MEET OUR SPECIALISTS
We are committed to providing caring, informed surgical care to patients in Newcastle and Greater Hunter region.
DR OWEN MORRIS (Practice Owner)
Breast Reconstruction and General Surgeon
MBBS (Lond), MS, FRACS
Dr Owen Morris is an Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, General Surgeon, and Endoscopist at the Calvary Mater and Lingard Private Hospitals, and therefore is pleased to offer both public and private appointments for breast cancer, benign breast disease, breast reconstruction, general surgery and endoscopy. Dr Morris specialises in immediate one-stage reconstruction, pre-pectoral techniques, and risk-reducing surgery for breast cancer gene carriers. He is an innovator in advanced breast surgery techniques, such as Magseed lesion localisation, and fluorescence imaging for sentinel node biopsy and reconstruction blood flow.
Dr Morris completed specialist training in Breast Reconstruction in Manchester, England, in one of the pre-eminent units in Europe, The Nightingale Centre. It is the regional referral centre for complex breast reconstructions in the North West of England, and is a leader in innovative reconstruction techniques. Here he gained extensive experience in breast surgery, from removing early breast cancers via oncoplastic methods, to breast reconstruction using both implant and flap techniques. Dr Morris is a locally trained surgeon and Australian citizen, having moved to Australia after completing his primary medical degree at St. George's Hospital, London.
Dr Morris has a keen interest in academia, and was awarded the John Lowenthal Scholarship for his Masters Degree in Surgery (Plastics and Reconstruction subspecialty) in 2012. Dr Morris has many research articles published in high-impact journals, and has presented peer-reviewed papers at both national and international meetings. In 2008 he was awarded the Royal Australian College of Surgeons John Ham Medal for his research.
Dr Morris is an enthusiastic educator of undergraduates, and since 2008 has held the position of Conjoint Educational Fellow with the Department of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle.
Dr Morris is a General Surgeon, accredited by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia to perform gastroscopies and colonoscopies.
DR RAHUL MEHROTRA
General & Laparoscopy Surgeon
MBBS, MRCS, FRACS
Rahul attended medical school and carried out initial surgical training in India. In 2016, Dr Mehrotra obtained General Surgery specialty credentials through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He subsequently completed a fellowship in Colorectal & Breast Surgery at Gosford Hospital.
Rahul has a particular interest in minimally invasive groin and ventral/incisional hernia repair, gallbladder surgery and abdominal surgery.
Rahul performs diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy and surgery for skin cancer.
Dr Mehrotra is passionate about acute surgery and provides on call services for surgical emergencies at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital.
His practice provides urgent appointments for rapid access colonoscopy.
Dr Mehrotra provides holistic care to the patients of Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley.
DR MELANIE WEBB
Oncoplastic breast, melanoma and endocrine surgeon
B Psych(hons), MBBS, FRACS
Dr Melanie Webb is a specialist in:
• Medical and surgical management of benign and malignant breast conditions
• Breast conservation surgery; therapeutic mammoplasty utilizing tissue mobilization and advancement flaps
• Breast reconstruction surgery; immediate and delayed
• Symmetrizing procedures; contralateral mammoplasty, lipofilling
• Therapeutic reduction mammoplasty for approved conditions i.e. macromastia, chronic back and shoulder pain, dermatological conditions
Dr Webb is also a specialist in:
• All thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Melanoma surgery
• Non Melanoma skin malignancies: utilizing local advancement flaps and skin grafts
• All forms of lymph node surgery; oncological LN dissections to excisional biopsies for persistent lymphadenopathy
• General surgery: investigation, diagnosis and management of all general surgical complaints
Dr Webb completed her medical degree at the University of Sydney and undertook surgical training at St George Hospital and Liverpool Hospital. She was the Clinical Superintendent for Surgery at SGH and practiced as a surgeon at St George Public and Private Hospitals for four years.
Dr Webb is a staff specialist breast and melanoma surgeon at Calvary Mater Hospital and is a credentialed surgeon at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, Warners Bay Private Hospital and Lingard Private Hospital. Alongside this, she is currently the Supervisor of Surgical Training at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital.
Dr Webb will see new breast cancer patients promptly – within a few days in her private rooms or in less than two weeks at Calvary Mater Hospital. Dr Webb strives to provide quality care for her patients and to ensure that costs for patients are kept within AMA guidelines.
Melanie is very pleased to now call Newcastle home. The staff at her private practice are warm and friendly, they care for patients and always strive to accommodate their specific needs. Melanie has nursing support in wound and breast care and there are a number of surgeons at her private practice able to provide a broad range of surgical expertise.
DR SHANNON COOPER
General, Breast, and Oncology Surgeon
B .Psych (Hons), MBBS (Hons), MSurg (Trauma), GradCert (Breast), FRACS
Dr. Shannon Cooper is a General, Breast, and Oncology Surgeon, with expertise in managing a diverse range of surgical conditions with compassion and precision. He is a BreastsurgANZ credentialled specialist in the management of benign and malignant breast conditions and offers a full range of oncoplastic breast surgical procedures including breast conserving surgery, therapeutic mammoplasty and breast reconstruction surgery. He also has specialist expertise in managing melanoma and general surgical conditions as well as being a certified endoscopist.
After graduating from a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with honours from The University of Sydney in 2008, Dr. Cooper completed foundational and general surgical training in the Newcastle, Mid North Coast and Hunter New England regions gaining a broad experience across a variety of metropolitan and rural locations. During his training he completed a Masters of Surgery in Trauma and a Graduate Certificate in Surgical Anatomy. After obtaining fellowship from the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 2018, Dr Cooper spent two years providing emergency general surgical services in Port Macquarie before pursuing subspecialized training in breast surgery, undertaking an accredited two-year fellowship with BreastSurgANZ followed by a further year of fellowship in oncoplastic reconstructive breast surgery and melanoma surgery at the Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle . As a full member of BreastSurgANZ, Dr. Cooper is recognized for his expertise in oncoplastic breast techniques.
With a wealth of experience spanning over a decade, Dr. Cooper is pleased to offer comprehensive management for a wide range of general surgical pathologies, including biliary colic, hernias, upper and lower endoscopy, and skin lesions. His patient-centered approach ensures that each individual receives personalized care tailored to their unique needs.
Dr. Shannon Cooper is committed to delivering excellence in surgical care, providing timely access to treatment and prioritizing patient well-being above all else. He is delighted to join Newcastle Surgical Group, where he looks forward to serving the Newcastle community with integrity, compassion, and expertise.
