Prof Mehrdad Nikfarjam

Certification

• Medical Board of Australia
  (Active License)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  Australia
• American College of Surgeons – USA
• General Medical Council – UK
• ECFMG Registration – USA
• USMLE step 1,2,3 - USA
• Pennsylvania Medical Board – USA
  (Active Full License)
• Ohio Medical Board – USA
  

Society Memberships

• AAS - Association of Academic Surgery
• ASR - Academy of Surgical Research
• AMA - Australian Medical Association
• AHPBA – American Hepato Pancreatico-Biliary Association
• ANZ HPBA – Australia and New Zealand Hepato pancreaticobiliary Association
• APA – American pancreatic association
• APC – Australasian Pancreas Club
• ASGE - American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• GESA - Gastroenterological Society of Australia
• IAP - International Association of Pancreatology
• IHPBA - International Hepato pancreaticobiliary Association
• Pancreas Club
• RACS - Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• SSAT - Society for surgery of the Alimentary tract
• SAGES – Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeon

Committees

• 2011 – Present Pancare Foundation – Founder and Director
• 2010 – Present Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome initiative (APGI) – Member
• 2014 – Present Australian Gastrointestinal Trials Group Committee – Member
• 2018 - Present Board of Pakinax Pty Ltd
• 2018- 2022 Board of Margin Clear Pty Ltd
• 2021 –2023 State of the Nation in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers Australia – Advisory Group
• 2020 – 2023 National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap Steering Committee
• 2014 – 2022 Medical Advisory Committee – Ramsay Health, Warringal Hospital
• 2010 – 2020 Austin Health – Policies and Procedures Committee
• 2010 – 2020 Austin Health – Best Practice Committee
• 2020 – 2021 Pancreatic cancer roadmap committee – Federal Government Task-Force
• 2014 – 2018 Australasian Pancreatic Club – President
• 2011 – 2014 Non-Drug Human Ethics Committee Member
• 2010 – 2011 Asia-pacific Hepatopancreaticobiliary conference organizing committee – Melbourne

Professional Engagement

• Australian Pancreatic cancer roadmap committee
• Australian Gastrointestinal Trials Group (AGITG)
• Australian Living Organoid Alliance (ALOA)
• Australian New Zealand Hepatico-Pancreatic-Biliary Association (ANZHPBA)
• Australian Pancreatic Genome Initiative (APGI)
• Australasian Pancreatic Club (APC)
• Cancer Council of Victoria
• Familial Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program
• Pancare Foundation (Founder)
• Ramsay Health: (Member of the medical advisory committee of Warringal Private Hospital, Ramsay health from 2014-2022)

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry (UGICR) and PURPLE Registries

Austin Health: I am one of the lead pancreatic surgeons and pancreatic researchers and led the international PanCO study at Austin Health, which is focused on patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. I have also led several other clinical studies at Austin Health and have developed and published on enhanced recovery pathways for patients undergoing pancreatic and liver surgery that have improved patient care.

Peer Review Responsibilities

International Journals:

• Annals of Surgical Oncology
• Annals of Surgery
• ANZ Journal of Surgery
• American Journal of Surgery
• British Journal of Surgery
• BMC
• Case Reports in Surgery
• Case reports in Medicine
• European Journal of Surgical Oncology
• European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• GIE
• HPB International
• Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Journal of the Pancreas
• Journal of Zhejiang University
• Journal of Visualized Experiments
• Surgical Endoscopy
• Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology
• World Journal of Surgery

Editorial Board (2009-2019): Case Reports in General Surgery

Grant Reviewer:

Auckland Medical Research Foundation, NHMRC, University of Melbourne (thesis reviewer for the AMS coursework program, Honours and Scholarly selective projects).

