Doctor Details
Dr Venkatesh Shanmugam MBBS MS DipNB MD FRCS (Glasg) FRCS (Gen Surg) FRACS
Located on St Stephen's Hospital Campus
My Undergraduate degree was from India and I underwent postgraduate General surgical training at one of the prestigious and famous Institutions of India, Madras Medical College. Following completion of surgical training, I moved to the UK for further surgical training. I Joined as Senior House Officer at Aberdeen, Scotland and then completed my clinical research at Aberdeen University and obtained MD degree from my clinical research thesis. The research was a randomised controlled trial comparing two procedures in the management of haemorrhoids. After completing the research, moved to East Midlands in England for higher surgical training. I took my FRCS exam in General Surgery with Colorectal Sub-specialty. Then, I completed Laparoscopic Colorectal fellowship at Dundee Teaching Hospital, Scotland.
I started my Independent Consultant Colorectal and General surgical practice at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in 2011. I was one of the founder members of a Laparoscopic training MCh program based at Teesside University which has successfully trained several doctors in laparoscopic Upper and Lower GI Surgery. I was honoured with Senior Lecturer for the University work. My Consultant experience and scope of practice was expanded in the field of colorectal surgery at University Hospital of North Tees and Hartlepool from 2017 until I moved to Darwin in Northern Territory in November 2021. At the end of my first year of work at Darwin, I obtained my FRACS degree. I have recently moved to Hervey Bay Hospital and working full time as Senior Staff Specialist in the Surgical Department.
I specialise in performing all major Laparoscopic Colorectal bowel resections, Rectal prolapse operations, surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease, pilonidal sinus operation, haemorrhoid treatment in addition to General Surgical procedures including Laparoscopic / Open hernia, Laparoscopic / Open Cholecystectomy, skin lesions, benign skin pathology, etc., I was trained and accredited for the Colonoscopy and endoscopy in the UK. I am a GESA approved endoscopist. I perform therapeutic colonoscopy for polyps and also perform TAMIS (Trans-Anal Minimally Invasive Surgery), a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure for rectal polyps / early cancers.
I have special interest in research activities, teaching medical students and train the surgical registrars; published extensively on peer reviewed journals on various topics. I have held several management roles in the UK including trust cancer lead clinician for the NHS trust, Colorectal cancer MDT Lead, surgical audit lead, National selection committee Board member for National surgical registrar recruitment. These roles have given me significant experience on non-technical skills.