Westmead Breast Cancer Institute team

Associate Professor Nirmala Pathmanathan is a Specialist Breast Pathologist with over 25 years of experience in breast cancer and breast diseases. She has been the Clinical Director of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute since 2012 and is committed to ensuring that the best possible standards of coordinated clinical care are provided for people diagnosed with breast cancer in Western Sydney from diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. Her leadership is focussed on ensuring that patients have access to the latest diagnostic techniques, comprehensive treatment options and supportive care programs. She is also the Director of BreastScreen NSW, Sydney West.

She is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Sydney where she is involved in the teaching of undergraduate students and supervision of Masters and PhD students. She is an Executive Committee member of the Australian Breast Cancer Tumour Bank, a member of the Expert Advisory Group for BreastScreen Australia and contributed to the development of national breast cancer guidelines led by Cancer Australia. She is an editor for the WHO Classification of Breast Tumours (6^th Edition). She has published widely in breast cancer, and her research interests are focussed on the identification of biomarkers to assist in the personalisation of breast cancer systemic treatments, with a focus on universal access.

She is frequently an invited speaker at national and international breast cancer conferences and has chaired the Leura International Breast Cancer Conference since 2016. She has been responsible for medical education programs for medical students, medical professionals and the community. She is an advocate and regularly participates in community events to promote breast cancer screening and raising awareness of breast cancer.

Clinical Associate Professor James French is the Head of Breast Surgery at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. He completed his breast surgical fellowship at the Institute and was among the first fellows to graduate from this training program.

With over 20 years of experience in breast surgery, Associate Professor French cares for patients at Westmead and actively develops and applies modern oncoplastic breast surgery techniques. This method aims not only to treat cancer effectively but also to deliver the best aesthetic results for patients.

He has extensive expertise in a variety of breast-conserving surgical techniques, including adaptive mammoplasty (breast-conserving surgery combined with breast reduction). He also performs various implant-based breast reconstruction procedures, including both single-stage and two-stage reconstructions, with or without nipple preservation, for patients undergoing mastectomy. For patients most suitable for tissue-based reconstruction, he collaborates closely with specialist plastic and reconstructive surgeons to deliver a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to care.

Associate Professor French has played a key role in training and mentoring surgical fellows and registrars at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. His leadership has contributed to ensuring patients have access to innovative surgical techniques and personalised treatment approaches.

As a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, he actively contributes to teaching at all levels of medical education, from medical students to postgraduate surgical fellows. He is also involved in clinical research at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and has participated in several local and international clinical trials.

Associate Professor French is a regular invited speaker at national and international conferences and remains committed to the education and supervision of medical students, surgical registrars, and postgraduate fellows.

In addition to his public hospital practice, he consults and operates privately at Lakeview Private Hospital.

Professor Elisabeth Elder is a specialist breast surgeon and head of clinical research at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney. She has a special interest in oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery. She graduated from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in 1992, where she also completed her general surgery training and a PhD in tumour biology in 2002. After migrating to Australia for family reasons, she specialised in breast cancer surgery at Concord Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Women and the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. After having completed her FRACS she went back to the Karolinska Hospital in 2009 to develop skills in oncoplastic surgical techniques.

She was president of the Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD) between 2018 to 2023 and part of the executive committee 2016 to 2024. She was chair of the oncoplastic committee of Breast Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ) and convenor of their biannual workshops in oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery 2014 to 2019 and one of the inaugural clinical leads for the Australian Breast Device Registry 2014 to 2021. She is an active contributor to expert groups at the NSW Cancer Institute, McGrath Foundation, Cancer Council, and the Medical Benefit Schedule Review Group. She was council member of Breast Surgeons International 2013 to 2019. She is a member of the editorial board for World Journal of Surgery and The Breast. She lectures frequently at national and international meetings and participates regularly in breast cancer education for medical professionals, students as well as patient groups and the broader community.

She also operates and consults from rooms at Lakeview Private Hospital in Norwest.

Associate Professor Farid Meybodi is a breast surgeon who combines advanced surgical skills with a personalised, compassionate approach to care. At Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, he works with a highly skilled team to offer the latest, evidence-based treatments for breast conditions.

He is known for developing innovative surgical techniques that can improve both the health and appearance of the breast after cancer surgery. His work is recognised in Australia and internationally, and he shares his expertise through teaching, research, and presentations around the world.

Professor Jeremy Hsu is a Sydney based breast oncoplastic surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney.

He completed general surgical training at Westmead Hospital, followed by a breast cancer surgery fellowship at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute.

Professor Hsu works across the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Macquarie University Hospital. Both services provide rapid assessment and comprehensive breast care through multidisciplinary teams that include surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, breast care nurses and psychologists.

He takes an individualised approach to patient care. Most procedures he performs are oncoplastic, using aesthetic surgical techniques to achieve optimal cosmetic results while maintaining strong cancer outcomes.

Professor Hsu is actively involved in teaching medical students and surgical trainees. He holds clinical academic appointments with the University of Sydney and Macquarie University.

Professor Meagan Brennan is a Breast Physician with expertise in the diagnostic work-up of women with breast symptoms. She holds Fellowships of the Australasian Society of Breast Physicians (FASBP) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP). She has extensive experience in the interpretation of breast imaging and performance of breast biopsy. Her interests are managing women at high genetic risk of breast cancer, women with benign breast disease and those who require follow-up care after treatment for breast cancer.

Meagan has been a leader in developing the role of the breast physician in the cancer team. She has been an office bearer in the ASBP and of the Australasian Society for Breast Disease (ASBD). She is also an enthusiastic teacher. Meagan is a Clinical  Professor at Sydney Medical School.

