Requisition No: 4252
Executive Division: Operations
Division: Surgery Endoscopy Anaesthesia Services
Program: Surgery
Department: Junior Medical Staff General Surgery
Enterprise Agreement: Doctors in Training (Victorian Public Health Secto
Job Function: Medical
Project:

2026 Colorectal Research Fellow

• Location: Footscray Hospital
• Employment Type: Fixed Term, Full-Time
• Salary: HM25-HM30

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic young General Surgeon who has recently completed their SET training, achieved FRACS and who would like to pursue training in colorectal surgery and develop an academic career, under the clinical supervision of Associate Professor Ian Faragher, Head of the Colorectal Unit, Western Health, and Professor Justin Yeung, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Head of the Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Western Health.
This is a one year colorectal fellowship which has a 50% clinical and a 50% research and education component, allowing the fellow to develop essential skills in both surgery as well as research and teaching. There is also an opportunity for the post holder to extend this position to two years, enabling them to register and submit their research towards a higher degree with the University of Melbourne.
Currently there are two PhD students, one DMedSci and one Masters Students in the department. The department’s research interests include AI in predictive tools to tailor colorectal cancer treatment and improve on cancer outcomes, as well as integration of prehabilitation into clinical practice.
Western Health is a busy teaching hospital and has in-patient care divided between two major sites (Footscray and Sunshine Hospital), with a new Footscray Hospital planned to be completed in 2025. The colorectal unit is a very busy unit, dealing with a high volume of complex colorectal conditions, treating over 250 cancer patients each year. Currently there are 6 consultant colorectal surgeons, one CSSANZ accredited colorectal fellow, one Research Fellows, one SET registrar, one non accredited registrar, one resident and three interns on the firm.
This position will allow the fellow to develop advanced clinical management and surgical skills in the field of colorectal cancer, as well as opportunities to develop their endoscopy skills and benign perianal work. The fellow will be well supported and will be exposed to a wide range of surgery.
The Fellow’s weekly timetable will be split between providing clinical support as well as undertake research and be involved in educational development and leadership. It is anticipated that the Fellow will help continue to develop the Western Health colorectal research programme in conjunction with Professor Justin Yeung, as well as support an educational curriculum for the Western Clinical School. At Western Health there is also the West SuRG (Western Health Surgery Research Group) collaborative which will also be overseen and supported by the Fellow. Prior fellows have been successful in CSSANZ selection for interview and entry into CSSANZ fellowship training.
More information about the research department can be found here.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide clinical leadership in the development of research
• Perform clinical duties for the Colorectal Unit and Acute Surgical Unit
• Help develop and deliver teaching material to both undergraduate and postgraduate students at Western Health and Western Precinct, University of Melbourne.
• Ensure quality patient care via clinical assessment, admissions and development of management plans
• Provide day to day clinical management of patients and ensure attendance at ward rounds