Our Team
Surgeons
 Professor Paul O'Brien MD FRACS
Professor Paul O'Brien is a world leader in the Lap-Band® procedure. He was one of its originators, having been involved in its design since 1991 and placing the first LAP BAND in Australia in 1994.
He is the head of the Centre for Bariatric Surgery and also the Director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), a major research centre within Monash University in Melbourne and he is the National Medical Director at the American Institute for Gastric Banding (AIGB), in Dallas, Texas.
Through CBS and CORE, he and his associates have published more research studies and provided more post-graduating teaching on the Lap-Band® than any other group in the world.
 Mr Stewart Skinner MBBS (Honours), FRACS PhD
Stewart Skinner is a Senior Lecturer in the Monash University Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital.
He currently has appointments as a Visiting Surgeon at The Alfred, Sandringham and Frankston Hospitals. His private hospital appointments are at Cabrini, the Avenue and Peninsula Private Hospitals.
His main area of interest is gastrointestinal surgery. He undertook post graduate training in colorectal surgery at The Royal London and St Marks Hospitals, London between 1995 - 1997. Mr Skinner has been a member of the Centre for Bariatric Surgery since 1998 and has been performing the Lap Band operation since then.
Associate Professor Wendy Brown MBBS (Honours) PhD FRACS
 Wendy Brown is a General Surgeon with an interest in Laparoscopic and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery. She graduated from Monash University with first class honours in 1992 and went on to complete specialist training as a General Surgeon through the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. As part of her surgical training she completed a PhD in the prevention of colon cancer under the supervision of Professor Paul O'Brien.
A/Prof Brown’s interests are in upper gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery as well as surgical oncology.
In addition to working at the Centre for Bariatric Surgery, A/Prof Brown has a clinical appointment as a Visiting Medical Officer in Upper GI and General Surgery at the Alfred Hospital and has established an active clinical practice at Glen Iris Private.
A/Prof Brown was awarded Associate Professorship status by Monash University in 2008, is active in teaching in the Department of Surgery, Monash University and is also the Deputy Director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE).
Mr Stephen Blamey BSc, MB BS(Honours), FRACS FACS
 Stephen Blamey is a specialist surgeon with wide experience and interest in upper GI and colorectal surgery. A graduate of Monash University and trained in surgery at the Alfred Hospital, Mr Blamey worked in the UK for 3 years after completing surgical training to gain advanced skills in colorectal and upper GI surgery.
Mr Blamey's interest in GI surgery includes the surgical management of obesity as well as having a special interest in laparoscopic Upper GI surgery and he has extensive experience in laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.
As well as being a part of the surgical team at the Centre for Baritric Surgery, he is also the head of the Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) Unit for Southern Health (Victoria’s largest health service) at Monash Medical Centre.
Mr Blamey is past chair of the Medical Services Advisory Committee which advises the Federal Minister of Health on the introduction of new technology to the Australian Health Care system. He is also past chair of VPACT (Victorian Policy Advisory Committee on health Technology. Mr Blamey also has a specific interest in issues of Infection Control and is a member of the RACS advisory committee on Infection Control. He is a contributing editor for a major UK based company that is involved in the development of web based information on aspects of GI Surgery.
Mr Gary Crosthwaite MBBS, FRACS
 Gary Crosthwaite trained in Melbourne at the Royal Melbourne Hospital through the University of Melbourne graduating in 1982. After completing surgical training through the Royal Melbourne and obtaining a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons he underwent international training in advanced laparoscopy and Upper GI Surgery with one of the world leaders in Laparoscopic Surgery in the UK.
His interests and expertise are in bariatric and anti-reflux surgery, gall bladder surgery, as well as surgical oncology.
He currently works as a consultant surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, is a Fellow of the University Department of Surgery and the lead clinician of the Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service.
Mr Crosthwaite is a founding member of the Centre for Bariatric Surgery, as well as a convenor of the Melbourne Upper GI Surgeons Group and a member International Society of Diseases of the Oesophagus and Board member of the Australia and New Zealand Gastro Oesophageal Surgery Association
Mr Andrew Smith MBBS (Hons) FRACS
 Andrew Smith is an Upper Gastro-intestinal specialist general surgeon. He trained in surgery at The Alfred in Melbourne, becoming fully qualified in 1996. Post graduate training was undertaken in the U.K. for a further 2 years to obtain expertise in laparoscopic and resectional upper GI surgery.
His particular areas of interest include laparoscopic surgery, bariatric and anti-reflux surgery, gallstones and hernia surgery.
As well as being a part of the surgical team at the Centre for Bariatric Surgery, Mr Smith also works at The Alfred Hospital, Glen Iris Private and Cabrini Hospital and is a senior lecturer in the Department of Surgery, Monash Medical School.
Mr Smith is married with school aged children, and enjoys interacting with patients, operating, and catching barramundi.
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