspecialty colorectal surgery fellowship through Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney and The Alfred in Melbourne. During his training, Dr Ng has also completed a Master of Surgery at the University of Western Australia in 2024. Dr Ng has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery, NOSE surgery, advanced colorectal cancers and complex abdominal hernia surgery. Dr Ng has published widely with more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and is active in supervising junior doctors in research. |
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Unit 2
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Mr Suresh Navadgi FRACS |
Mr Navadgi graduated from the University of India in 1998 and then went on to complete a fellowship in general surgery in Adelaide and was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2012.
Mr Navadgi subsequently completed a two year fellowship in upper GI and hepatobiliary surgery in Melbourne. He underwent further specialist training and completed a solid organ transplant fellowship in Auckland. His expertise includes diagnosis and management of primary and secondary liver cancers, pancreatic, gastric and gall bladder malignancies in a multi-disciplinary setup.
Mr Navadgi offers minimal invasive surgery for liver and pancreatic cancers. He is also trained in general surgery including laparoscopic cholecystectomies and hernia surgery. |
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Dr Joshua Salim FRACS |
Dr Salim is an academic surgeon who covers all general surgical conditions and sub specialises in conditions affecting the gallbladder, liver and pancreas. As a surgeon who emphasises patient- centred care, Dr. Salim places his patient’s health care needs above all else.
Having grown up in Perth, Dr Salim travelled east, completing his general surgical training at the prestigious Royal Prince Alfred hospital in Sydney. Dr Salim completed further sub specialist hepatopancreaticobiliary training at the esteemed St. Vincents hospital in Melbourne and Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, with a focus on minimally invasive surgery and interventional endoscopy.
Dr Salim is a senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia and has completed a masters in Bioethics as well as published in multiple journals and presented his research internationally. |
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Dr Adrian Teo FRACS
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Dr Adrian Teo is a consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Royal Perth Hospital. He is a graduate from the University of New South Wales and completed his surgical training in Sydney. He was awarded as a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 2015.
He underwent further sub-specialised training in high volume centres in Australia and New Zealand and is a member of the Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Gastric & Oesophageal Surgery Association (AANZGOSA), Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Hepatic Pancreatic & Biliary Association (AANZHPBA) and Australian & New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS).
His clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery, surgical oncology, endoscopy and medical student teaching. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Senior Lecturer at The University of Notre Dame Australia. |
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Dr Willy (Kok Wai) Low FRACS |
Dr Willy (Kok Wai) Low is a general surgeon with post fellowship training in upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery. Willy graduated from the University of Western Australia and was conferred his fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He underwent a further two years of training at Bankstown/Liverpool Hospital and St. George Hospital in NSW.
Bankstown Hospital is a high-volume upper gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancer unit, where Willy was able to obtain further training in managing complex oesophagogastric and hepatobiliary malignancy in a multidisciplinary approach.
St George Hospital is Australia’s highest volume bariatric hospital with the unit also offering minimally invasive upper gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeries. Willy’s extensive experience in bariatric surgery includes primary and revisional surgeries, and interventional endoscopies as a modality to manage bariatric surgery complications.
He has a strong passion for teaching and the education of junior doctors and medical students. He holds an academic appointment with Curtin Medical School as a Clinical Dean and Senior Lecturer. |
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Unit 3
Dr Alan Tien FRACS
Dr Tien is a West Australian trained general surgeon who has completed his general surgical training in 2011.
Dr Tien underwent fellowship training in breast and endocrine surgery at Royal Perth Hospital for two years before moving to Melbourne, Germany and Japan for further endocrine surgery training.
Dr Tien’s Particular Areas of Interest:
Endocrine surgery:
- Benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands and spleen.
General surgery:
- Hernia surgery
- Gallstone surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
- cute general surgery
Dr Sharin Pradhan FRACS
Dr Pradhan trained as general surgeon in Perth, received his Fellowship to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, then appointed as fellow in the Western Australia liver and kidney transplant unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital before completing further 2 years of post-fellowship training in endocrine surgery at Liverpool Hospital (NSW) and Royal Perth Hospital (WA).