Qualifications and Awards

• 2021 OAM, The Medal of the Order of Australia
• 2021 FACS, American College of Surgeons
• 2007 Medical Doctorate (MD), University of Pennsylvania, USA
• 2006 FRACS, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• 2002 – 2005 Doctor of Philosophy (Hepatobiliary Sciences),
  Monash University & University of Melbourne, Australia
• 2001 – 2006 Advanced Surgical Trainee, Alfred and Austin Hospitals, Melbourne
• 1998 – 2000 Intern, HMO 2 – Surgery, HMO 3 – Surgery, , Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
• 1997 MBBS (Hons),Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards

Undergraduate

• First Class Honours Monash University 1997
  High Distinction in all final year subjects, including Surgery, Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Prince Henry’s Prize in Surgery 1997
• Sigma Award in Neonatal Paediatrics 1997

Postgraduate

• D S Rosengarten Research Award 2002 - Monash University
  “Focal hyperthermia produces progressive necrosis independent of its initial thermal effects”
• Austin hospital, Surgery and Anaesthetic research Prize 2003 – University of Melbourne
  “Effects of inflow vascular occlusion on the effects of focal hyperthermic tissue necrosis”
• RC Bennett Research Medal Prize 2004 – Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  “SMA Pirarubicin combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases”
• Austhos Travelling Research Fellowship 2004 – Austin Hospital, Ludwig institute and University of Melbourne
  “Mechanisms of focal hyperthermia tumour destruction”
• Sir Edward Hughes Memorial Research Award 2004 – Monash University
  “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis”
• Royal Australian College of Surgeons – Travelling Fellowship 2006
  Liver pancreatic and foregut surgery
• Travelling fellowship – American Pancreatic Association – Chicago 2007
  Improved Contemporary Surgical Management of Insulinomas: A 25-year Experience at the Massachusetts General Hospital
• Royal Australian College of Surgeons – Travelling Fellowship 2008
  Minimally invasive laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery

Post Graduate Experience

Clinical Experience

My training has been within the field of general surgery, with specialisation in Advanced liver, pancreas and biliary surgery. I received my board certification in surgery in Australia (F.R.A.C.S) at start of 2007 after which I continued with further training the USA for 2½ years in Liver, Pancreas and Foregut Surgery and Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic and Endoscopic surgery. I have a particular interest in liver and pancreatic cancer. In particular the treatment of locally advanced or borderline resectable cancer. I also have a strong interest in re-operative liver and pancreatic surgery and advanced laparoscopic pancreas and liver surgery. I am one of the few surgeons in Australia who performs laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (Laparoscopic Whipple’s Procedure). My basic research interests are in the areas of pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis and colorectal liver metastases. I am currently a Lecturer on the HPB / Transplant unit at the Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital. My private practice is in Warringal, Mitcham and Epworth hospitals.

My specific interest is in the field of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic surgery, which includes:

2009 - present University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. I am currently a lecturer and consultant on the hepatobiliary pancreatic and transplant unit at the Austin Hospital, with a major focus on minimally invasive surgery. Currently I perform in excess of 50 major pancreatic and liver resections annually, with a focus on advanced and minimally invasive surgery.

2008 – 2009 University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, OH, USA
I was an Instructor and Fellow at University Hospitals, completing an advanced laparoscopic and endoscopic fellowship with a major interest in ERCP and laparoscopy, including laparoscopic pancreatectomy and single site surgery, under the supervision of Dr J. Ponsky, MD and J. Marks MD. Training in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) through the gastrointestinal unit was also obtained. This position was secured competitively through the Fellowship Council.

2007 – 2008 Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, PA, USA. I completed a 1 year clinical Fellowship on the liver, pancreas and foregut unit under the supervision of Dr K Staveley-O’Carroll MD, PhD. I was an instructor in the department of surgery during this period. My clinical experience during this period included 50-75 major pancreatic resections, 50-75 major liver resections, 25-50 complex biliary cases, 25-50 esophagogastric cases and 10-25 complex retroperitoneal tumoUr resections. I am experienced in laparoscopic pancreatic and liver surgery. This was a competitively matched position through the Fellowship council.

2007 – Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, USA. Three months was spent as on the pancreatic unit with Dr A.L. Warshaw MD, and Dr C. Fernandez-del Castillo MD in 2007 prior to commencement of my Fellowship at Penn State.

2006 – 2007 Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. I was the Senior Advanced Trainee (Chief resident) on the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic unit, and Fellow (Instructor) of the University of Melbourne, at the Austin Hospital in 2006 under the supervision of Professor C. Christophi for 6 months after completing my examination requirements for my F.R.A.C.S.

