Meet Our Surgeons
DR OWEN MORRIS (Director)
Oncoplastic Breast, Reconstruction & General Surgeon
MBBS (Lond), MS, FRACS
Dr Owen Morris is a specialist Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, General Surgeon, and Endoscopist at Calvary Mater Newcastle and Lingard Private Hospital. He provides both public and private appointments for breast cancer, benign breast disease, breast reconstruction, general surgery, and endoscopy and Newcastle Surgical Group.
Areas of Expertise:
• Breast oncoplastic (cancer) surgery and benign breast conditions
• Immediate and delayed breast reconstruction (including pre-pectoral implant techniques)
• Risk-reducing surgery for hereditary breast cancer gene carriers
• General surgical procedures
• Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy
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. He is also a member of the BreastScreen team, working in the results clinic once a month.
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. It was here that he gained extensive experience in breast surgery, from removing early breast cancers via oncoplastic methods, to breast reconstruction using both implant and flap techniques. Subsequently, Dr Morris is now a locally trained surgeon and Australian citizen, having moved to Australia after completing his primary medical degree at St. George's Hospital, London. He 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. He is a Full Member of Breast Surgery Australia and New Zealand. In addition to this, Dr Morris is also a General Surgeon, accredited by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia to perform gastroscopies and colonoscopies.
DR RAHUL MEHROTRA
Laparoscopic & General Surgeon
MBBS, MS, MRCS, FRACS
Dr Rahul Mehrotra is a highly experienced General Surgeon with subspecialty training in colorectal surgery. He provides surgical care to patients across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter Valley in both public and private hospitals. Dr Mehrotra has a particular interest in minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgeries.
Areas of Expertise:
• Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) hernia repair – groin, ventral, and incisional hernia
• Gallbladder (+/- laparoscopic) and abdominal surgery
• Skin cancer excision and minor skin procedures
• General surgical procedures
• Diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy
• Rapid-access colonoscopy appointments for public and privately insured patients
Dr Mehrotra completed his medical degree and early surgical training in India before relocating to Australia. In 2016, he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in General Surgery. He subsequently completed a subspecialty fellowship in Colorectal and Breast Surgery at Gosford Hospital, developing expertise in both malignant and benign conditions.
Dr Mehrotra is passionate about acute care surgery and provides on-call emergency surgical services at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and Maitland Private Hospital. Dr Mehrotra is dedicated to holistic, patient-centred care. He ensures timely access to treatment and continuity across both public and private health systems, supporting patients with compassion and clear communication.
DR MELANIE WEBB
Oncoplastic Breast, Melanoma & General Surgeon
B.Psych (Hons), MBBS, FRACS
Dr Melanie Webb is a specialist surgeon with advanced expertise in the management of benign and malignant breast disease, endocrine surgery, and general surgical conditions. She is committed to delivering high-quality, accessible, and patient-focused care across both public and private hospitals in Newcastle. In addition to her role at Newcastle Surgical Group, Dr Webb also serves as a Staff Specialist in Breast and Melanoma Surgery at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
Areas of Expertise:
• Breast-conserving surgery, including therapeutic mammoplasty
• Immediate and delayed breast reconstruction
• Symmetrising procedures, including contralateral mammoplasty and lipofilling
• Therapeutic reduction mammoplasty for macromastia
• Melanoma and skin cancer excision, including reconstruction with flaps and grafts
• Lymph node surgery, including oncological dissections and biopsies
• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• General surgical procedures
Dr Webb has extensive expertise in breast-conserving surgery and in immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, with symmetrising procedures such as contralateral mammoplasty. She also provides therapeutic reduction mammoplasty for approved conditions including macromastia. Beyond breast surgery, Dr Webb specialises in thyroid and parathyroid surgery, melanoma surgery, and the management of non-melanoma skin cancers using local advancement flaps and skin grafts. She also performs all forms of lymph node surgery, from oncological dissections to excisional biopsies.
Dr Webb completed her medical degree at the University of Sydney and undertook surgical training at St George Hospital and Liverpool Hospital. She was appointed Clinical Superintendent for Surgery and practised as a consultant at St George Public and Private Hospitals.
Dr Webb takes a thoughtful and meticulous approach to surgical care, combining technical expertise with compassion. She is committed to ensuring that treatment is both effective and accessible, supporting patients with personalised care at every stage. She currently has urgent appointments available at Newcastle Surgical Group for privately insured patients, operating out of Lake Macquarie Private Hospital.
DR SHANNON COOPER
Oncoplastic Breast, Melanoma & General Surgeon
B.Psych, MBBS (Hons), MS, FRACS
Dr Shannon Cooper is a highly skilled General and Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon offering compassionate, evidence-based care for a wide range of surgical conditions. He is BreastSurgANZ-credentialled in the management of benign and malignant breast disease and has advanced training in oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques. Dr Cooper also has specialist expertise in melanoma surgery and the management of general surgical conditions, and he is a certified endoscopist.
Areas of Expertise:
• Breast cancer surgery and benign breast conditions
• Breast-conserving surgery and therapeutic mammoplasty
• Oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery
• Melanoma surgery and management of skin lesions
• Gallbladder and hernia surgery (groin, ventral, incisional)
• General skin lesion excision
• Diagnostic gastroscopy and colonoscopy
Dr Cooper graduated with Honours in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney in 2008. He completed general surgical training across the Newcastle, Mid North Coast, and Hunter New England regions, gaining broad experience in both metropolitan and rural settings. During his training, he also completed a Master of Surgery (Trauma) and a Graduate Certificate in Surgical Anatomy. In 2018, Dr Cooper became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). He then undertook a two-year BreastSurgANZ-accredited fellowship in breast surgery, including Graduate Certificate in Breast Surgery through the University of Sydney. Following this, he completed an additional fellowship in Oncoplastic Reconstructive Breast surgery and Melanoma surgery at Calvary Mater Newcastle. As a full member of BreastSurgANZ, he is recognised for his expertise in advanced oncoplastic techniques.
Dr Shannon Cooper is delighted to be part of Newcastle Surgical Group and is committed to delivering high-quality surgical care with integrity, expertise, and compassion operating out of Lake Macquarie, Lingard, and Maitland Private Hospitals, as well as Calvary Mater Newcastle and Belmont District Hospital.
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