Dr Pradhan is actively involved in the practice of endocrine surgery, and general surgery - both emergency and elective, for both private and public patients.
He offers a broad range of adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid, and general surgical services with an excellent patient outcome.
He is actively involved in teaching and mentoring trainees.
Dr Sze Ling Wong FRACS
Dr Sze Ling Wong is a passionate surgeon who has dedicated two decades of her life to her medical profession. She was trained in Canada before completing two years of post-fellowship training in Endocrine Surgery at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and Royal Perth Hospital in Perth. She has extensive experience in all aspects of endocrine surgery and general surgery.
She is part of the RPH Endocrine Surgery unit who introduced ‘Scarless’ Thyroid Surgery - Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA) to Australia.
She also serves as the WA Representative of the Australian and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons (ANZES) Council to promote advancements in endocrine surgery.
Associate Professor Ming Yew FRACS
Associate Professor Dr Ming Khoon Yew graduated from the University of Western Australia Medical School in 1996. After obtaining Fellowship in General Surgery (FRACS), he completed 2 years of post-fellowship training in Breast and Endocrine Surgery.
Dr Yew has presented at many local, national and international meetings. He is the current Chair of the Multidisciplinary Endocrine Tumor Board at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH); and Head of the Department of General Surgery at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco. He has served as Head of Department of General Surgery, RPH; and Head of multidisciplinary breast service, RPH. He chairs the state committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and represents Australia as delegate to the Asian Association of Endocrine Surgeons.
Dr Yew is a leader and pioneer in surgical innovation. He has led the introduction of Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy and Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy in Australia.
Dr Sana Nasim FRACS
Consultant General Surgeon
Dr Jeni Thomas
Consultant General Surgeon
Unit 4
Dr Vanitha Budhavaram FRACS
Dr Vanitha Budhavaram is a specialist breast and general surgeon and trained in the field of breast cancer and oncoplastic surgery, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and a full member of BreastSurgANZ. She is also a GESA accredited endoscopist.
On completing her undergraduate training, she underwent Masters in General Surgery completing with a Governor’s medal for securing first position. Dr Budhavaram underwent MRCS program from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Following her Surgical Fellowship with Royal Australalasian College of Surgeons, Dr Budhavaram underwent sub-specialty and accredited oncoplastic breast surgery training under the aegis of BreastSurg ANZ at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth and concurrently obtained Masters in Breast Surgery from the University of Sydney.
In addition to her special interest in breast cancer surgeries, Dr Budhavaram specialises in general surgical procedures and has the expertise in treating all aspects of general surgical conditions including laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, hernia repairs, insertion of infusaport, colonoscopy and gastroscopy.
Dr Budhavaram has trained internationally and comes with rich and extensive experience as a surgeon.
Dr Helen Ballal FRACS
Dr Helen Ballal is a specialist general surgeon who has completed extensive oncoplastic training in Australia, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and a full member of BreastSurgANZ.
She has trained at several flagship breast units in Western Australia including Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital.
After graduating from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom (UK) she started surgical training in 2003, completing basic surgical training and commencing higher surgical training in the UK before relocating to Australia in 2010. She gained MRCS (Edinburgh) in 2005.
Helen went on to complete a doctoral research degree, focusing on the personalised treatment of breast cancer, with the University of Liverpool. This afforded her the opportunity for clinical breast work with the team at the Linda McCartney Centre. Her interest in research continues in WA as the principal investigator on several Breast Cancer Trials projects. She is particularly interested in patient reported outcome measures and improving patient experiences.
Helen participates in the MDT process as standard and has developed close collaborations with a wide team, including breast care nurses, medical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. She offers a full range of breast cancer surgery including localisation techniques for screen detected cancers, lumpectomies, mastectomies, breast reconstruction, breast reductions, sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection, targeted axillary dissection and fat grafting.