2005 – 2006 Austin Hospital, Melbourne Australia. I was the Senior Advanced Trainee (Chief resident) Upper Gastrointestinal surgery training under the supervision of Dr M. Douglas and Dr T. Sweeney, with a special interest in laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery.

2003 – 2004 Austin Hospital. I worked on the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic unit and the Liver Transplantation unit, under the supervision of Professor C Christophi and Professor R Jones, while completing my Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). I was involved in organ harvests, liver transplantation and major complex liver and pancreatic resections. I also had major teaching commitment to medical students and Royal Australian College of surgeons during this time.

2002 – 2003 Alfred Hospital, Australia. My initial experience in hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Upper Gastrointestinal surgery was after commencement of my PhD under the supervision of Professor P O’Brien and Professor C. Christophi. I was also involved in major liver and pancreatic surgery during this time. I also had major teaching commitment to medical students and Royal Australian College of surgeons during this time.

Teaching and Education

STUDENT COURSEWORK and MENTORING

Undergraduate:

• 2009 – Present Undergraduate tutor, University of Melbourne, PBL tutorials and MD program curriculum.
• 2008 – 2009 Instructor, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Ohio, USA.
• 2007 – 2008 Instructor, Penn State University, Hershey Medical Center PA, USA.
• 2006 – 2009 Honorary Fellow/Lecturer in Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne.
• 2003 – 2006 University of Melbourne – 4th and 5th year medical school clinical teaching.
• 2002 Monash University - 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th year medical school clinical program tutor.

Postgraduate:

• 2010 – 2022 Surgical Set 1 Examination joint convener.
• 2009 – Present Austin Health, Advanced Surgical Trainee Program.
• 2011 – 2014 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Training Program lectures and ASSET Course supervisor.
• 2011 Asia-pacific Hepato-pancreatico-biliary conference organizing committee – Melbourne.
• 2009 – 2015 Joint convener for a 2-day exam revision course for SET trainees.
• 2008 – 2009 Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery training, University of Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Ohio USA.
• 2008 – 2009 Resident teaching seminars – University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Ohio, USA.
• 2008 Instructor, Advanced Gastroenterology Fellows Endoscopic workshop, Cleveland, OH, USA.
• 2008 Faculty, SAGES Laparoscopic and Endoscopic workshop, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
• 2007 – 2008 Resident teaching seminars – Penn State University, Hershey Medical Center, PA, USA.
• 2002 – 2004 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons - Convener Advanced Trainee Seminar Program, Melbourne, Victoria, AUS.

Students Supervised/Mentored:

Doctorate in Philosophy

• 2021 – Present Arian Ansardamavandi (BS) – University of Melbourne. “Targeting PAKs to modulate the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer.”
• 2021 – Present Yi Ma (MD) – University of Melbourne. “Improving treatment of pancreatic cancer outcomes with use of cannabinoids.”
• 2017 – 2021 Mr Nien-Hung Lee (BS) – University of Melbourne. “The effect of stromal modulation on the treatment response of pancreatic cancer.”
• 2015 – 2019 Kai Wang (MD) – University of Melbourne. “Improving treatment of pancreatic cancer by p21 activated kinase inhibition.”
• 2013 – 2017 Dannel Yeo (BS) – University of Melbourne. “The role of P21-activated kinase 1 in the growth, migration and invasion of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.”

Masters in Surgery and Masters Degree

• 2017-2019 Ms Golnaz Sharafi (Masters)– University of Melbourne. The importance of p21-activated kinases in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
• 2008 J Trunzo (MD) – Case Western Reserve, University Hospitals of Cleveland. NOTES research.
• 2005 Michael Fanartzis, MBBS (Hons) – University of Melbourne. Effect of liver regeneration on colorectal liver metastases.

