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Team of Specialists

Consulting at the rooms of Breast Cancer Research Centre – WA, these specialists are at the forefront of breast cancer research and treatment, constantly striving to improve outcomes and develop innovative solutions.

Working to reshape
the future of breast cancer

Oncologists

Medical Oncologist

Dr Hilary Martin

Dr Hilary Martin is an Oncologist who subspecialises in the management of breast cancer. She obtained her medical degree from The University of Melbourne.

Hilary initial oncology training was undertaken at Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide. She then worked as Clinical Fellow in the Breast Cancer Unit at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London. She subsequently undertook a further breast cancer clinical fellow year at Royal Perth Hospital. She worked at Royal Perth Hospital as Consultant Oncologist, and transitioned to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where she works primarily as a Breast Oncologist.

Dr Martin has a strong research interest. She has obtained her Master of Public Health through the University of Sydney, and her PhD through the University of Western Australia, which focused on predictors of recurrence of hormone receptor positive breast cancer including mammographic breast density. She has been principal investigator of multiple clinical trials, including investigator initiated trials. She has a number of publications and presented research she has undertaken both locally and internationally. She also regularly writes, by invitation, for the Breast Cancer Research Review. Dr Martin is a member of the Breast Cancer Trials Group, and a member of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia breast cancer interest subgroup.

Medical Oncologist

Dr Louisa Lo

Current Oncology Lead & Principal Investigator for Clinical Trials at BCRC
Dr Lo was awarded the prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council PhD scholarship and RACP excellence award in 2017.

Dr Louisa Lo, Medical Oncologist, graduated from the University of Manchester (UK) with Honours in 2009. She completed her breast cancer oncology fellowship training at the Peter MacCallum Breast Cancer Unit in Melbourne and continued working there as a medical oncologist after her training was complete. Dr Lo was awarded the prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council PhD scholarship and RACP excellence award in 2017. She has completed her PhD in breast cancer liquid biopsy (University of Melbourne in 2023) and is interested to use this as a tool to personalise breast cancer treatment for patients.

Dr Lo has been a principal investigator for breast cancer clinical trials and has established her own investigator-initiated studies, with sites recruiting in Melbourne and Adelaide. She has book chapter and international journal publications in cancer research and is a reviewer for international cancer journals. She is also a clinical examiner for the FRACP medical physician speciality examinations.

Medical Oncologist

Dr Peter Lau

Dr Peter Lau was an inaugural recipient of the WA Cancer and Palliative Care and Cancer Research Fellowship in 2014, which encompassed both clinical and laboratory based breast cancer research.

Dr Peter Lau is a medical oncologist with specific interests in breast cancer and immunotherapy.

A graduate of the University of Queensland in 2007, he trained at Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and then returned home to Perth to complete his advanced training in medical oncology in 2012. He was an inaugural recipient of the WA Cancer and Palliative Care and Cancer Research Fellowship in 2014, which encompassed both clinical and laboratory based breast cancer research. Peter was appointed as a medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne in 2015 and completed his PhD in immunotherapy.

He returned to Perth in 2020 and leads the Breast Cancer Unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Medical Oncology Unit and is a principal investigator for a number of breast cancer and immunotherapy trials.

Peter is an avid cyclist and enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Medical Oncologist

Dr Brendan Kirwin

Dr. Brendan Kirwin, completed his medical education at the University of Western Australia, specialized in oncology in Sydney, and now contributes to breast cancer research.

Hailing from Western Australia, Brendan’s early years were spent in various regions, including Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Perth, and Bunbury. His academic journey led him to the University of Western Australia, where he pursued his medical degree.

Setting out on his professional path, Brendan completed his internship and residency at prestigious institutions, notably Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Following this, he ventured to Sydney to specialize in oncology, dedicating five years of his career to Royal North Shore Hospital.

While Brendan’s tenure in Sydney proved rewarding, a deep yearning for the West Coast and the captivating ocean sunsets called him back to his origins in Western Australia.

Beyond his medical pursuits, Brendan takes solace in the tranquility of ocean swimming, indulges in the cultural richness of theater, and maintains a commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

Brendan considers himself immensely fortunate to be a member of the esteemed team at the Breast Cancer Research Centre – WA, where he contributes to the advancement of breast cancer research with great dedication and enthusiasm.

Medical Oncologist

Dr Azim Khan

Dr. Azim Khan is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and geriatric oncology, conducting significant research on sarcopenia as a radiological biomarker in cancer patients and serving as a Principal Investigator in cancer trials at Hollywood Private Hospital.

Azim completed his specialist training at Sir Charles Gairdner and Fiona Stanley Hospitals in Perth. He has further expertise in breast cancer through a Clinical Research Fellowship awarded by WA Palliative Care Network - WA Health. He also completed fellowships in Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, enhancing his ability to tailor treatments for elderly cancer patients.

