Dr Stanley Chen

Dr Stanley Chen is a highly experienced surgeon specialising in surgery of the liver, biliary system and pancreas. A Senior Staff Specialist in general surgery at John Hunter Hospital for 25 years, Stan also specialises in surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract, advanced laparoscopic surgery, and hernia repair.

He is highly regarded throughout the Hunter and New England regions and northern NSW not only for surgical skill and innovation, but also for clinical acumen and wisdom. Hunter Gastroenterology is probably Australia’s only mixed medical/surgical group private practice, and fits in well with Stan’s philosophy of holistic care and multidisciplinary management.

Stan headed the General Surgical Unit at John Hunter Hospital for 9 years, was secretary and subsequently president of the Hunter Surgical Society from 1997 to 2002, and inaugurated the Hunter New England Gastrointestinal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team in 2004 and chaired this group for 5 years.

Teaching and training medical students, junior doctors, and surgical trainees and fellows has always been a high priority for Stan. He is renowned as an inspirational and incisive surgical teacher, and has been a mentor to several current and future surgical specialists in Newcastle and the Hunter, particularly in HPB and Upper GI Surgery.

Stan has recently been active in promoting environmental sustainability in surgery, operating theatres and the hospital setting.

Stan and his family enjoy sharing their time between Newcastle and Blackheath in the Blue Mountains where he is kept busy with native plant regeneration, and enjoys hiking, cycling and trail-running with the family’s beautiful Border Collies. A passionate amateur musician, arranger and composer, Stan is founder and artistic director of an eclectic musical ensemble which has performed charity concerts for over 25 years. He also enjoys good food, cooking and wine, fine arts, and, when it is safe to do so, adventure travel around Australia and overseas.