Surgery at Northern Health

About Us

The Department of Surgery presence within The Northern Centre for Health Education & Research (NCHER) at Northern Health is central in promoting collaboration across education and research whilst improving out-comes for patients by promoting new translational research and safe service delivery in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Professor Shekhar Kumta

The Department at Northern Health has newly appointed Professor Shekar Kumta to the role of Precinct Lead who joined the Department in September 2022.Prof Shekhar Kumta NH UoM

Professor Shekhar Kumta completed his MBBS at the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, under the auspices of the Bombay University, in Mumbai India, in 1980. He did his Orthopedic training under the leadership of Prof. Nandu Laud, at the Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Municipal General Hospital, and was awarded the Master of Orthopedic Surgery (M.S.) in 1984. He then developed a niche in Trauma care, with exceptional experiences in major pelvic and extremity trauma.

Shekhar was also mentored by the well-known doyen of Hand Surgery in India, Dr BB Joshi. It was Dr Joshi who introduced him to Hong Kong in 1984 following which he was given the opportunity to work with Prof PC Leung as a visiting lecturer in Hand Surgery, at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

Shekhar has contributed extensively towards the development of Oncologic services in Hong Kong. He was also responsible for establishing the Tissue Bank at the Prince of Wales Hospital and developed collaborative research with local, regional and international institutions.

Shekhar’s interests in Oncologic reconstructive surgery and the molecular histogenesis of Giant Cell Tumor of Bone have given him a niche area of research – particularly in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

He has pioneered the techniques of joint-sparing resections in children and opened the pathways for the future development of navigation surgery. Prof Kumta completed his tenure at the Chinese University after 33 years of service and remains as Professor Emeritus at the university in recognition of his contributions.

Shekhar retains a strong interest in education and in the professionalism of medical students and trainees in surgery. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions towards teaching.

He is currently the Academic Lead and Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne, Australia where he is actively pursuing research interests and is involved with helping the reorganization of research activities at the Northern Hospital.

Facilities

PC2 Accredited Research Laboratory

The NCHER laboratory offer state of the art equipment enabling researchers to conduct their research with minimal disruption. The laboratory is an internally certified Physical Containment 2 laboratory allowing researchers to work with risk group 2 agents, in particular clinical trials research where blood is collected, analysed and stored.
We have a dedicated Biosafety Cabinet for risk group 2 work. There is also a dedicated tissue culture room and an array of 4 degree fridges and -20/ -80 freezers for storage of samples.  Further laboratory equipment includes:

  • UV/VIS Spectrophotometer
  • Fluoroskan Ascent Plate Reader
  • Fumehood
  • CO2 Incubator
  • MilliQ water system
  • Oven
  • 4 Degree Freezers

Lecture Theatres, Seminar Rooms and Tutorial Teaching Spaces.  Simulation Centre—the state of the art facility is fully equipped to replicate real life situations where practical clinical skills are essential.  Clinical rooms are also available for use.

NCHER Lab

NCHER Laboratory

Simulation Centre

Simulation Centre

Contact Us

Precinct Executive Administrator


Michelle Marcola
Email:  michelle.marcola@unimelb.edu.au
Ph:  +61 3 8468 0664

Location:  Northern Centre for Health Education and Research (NCHER),
Level 2, West Wing
185 Cooper St,
Epping, Vic, 3076