Dr Richard Chen

Richard is a consultant for Upper Gastrointestinal (Upper GI), Bariatric, and General surgery and has an interest in the surgical management of oesophagus, stomach, and obesity (bariatric surgery). He also offers laparoscopic (key-hole) surgery for general surgical conditions such as gallstone disease and inguinal and incisional hernia. 

Richard graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2004 and completed his General Surgical training with Alfred Health in 2012. He undertook 3 further years of post-fellowship training  in the field of oesophagogastric and bariatric surgery. His first post-fellowship year was at the Alfred Hospital as a bariatric fellow. In that same year, Richard completed a Master of Surgery degree at Monash University studying gastro-oesophageal reflux physiology in bariatric patients. Richard gained expertise in performing and interpreting oesophageal physiology studies (high-resolution manometric and ambulatory reflux monitoring) and developed new diagnostic algorithms and equipment through his research.

Subsequent to the research degree, Richard completed the 2-year ANZGOSA (Australia & New Zealand Gastric & Oesophageal Surgery Association) Post-Fellowship Training Program. The 1st ANZGOSA fellowship at Concord Hospital in Sydney allowed him to hone his skills in treating benign oesophagogastric conditions such as hiatus hernia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease as well as to broaden his bariatric skill set.

In 2015, Richard completed his second ANZGOSA fellowship at a high-volume oesophagogastric center, Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle Upon Tyne UK), with Professor Mike Griffin. He gained a tremendous amount of skills and knowledge in the management of both benign and malignant conditions of the oesophagus and stomach that year. Richard has been appointed as an upper GI/trauma & general surgeon at the Alfred Hospital since 2016. He is currently leading the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) Oesophagectomy Program and is the clinical lead for the Oesophagogastric Cancer Service Redesign Program at the Alfred Hospital.