Eastern Vascular

07/05/2026

Today I'm heading to Singapore for the Aortic Asia Meeting 2026 (8–9 May), where I've been invited to join the faculty, and I want to properly acknowledge how this trip came to be.

The Epworth Medical Foundation awarded me the Keatha Stebbins Doctors Grant for 2026. Keatha Maude Stebbins (1924–2020) was a midwife born in Burnie, Tasmania, who spent her life in healthcare and later became a generous Melbourne philanthropist. She passed away at 95, leaving bequests to Epworth, Cabrini and Cancer Council Victoria. She never sought recognition. She simply gave back to the institutions she believed in.

I am one of the beneficiaries of that foresight. Her legacy is now funding an Australian vascular surgeon to travel to Singapore to advance treatment of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, conditions that kill without warning and that vascular surgeons work tirelessly to detect and treat earlier.

I'm grateful to the Epworth Medical Foundation for this opportunity, and to Keatha for making it possible. Philanthropy like this has a very real flow-on effect for patients.
Updates to follow from Singapore.

Epworth The Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery Think Aorta

26/06/2025

Thank you to the student organisers of University of Melbourne MD Student Conference - MDSC for inviting me to this session on Cultural Stigma in Healthcare. It was wonderful spending time with fellow panellists Dr Abdullah Sheriffdeen and Dr Hannah Gould discussing this topic with such an engaged audience!

26/08/2021

From our team at Epworth Eastern Hospital.

24/08/2021

Dear patients and GPs:

It is extremely heartening and pleasing that the uptake of COVID vaccination amongst our patients remains high, especially since the effects of COVID in patients who are elderly, have cardiovascular disease, or a history of arterial or venous thrombosis is so devastating.

Unfortunately, we have noticed that there are still patients and doctors with concerns about vaccination with Astra Zeneca (Vaxzevria) in patients with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis, particularly due to the risk of TTS (immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopaenic syndrome).

The advice from ATAGI and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of ANZ is very clear – a history of clotting alone is NOT a reason not to get vaccinated, or not to receive the AZ vaccine.

Our practice will NOT be issuing letters to individual patients to delay or change their preferred vaccine for this reason. Please feel free to cite this statement and the ATAGI and THANZ documents located at:

https://www.health.gov.au/news/joint-statement-from-atagi-and-thanz-on-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts-and-the-use-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca

In the meantime we encourage all patients to be fully vaccinated as soon as possible. The only way that we can ensure that our health system is not overloaded with COVID-related illness is by preventing it through vaccination.

Without this, and other public health and protective measures (such as masking, testing, distancing and hand-washing), elective surgery and routine treatment for serious medical conditions will be seriously delayed for the foreseeable future.

Please keep safe, keep well, get vaccinated, wash your hands, wear a mask, get tested and then stay home if you have symptoms.

A joint statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ) on Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) and the use of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.

18/07/2021

Due to Victorian COVID-19 precautions we are temporarily suspending face-to-face patient consultations. Ultrasound examinations will continue as normal.

If you have a scheduled appointment you will be contacted to arrange a video or phone consultation, or alternatively to reschedule your appointment. Please call us if you have any concerns.

In the meantime, please keep safe, and get vaccinated. For more information about Victorian COVID-19 restrictions in force, please visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

26/06/2021

As a result of Victorian Government COVID-19 precautions we require all visitors to wear a facemask and to complete a check-in declaration when attending our premises. We thank you for your co-operation.

07/11/2018

Please note we are currently at low activity due to Mr Chuen attending an International Guest Fellowship in the United States. Normal service will resume as soon as he returns on November 12th, assuming he is not attacked by rabid squirrels. We appreciate your patience.