Engaged in clinical and translational research, Dr. Khan has authored publications in respected journals and presented at major conferences. His research interests include breast cancer and outcomes in the Indigenous population. Currently, he is investigating sarcopenia as a radiological biomarker in cancer patients, supported by a research grant from the Cancer Trials Unit.

Dr. Khan serves as a Principal Investigator in cancer trials at Hollywood Private Hospital, contributing to advancements in cancer care. He is committed to developing geriatric oncology as a sub-specialty to improve outcomes for older adults with cancer.

Referrals

Post: Suite 406, Level 4, Hollywood Consulting Centre, 91 Monash Ave, Nedlands, WA 6009

Healthlink EDI: breastci (unless otherwise specified)

Email: oncology.reception@bcrc-wa.com.au
Phone: 6500 5570
Fax: 6500 5505

Surgeons

Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon

Dr Yang Yang Huang

Dr Yang Yang Huang is a Specialist Breast Surgeon. Graduating from UWA, he brings over four years of advanced post-fellowship experience from leading cancer centres across Australia.

MBBS (UWA), PostGradDipSurgAnat (UMelb), Masters of Advanced Surgery (USyd), FRACS
Dr Yang Yang Huang is a specialist Breast Surgeon. He is passionate about providing personalised evidence-based approach in the management of all breasts malignant and benign conditions. Dr Yang grew up in Perth; after graduating from The University of Western Australia medical school in 2011, he completed his general surgery training in Western Australia in 2019. He spent a further 4 years gaining extensive post fellowship experience in breast cancer care at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute in Sydney.
Dr Huang is actively involved in research. He has presented and published multiple peer reviewed articles. He is currently working as the research coordinator at the SCGH Breast Centre. Dr Huang is a keen teacher and collaborator; he currently supervises general surgery trainees as well as BreastSurgANZ postgraduate fellows in his public appointment. He collaborates with other international colleagues and is a board member of the international Breastics24H program since 2023.
Dr Huang is passionate about Breast Conserving surgery and risk reducing mastectomies. Dr Huang offers breast surgery procedures including level 1 and level 2 oncoplastic procedures perforator flaps (partial breast reconstruction), therapeutic mammoplasty, breast reduction, prepectoral breast implant reconstruction, fat grafting and revisional surgery, combined surgery with plastics surgeon for autologous DIEP flap reconstruction and preventative axillary lymphovenous anastomosis bypass following axillary dissection.
Dr Huang operates in Hollywood Private, Joondalup Public and Private Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals. He speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese. Outside of work, he loves spending time with his family, cooking, eating and keeping fit in the gym.
Oncoplastic Breast and General Surgeon

Dr Bindu Kunjuraman

Dr Kunjuraman is an Australian trained General Surgeon with nearly 25 years of experience in general surgery in Australia and overseas.

Dr Kunjuraman prioritises her time with patients and allocates ample time for patient discussion and treatment planning. Bindu has the ability to listen and explain treatment to her patients in the language that they understand.

Above all she gives the assurance of quality to her patients. All cancer cases are discussed in a multi-disciplinary team meetings involving radiologists, nuclear physicians, medical oncologist and other experts in the field, ensuring the treatment plans and management are on par with international treatment standards. Bindu is available to consult for all breast and elective general surgical problems. She is skilled in partial and full reconstruction surgery of the breast following cancer surgery.

Oncoplastic Breast and General Surgeon

Dr Kallyani Ponniah

Dr Kallyani Ponniah specialises in breast disease and cancer. She also takes care of those at high risk of developing breast cancer, either because of personal or family history.

Dr Ponniah admires the courage of the brave women when they receive their cancer diagnosis and feels privileged in being able to have an ongoing dialogue about their tailored care. She has been operating in this field for over 15 years.

Dr Ponniah received her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1995 from Barkatullah University, in India. She completed her Advanced Surgical Training in Malaysia, attaining her Master of Surgery in 2004 practising as a general surgeon with breast interest in district and tertiary hospitals. She completed a further two years of breast oncoplastic training in Perth and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Throughout her career, Dr Ponniah maintained her commitment to the public system and prided in being a role model for other aspiring female surgeons. She held honorary lecturer positions at training hospitals in Malaysia and is at present an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at The University of Notre Dame. She is an active member and is in the interview panel for post graduate breast oncoplastic trainee selections for BreastSurgANZ. Dr Ponniah is currently the Head of Department of the Breast Centre at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth practising as a General and Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon.

Oncoplastic Breast and General Surgeon

Dr Farah Abdul Aziz

Dr Farah Abdul Aziz is a Fellow of Australasian College of Surgeons with extensive training in General Surgery and a specialist in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery.

Dr Farah obtained her primary medical qualifications at Nottingham University in the UK in 1998 and completed her advanced surgical training in Perth. She then underwent post fellowship training in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery.

