Dr. Robert Whitfield

Dr. Robert Whitfield is an accomplished surgeon with extensive expertise in breast surgery, oncoplastic surgery and breast reconstruction, endocrine surgery, and surgical oncology. After graduating from Monash University in 1998, he was awarded a Fellowship in General Surgery by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2009. His advanced training began with a post-Fellowship specialisation in breast and endocrine surgery at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide. He spent a further year of post-Fellowship training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he developed a deep understanding of breast reconstruction, oncoplastic surgery, and melanoma. He also served as Chief Surgical Resident during this year.

He completed an oncoplastic breast Fellowship in Edinburgh, UK, in 2011, gaining international experience in advanced breast surgery techniques.

Since 2012, Dr. Whitfield has worked as a staff specialist surgeon in Breast, Endocrine, and Surgical Oncology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He also serves as a Visiting Surgeon at BreastScreen South Australia, where his expertise in breast cancer screening and treatment is highly valued. He is the current Surgical Head of Unit at BreastScreen SA. Additionally, he is actively involved in medical education and is currently the Chair of the Australian Board in General Surgery. His dedication to educating future surgeons and advancing surgical knowledge has been a key aspect of his career.

In 2014, Dr. Whitfield expanded his practice to the private sector, offering specialised surgical care in breast, endocrine, and surgical oncology. He is accredited to practise at several leading hospitals, including The Royal Adelaide Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and St Andrew’s Hospital. He is accredited at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for paediatric endocrine surgery.

Dr. Whitfield’s areas of special interest include breast surgery, melanoma surgery, thyroid surgery, and parathyroid surgery, particularly minimally invasive techniques. His dedication to patient-centred care and his skill in surgical procedures have earned him a reputation as one of the leading surgeons in his field.

He is a member of several professional organisations, including the Australian & New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons, BreastSurgANZ, General Surgeons Australia, and the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons. He is currently on the executive committee at BreastSurgANZ, acting in the role of Secretary/Treasurer