Prof Peter Choong is a distinguished surgical leader who has dedicated his career to improving treatments for musculoskeletal diseases including cancer. He is the Sir Hugh Devine Professor of Surgery, Head of the University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, and Associate Dean of Innovation and Enterprise in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
Professor Choong has recently stepped down as Chair of the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and as Director of Orthopaedics at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. He has almost 30 years of experience in research, teaching and medical leadership.
A graduate of the University of Melbourne in 1984, Professor Choong has practised in the discipline of orthopaedics and orthopaedic oncology in Australia, Sweden, and the USA. He trained in orthopaedics at St. VincentĘĽs Hospital, the Alfred Hospital and Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne under the auspices of the Australian Orthopaedic Association Orthopaedic Training Programme.
Under the surgeon scientist programme, he completed his doctorate with the supervision of Prof T Jack Martin at the St VincentĘĽs Institute of Medical Research, before joining the staff of the Lund University Hospital, Sweden as a Fellow in Orthopaedic Oncology, where he continued his research of sarcoma. Later he joined the staff of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, as a Special Fellow in Orthopaedic oncology. Prof Choong was appointed the inaugural Professor and Director of Orthopaedics at St VincentĘĽs Hospital in 1996. In 2009, he was appointed the Sir Hugh Devine Chair of Surgery, University of Melbourne, and Head of the Department of Surgery at St VincentĘĽs Hospital. He has also been Assistant Dean of the Faculty and Academic Centre Chair (Eastern Hill Campus) from 2010 to 2012.
In 1997-2002, Prof Choong was Programme Director of Surgery and Surgical Services, St VincentĘĽs Hospital before being appointed Chief Medical Officer of St VincentĘĽs Hospital (2005- 2008). He has also been Board Chair in orthopaedic surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgery (2008-2011) as well as National Director of Orthopaedic Training, Australian Orthopaedic Association. In 2013-14, Prof Choong was the President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association.
Prof Choong has taught extensively during his career, especially on the topic of orthopaedic reconstruction and oncology. Prof Choong also leads an ambitious programme of musculoskeletal research that includes basic science, bioengineering and clinico-epidemiology. These themes underpin the clinical programmes he has led over the last 20 years in orthopaedics and orthopaedic oncology. He is currently the Director of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Total Joint Surgery and is also an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. He has been supported by recurrent grants totalling >$28 million.
Prof Choong has been on the Board of Directors of the Australian Orthopaedic Association, Genazzano FCJ Ladies College, and Musculoskeletal Australia. He is currently Emeritus Director on the Board of Musculoskeletal Australia. In 2013-16, he was appointed Chair of the Musculoskeletal Clinician Leadership Group of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. He has also been President of numerous international professional societies.
In 2022, Prof Choong was awarded Officer (AO) in the General Division of The Order of Australia for his distinguished and ongoing service to orthopaedic medicine, to research and tertiary medical education and to professional associations.
The author of more than 500 publications (H score 65), Prof Choong is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Australian Orthopaedic Association and Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. Prof Choong is also Clinical Professor (University of Wollongong) and Adjunct Professor (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University).
Prof Choong is available by appointment for complex independent medical opinions. Contact the Azure Medicolegal head office for further information.