Dr Farah believes in holistic treatment, removing the breast cancer safely whilst ensuring that the form and shape of the breast is not compromised. She also offers breast reconstruction for cancer or benign conditions, breast reduction surgery, breast augmentation and fat grafting. Her expertise also includes both open and laparoscopic General Surgery.

As well as working in the private sector, she is also a surgical teacher and is involved in training medical students and surgical trainees at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. She was appointed as the Director of Breast Services at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and held this position for over 4 years.

Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon

Mr Ran Li

Mr Ran Li is an Australian trained specialist oncoplastic breast surgeon with international subspecialty fellowship experience.

Mr Ran Li is an Australian trained specialist oncoplastic breast surgeon with international subspecialty fellowship experience. He takes a compassionate and personalised approach to treating each patient.

After graduating from The University of Melbourne medical school in 2010, he completed his general surgery training through the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2018. He moved to Perth to complete a fellowship in breast surgery at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. He then went on to undertake further subspecialty fellowship training in oncoplastic breast surgery at the world-renowned Nightingale Breast Centre (Manchester, UK), where he trained with breast and plastic surgeons learning advanced modern oncoplastic breast surgery techniques. Following this, he completed a PhD through the University of Melbourne and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Mr Li is actively involved in research and teaching. He completed his PhD on HER2-positive breast cancer and immunotherapy. He has authored over 20 peer reviewed publications with more than 500 cumulative citations. He is also a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia.

Mr Li offers the full range of breast and oncoplastic surgery procedures including reconstruction, perforator flaps (partial breast reconstruction), therapeutic mammoplasty, reduction, augmentation, fat grafting and revisional surgery. He has a special interest in breast conservation surgery for women with large or multifocal cancers that would traditionally require a mastectomy.

Mr Li operates at Hollywood Private, Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park hospitals. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

Specialist Oncoplastic Breast, Endocrine and General Surgeon

Mr Richard Martin

Mr Richard began surgical training in 1996 and now has over 20 years surgical experience.

Mr Martin has two years post fellowship training specifically in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery encompassing all aspects of breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast oncology, and sentinel node biopsy.

Mr Martin also has experience and expertise in treating thyroid and parathyroid diseases, varicose veins, melanoma, skin cancers and all general surgical conditions. He has specific expertise in laparoscopic hernia surgery, laparoscopic splenectomy, laparoscopic adrenalectomy and vascular access surgery. Mr Martin holds current office bearing positions with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He operates at Hollywood Private Hospital, Bethesda Hospital, the Mount Hospital and St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Mr Martin is an active member of the breast section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (BreastSurgANZ) and participates fully in the National Breast Audit. He has published and presented both nationally and internationally and is dedicated to the development and progression of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery in Australia and New Zealand.

Oncoplastic Breast & General Surgeon

Dr Vanitha Budhavaram

Dr Budhavaram is a highly skilled oncoplastic surgeon specialising in breast cancer surgery. Her area of expertise includes oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques, partial breast reconstruction, implant-based breast reconstruction, breast symmetrisation, augmentation, and high risk and familial breast cancer management.

Dr Budhavaram is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and a member of BreastSurgANZ. She is also a GESA accredited endoscopist. She completed a Masters in General surgery, the MRCS program through the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Fellowship from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth. She also holds a Masters in Breast Surgery from the University of Sydney. She is an active member of Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) and the Australian Society for Breast Diseases (ASBD) and works closely with BreastScreen WA.

Dr Budhavaram is the Head of Breast Surgery at Royal Perth Hospital and operates in St John of God Hospitals (Subiaco and Midland). She was an Adjunct lecturer at Flinders Univ and also mentors fellows, trainees, and medical students and has published widely in breast cancer and general surgery journals.

Referrals

Post: Suite 405, Level 4, Hollywood Consulting Centre, 91 Monash Ave, Nedlands, WA 6009

Healthlink EDI: breastci (unless otherwise specified)

 

Dr Kallyani Ponniah

Email: surgery.reception@bcrc-wa.com.au
Phone: 6500 5579
Fax: 6500 5577

 

Dr Ran Li

Email: surgery.reception@bcrc-wa.com.au
Phone: 6500 5579
Fax: 6500 5577

 

Dr Farah Abdul Aziz

All referrals and correspondence to Perth Surgical Clinic

Post: 25 Charles St, South Perth
Email: info@perthsurgicalclinic.com.au
Phone: 08 9310 3934
Fax: 04 9310 6371
Healthlink: perthsur

 

Dr Bindu Kunjuraman

Email: info@drbindu.com.au
Phone: 9581 4455
Fax: 6500 5577

 

Mr Richard Martin

Email: admin@richardmartin.com.au
Phone: 6500 5571
Fax: 6500 5577

 

Dr Yang Huang

Email: info@dryanghuang.com
Phone: 08 6500 5577

 

Dr Vanitha Budhavaram

Email: info@drvanbud.com.au
Phone: 08 6478 6879