Dr Synn Lynn Chin FRACS
Consultant Breast and General Surgeon
Dr Vineeta Singh FRACS
Dr Vineeta Singh is a Breast Surgeon of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
She had worked in senior leadership positions including being Head of Department Surgery, Armadale Health Services and Executive Head of Breast Unit at Royal Perth Hospital.
She has gained more than 15 years of experience in managing breast diseases both benign and cancer by working overseas and in Australia. After MBBS, she trained in General Surgery and obtained Masters in General Surgery with Thesis work. She underwent further training and obtained Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). She also did post fellowship training in Oncoplastic breast surgery with Breast surgANZ Australia at Royal Perth Hospital, Perth.
She has gained extensive experience in the management of acute general surgical emergencies, elective general surgery, both open and Laparoscopic, and excellent experience in Breast oncology and Oncoplastic breast surgery. In addition to clinical work she is interested in breast cancer research and surgical education.
She believes in importance of forming strong patient surgeon bond with effective communication, this often helps to reduce psychological stress from cancer diagnosis.
Dr David Lim FRACS
Consultant Breast and General Surgeon
Unit 5
Associate Professor Dieter Weber FRACS Head of Department
Dieter Weber is the Head of Department of General Surgery and current Head of the Royal Perth Hospital Trauma Service. He is clinically engaged as Consultant Surgeon both in Trauma and General Surgery.
After graduating from the University of Western Australia, he completed his General Surgery Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He subsequently subspecialised into Trauma Surgery in Newcastle.
He is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Western Australia, and also holds an adjunct position with the University of Newcastle in his role as a course coordinator for the Masters of Traumatology. He has authored and instructed on various trauma and emergency surgery related courses, and is engaged in research in these fields. He is a Board member of the World Society of Emergency Surgery, and is also a member of the European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery and the International Surgical Society.
With the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, he serves as the Deputy Chair of the Clinical Examinations Committee. He chairs the Post fellowship Education and Training Committee for Trauma Surgery, and is an executive committee member for the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Surgery of Trauma as Supervisor of Post-Fellowship Training.
Dr Martin Jarmin FRACS
Dr Jarmin is a Trauma and General Surgeon. He is a full-time consultant at the State Major Trauma Unit at RPH which is the sole Level 1 Trauma Centre for Western Australia and one of the busiest in the country. He is also an active consultant in the RPH's General Surgery department, participating in the Acute Surgery Unit roster. He is also Supervisor of the Surgical Stepdown (Trauma) Unit at Bentley Hospital.
Dr Jarmin previously worked as a Clinical Associate in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Singapore National Heart Centre. He has had extensive experience in resource limited environments having worked as a War Surgeon for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and EMERGENCY (Life Support for Civilian War Wounded), as well as ASPEN Medical in different conflict zones and disaster areas around the world. He has completed multiple Trauma Fellowships at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney and John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
Dr Jarmin has memberships in the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Surgery of Trauma (ANZAST), as well as the World Society for Emergency Surgery (WSES). He is also an active Trauma Educator, teaching in both Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST/ATLS) course, the Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course, and the Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness Course (DMEP).
Dr Tulsi Menon FRACS
Consultant General Surgeon
Dr Rohit Sarvepalli FRACS
Consultant Trauma & General Surgeon
Dr Cecilia Wee FRACS
Dr Cecilia Wee is a Western Australian trained general surgeon. Since qualifying she has undertaken training in endoscopy and trained overseas to gain additional general surgical experience.
Dr Wee's particular areas of interest are:
- Hernia surgery
- Gallbladder surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Endoscopy
Acute surgery.
Dr Wee operates privately at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital and publicly at Royal Perth and Bentley Hospitals. She provides public endoscopy services at Armadale Hospital.
She is approachable and committed to providing high quality care and timely services to her patients.
Dr Wee speaks Cantonese and Mandarin.