Meagan’s research interests include survivorship care and breast imaging. She also has an interest in breast cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally diverse backgrounds. She has a PhD and over 130 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr Suellyn Kennedy is a Staff Specialist at the Breast Cancer Institute and the Medical Clinical Coordinator for BreastScreen Sydney West. Dr Kennedy was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) in 2006 a is also a Fellow of the Australian Society of Breast Physicians (FASBP).

In her role as Medical Clinical Coordinator at BreastScreen Sydney West, Dr Kennedy is
responsible for multidisciplinary correlation of all assessment clinic results, ensuring 
diagnostic accuracy, quality assurance, and adherence to national screening standards. A key component of this role involves regular liaison with referring Local Medical Offices (LMOs), facilitating clear communication of results and supporting continuity of care within the community.

She brings expertise in breast cancer care, screening and clinical coordination, ensuring high-quality patient care and streamlined screening programs. She has worked at the Breast Cancer Institute since 2003 as part of the MDT assessment clinic. Her clinical expertise 
includes breast imaging interpretation, ultrasound-guided and stereotactic/tomosynthesis biopsies, comprehensive assessment of breast symptoms, and long-term surveillance. Dr Kennedy is dedicated to advancing early detection and treatment, and delivering 
high-quality, patient-centred breast care.

Dr Bronwyn Kennedy is a breast physician. She is an active member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team that coordinates care for people with breast cancer. She is the clinical lead for the Equivocal Breast Lesion clinic.
 

Associate Professor Kirsty Stuart is a Radiation Oncologist specialising in breast cancer for more than 20 years and is based at Westmead Hospital. She completed a PhD in 2014 in DCIS and Early Breast Cancer Management; stemming from this research, in 2011 she was awarded the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Scientific Abstract Award for Research. She teaches Radiation Oncology registrars as well as medical students from The University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney.

Associate Professor Stuart is on the Australasian Breast Interest Group Faculty of Radiation Oncology (RANZCR BIG-FRO) Executive Committee. From 2016, she has been a Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Editor (International Panel) and sits on the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia National Breast Cancer Review Panel.  She is involved with eviQ, the Cancer Institute NSW, and has more than 35 peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, since 2013, she has been a member of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Clinical Advisory Board and Research Advisory Committee.

She has held the roles Radiation Physics Expert and Examiner for RANZCR-FRO (2007 to 2016), Radiation Oncology Curriculum Advisory Committee Editorial Team (2005 to 2009) and Western Sydney Local Health District Director of Training for Radiation Oncology Registrars (2014 to 2016, 2023 to 2024).

Associate Professor Tim Wang is a senior radiation oncologist working in Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre Westmead, with subspecialty interest in the management of breast cancer, melanoma and upper GI malignancy. He has particular interest in advanced radiation treatment technique including stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy. He has significant experience in clinical research in radiation oncology and has multiple publication and conference presentations, and he led several multi-centre collaborative group clinical trials.

Dr Wang is a Clinical Associate Professor for the University of Sydney since 2020.

Associate Professor Verity Ahern is the Director the Radiation Oncology Network, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals. She has cared for breast cancer patients for more than 20 years and ensures that radiation therapy of the highest technical standard is delivered by a dedicated, caring and highly skilled team of radiation therapists, radiation oncology nurses and medical physicists.

Associate Professor Thomas Lam graduated from the University of NSW in 1984.

He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in General Surgery in 1990 and in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1996.

Associate Professor Lam has a comprehensive plastic and reconstructive surgery practice, with a special interest in breast reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer. He has performed more than 1,000 breast reconstruction procedures.

He is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney and has extensive experience teaching plastic surgery advanced trainees and overseas plastic surgery fellows.

Associate Professor Lam has published several original scientific papers on breast reconstruction. He is also completing a doctoral thesis examining prosthetic breast reconstruction and the effects of radiotherapy.

Dr Frank Hsieh is a Sydney based plastic surgeon. He received his medical degree from Cambridge University (UK). As a medical student, he was attracted to the art and science of plastic surgery and participated in breast reconstruction research. This has culminated in many international lectures, scientific papers and multiple best PRS research awards. Dr. Hsieh completed his plastic surgery training in Sydney and was awarded FRACS (Plast) by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He then received the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Scholarship to undertake a one-year fellowship in Reconstructive Microsurgery with Professor Fu-Chan Wei at world-renowned Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

He is currently a VMO in Westmead, Auburn, and Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospitals. He is a Clinical Lecturer for Sydney University Medical School and is also the Educational Supervisor for Plastic Surgery trainees at Westmead Hospital. He specialises in microvascular breast reconstruction and lymphatic surgery.

Dr Anuradha Vasista is a Staff Specialist Medical Oncologist at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital. She has sub-specialty expertise in breast cancer and has completed a PhD at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney on prognostication in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with targeted therapies. 

She is a senior lecturer with the University of Sydney and is a clinician researcher. She actively supervising PhD students at the Westmead Institute of Medical Research. She is the principal investigator for multiple international and national clinical trials. 

Dr Phuong Dinh is a medical oncologist who is an active member of our multidisciplinary breast cancer care team that coordinates care for people with cancer. She is a Staff Specialist Medical Oncologist at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital.

In addition to English, she speaks French and Vietnamese.

Dr Jeremy Mo is a medical oncologist who is an active member of the breast multidisciplinary cancer care team. He trained at Westmead Hospital and is currently undertaking a PhD at the Garvan Institute.

In addition to English, he speaks Mandarin.

Dr Susan Grayson is a radiologist with expertise in breast diseases. She is the head of Breast Imaging at BCI and the Designated Radiologist for the BreastScreen Sydney West Program.