JON RYAN
MBBS MHPol PhD FRACS
NSW CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Dr Jon Ryan MBBS MHPol PhD FRACS (General) FRACS (Cardiothoracic)
I am a cardiothoracic surgeon (also known as a ‘heart and lung surgeon’ or ‘chest surgeon’). I passed the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons fellowship examination in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2005, having earlier passed the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons fellowship examination in General Surgery in 2000. Along the way, I have also completed a Master of Health Policy (MHPol) at the University of Sydney in 2022, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in heart transplantation at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute / UNSW in 2002, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Sydney in 1992.
During my training in cardiothoracic surgery I worked as a Registrar at St Vincent’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and the Royal Brompton Hospital (in London), and then as a Fellow at Westmead Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. More recently I have worked as a (locum) surgeon at The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Canberra Hospital, John Hunter Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Liverpool Hospital. I have obtained broad experience in all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery. My cardiac surgical interests include coronary artery bypass graft surgery, aortic valve replacement and insertion / removal of both pacemakers and defibrillators. My thoracic surgical interests include lung cancer and acute pleural space problems such as empyemas, pneumothoraces and pleural effusions. By nature, I am a conservative surgeon with a strong focus on patient safety.
I am a cardiothoracic surgeon (also known as a ‘heart and lung surgeon’ or ‘chest surgeon’). I passed the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons fellowship examination in Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2005, having earlier passed the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons fellowship examination in General Surgery in 2000. Along the way, I have also completed a Master of Health Policy (MHPol) at the University of Sydney in 2022, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in heart transplantation at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute / UNSW in 2002, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the University of Sydney in 1992.
During my training in cardiothoracic surgery I worked as a Registrar at St Vincent’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and the Royal Brompton Hospital (in London), and then as a Fellow at Westmead Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. More recently I have worked as a (locum) surgeon at The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Canberra Hospital, John Hunter Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Liverpool Hospital. I have obtained broad experience in all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery. My cardiac surgical interests include coronary artery bypass graft surgery, aortic valve replacement and insertion / removal of both pacemakers and defibrillators. My thoracic surgical interests include lung cancer and acute pleural space problems such as empyemas, pneumothoraces and pleural effusions. By nature, I am a conservative surgeon with a strong focus on patient safety.
Regional New South Wales Cardiothoracic Surgical Service
The facilities required for heart and lung surgery are only available in a limited number of major metropolitan hospitals. Not surprisingly, most cardiothoracic surgeons are based in or around these metropolitan hospitals. However, when I decided to enter private practice in 2016, I decided to take a different approach. I committed myself to making country and coastal patients the focus of my new practice.
Why did I decide to do this? Because long before I became a cardiothoracic surgeon, I was a country boy. I was born and raised in Wellington in the Central West of NSW. My father was a stock & station agent and my mother’s family were on the land. So, my focus on regional NSW gives me the opportunity to both get back to the country and to give back to the country.
My motivation aside, the need for improved access to specialist healthcare in regional NSW is obvious. The shift to telehealth has helped improve access. This is particularly so in a speciality like cardiothoracic surgery because many of the patients are elderly and find it difficult to negotiate their way around the city to attend appointments. I have found the increased flexibility of telehealth allows me to offer a more personalised service that specifically addresses the needs of patients living in regional NSW.
The facilities required for heart and lung surgery are only available in a limited number of major metropolitan hospitals. Not surprisingly, most cardiothoracic surgeons are based in or around these metropolitan hospitals. However, when I decided to enter private practice in 2016, I decided to take a different approach. I committed myself to making country and coastal patients the focus of my new practice.
Why did I decide to do this? Because long before I became a cardiothoracic surgeon, I was a country boy. I was born and raised in Wellington in the Central West of NSW. My father was a stock & station agent and my mother’s family were on the land. So, my focus on regional NSW gives me the opportunity to both get back to the country and to give back to the country.
My motivation aside, the need for improved access to specialist healthcare in regional NSW is obvious. The shift to telehealth has helped improve access. This is particularly so in a speciality like cardiothoracic surgery because many of the patients are elderly and find it difficult to negotiate their way around the city to attend appointments. I have found the increased flexibility of telehealth allows me to offer a more personalised service that specifically addresses the needs of patients living in regional NSW.