Honours

• 2013 Jenny Wang (BS) – University of Melbourne, PAK4 and pancreatic cancer.
• 2012 Bryan Tan (BS) – University of Melbourne. The role of the renin angiotensin system of the growth and progression of pancreatic cancer.
• 2012 Dannel Yeo (BS) – University of Melbourne. The potential role P21-activated kinase 1 in the growth, migration and invasion of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
• 2005 Lisa Chan (BS) - University of Melbourne, Effect of anti-vascular agent of Oxi4503 on colorectal liver metastases.
• 2005 Nadia Harun (BS) – University of Melbourne, Effect of liver regeneration on growth of colorectal liver metastases.
• 2004 Jurstine Darawalla (BS) – University of Melbourne, Effect of anti-angiogenic factors of the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Surgical Research – USA

• 2007 Diego Avella, MD, Penn State School of Medicine, The role of immunologic ignorance and tolerance on hepatic tumorigenesis.
• 2007 Louis Garcia, MD. Penn State School of Medicine, The role of immunologic ignorance and tolerance on hepatic tumorigenesis.
• 2007 Serene Shereef, MD. Penn State School of Medicine, Impact of radiofrequency ablation in a murine model of spontaneous hepatocellular cancer.

Surgical Research - Australia

• 2017 Shane Qin MD (Scholarly Selective) – Role of EUS in familial pancreatic cancer screening
• 2017 Jenny Chan MD (Scholarly Selective) – Outcomes central hepatectomy
• 2015 Sandy Kim MD (Scholarly Selective) – Outcomes of octogenarian undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy.
• 2013 Pikli Batabyal (MBBS) – Association of diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
• 2013 Nick Low (MBBS) – Outcomes of total pancreatectomy.
• 2012 Lily Chen (MBBS) – Outcomes of cholecystostomy for treatment of acute cholecystitis.
• 2011 Nicole Lightfoot (MBBS) – Paraganglioma of the pancreas review.
• 2011 Kiron Manya (MBBS) – Acalculous cholecystitis outcomes.
• 2011 David Rowe (MBBS) – Cystic duct migration into the bile duct.
• 2011 Nick Low (MBBS) – Fast track surgery for pancreatic cancer.
• 2011 Farrukh Tofail (MBBS) – Gender differences in Acute cholecystitis.
• 2011 Efrant Harnaen (Medical student) – Gender differences in Acute cholecystitis.
• 2011 David Yeo (FRACS) – Outcomes of elderly with acute cholecystitis treated by cholecystectomy.
• 2010/2011 Andrew Hadj (MBBS) – Palliation of periampullary malignancy/ Sex differences in acute cholecystitis/ Pseudoaneurysm formation after cholecystectomy/ Complications of Endoscopy.
• 2010 Vachara Niumsawatt (MBBS), Study of contemporary outcomes of treatment of acute cholecystitis (winner of Austin research prize).
• 2010 Arun Sethu, (MBBS), Study of contemporary outcomes of treatment of acute cholecystitis.
• 2010 Betty Lai (MBBS), Lymphadenopathy in the setting of pancreatic cancer.

ACTIVE ROLES at HOSPITALS

Austin Health:

Development several health improvement initiatives and introduced new procedures to Austin Health.

• Introduced optimal care pathways for patients undergoing major liver and pancreas surgery with demonstrated improved outcomes in care.
• Modified the operative reconstruction technique in pancreatic surgery (Braun anastomosis), showing a significant reduction in delayed gastric emptying.
• Established the validity of a double wire cannulation technique in patients undergoing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography.
• Introduced a pancreatic cancer screening program to the Austin/Victoria.
• Performed the first single site gallbladder surgery in a public hospital in Australia and brought awareness to Australia of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery learned through my experiences in the USA.
• Introduced Direct Diaphragm Pacing Stimulation technique to Australia and currently the only surgeon in Australasia that performs this technique for spinal cord injury. Established Austin Health as the national centre for this procedure.
• Introduced laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy to Victoria and continuing to refine laparoscopic pancreas surgery.
• Identified a role for pressured irrigation of abdominal wounds to reduce infections rates.
• Randomised controlled trial to reduce pancreatic fistula rates and delayed gastric emptying

Ramsay Health:

Member of the medical advisory committee of Warringal Private Hospital, Ramsay Health 2014-2022. Review and credential new doctors seeking to work at the hospital. Reviewing medical management issues that may arise and provide advice on ways to ensure that all patients receive the highest quality in care.