Associate Professor Peter Zelas

• Biography
• Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
• Awards and Recognition
• Selected Publications
• Memberships and Engagement
• Contact Details

Biography

Associate Professor Peter Zelas has had a long and successful career in Colorectal surgery and health service administration in association with Blacktown Hospital. In 2007 he was appointed Clinical Dean at Blacktown/Mt Druitt Hospital, a Teaching Hospital for the then newly established UWS School of Medicine.

He graduated from University of Sydney in 1963 and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1967 and later in 1971 a Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Peter was awarded his Masters in International Public Health from University of Sydney in 2006.

Peter began his career as at Sydney Hospital and moved to the UK in 1966 and remained there until the early 1970’s until he joined Blacktown Hospital as a Staff Specialist. He has also worked as a Colorectal Surgeon in many countries around the world including the USA, and with Medicines Sans Frontieres in Somalia, Nepal, Indonesia and Liberia

Peter has actively been involved in health service administration and has served as Chairperson for Division of Surgery as well as Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Medical Staff Council at Blacktown /Mt Druitt Hospital.

Peter was awarded an Order of Australia in 2006 for service to medicine and to the community of western Sydney, particularly through roles at the Blacktown Hospital and in the field of colorectal surgery.

He has a very keen interest in promoting and providing quality education to medical students and surgeons and has been actively involved in the education process as a Tutor, Lecturer & Examiner.

Peter is currently appointed on the Governing Council of Western Sydney Local Health Network .

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

• Colon and Rectal Surgery

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Awards and Recognition

2010 Graham Coupland Medal
NSW State Committee
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

2008 Merit Award
NSW State Committee
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

2006 Order of Australia Medal - O.A.M.

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Selected Publications

Renwick, A.A ; Bokey, E.L.; Chapius, P.H.; Zelas, P. ; Stewart, P.J. ; Rickard, M.J. ; Dent, O.F. Effect of Supervised Surgical Training on Outcomes after Resection of Colorectal Cancer, British Journal of Surgery 2005, 92 (5): 631-636

Bokey, E.L.; Keating, J.P.; Zelas, P. Hydrodissection: An Easy Way to Dissect Anatomical Planes and Complex Adhesions. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 1997, 67: 643-344

Bokey, E.L.; Moore, J.W.E.; Keating, J.P.; Zelas, P.;Chapius, P.H.; Newland, R.C. Laparoscopic Resection of the Colon and Rectum for Cancer
British Journal of Surgery – 1997, 84: 822-825

Bokey, E.L.; Chapius, P.H.; Dent, O.F.; Newland, R.C.; Koorey, S.G.; Zelas, P.J.; Stewart, P.J. Factors Affecting Survival After Excision of the Rectum for Cancer:A Multivariate Analysis.Diseases of the Colon & Rectum – 1997, 40: 3-10

Chapius, P.H.; Dent, O.; Bokey, E.; Galt, E.; Zelas, P.; Nicholls, M.; Yuile, P.; Memeghan, H. The Development of a Treatment Protocol for Patients with Chronic Radiation-Induced Rectal Bleeding. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 1996, 66: 680-685

Fazio, V.W.; Lavery, I.C.; Zelas, P.; Kirwan, O. The Role of the Pull-Through Anastamosis Compared to End to End Stapled Anastamosis
In: Kontinenz und Stomata. Internationales Symposium. Dusseldorf, August 1979

Fazio, V.W.; Zelas, P.; Weakley, F.L.Intraoperative Angiography and the Localisation of Bleeding from the Small Intestine. Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1980, 151: 637-640

Zelas, P; Haaga, J.R.; Fazio, V.W. The Diagnosis by Percutaneous Biopsy with Computed Tomography of a Recurrence of Carcinoma of the Rectum in the Pelvis. Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1980, 151: 525-527

Zelas, P.; Jagelman, D. Loop Ileostomy in the Debilitated Patient with Crohn’s Disease. Annals of Surgery – 1980, 191: 164-169

Zelas, P.; Grierson, J.M. Actinomycosis Involving Urachal Remnants
Medical Journal of Australia – 1977, 1: 849-852

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Memberships and Engagement

Professional Memberships
Australian Medical Association
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Current Appointments
Clinical Dean, Blacktown/Mt Druitt Clinical School
School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney

Executive Medical Director
Blacktown / Mt. Druitt Hospital

Committee Member
Clinicians and Community Expert Advisory Council
Review Committee of the Implementation Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW

Committee Member
Caring Together Implementation Leadership Group
Improving Safety & Creating Better Experiences for Patients Advisory Group

Committee Member
Collaborating Hospitals Auditing Surgical Mortality (CHASM)
Clinical Excellence Commission

Vice Chairman
Medical Staff Council
Blacktown/ Mt. Druitt Hospital

Chairman, Area Health Advisory Committee (AHAC)
Sydney West Area Health Service (until disbanded in December 2010)

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