Dr Ashok Gunawardene

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12 Osburn Pl, Epping VIC 3076

240 Hoppers Ln, Werribee VIC 3030

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1300 052 415

 

Dr Ashok Gunawardene — Bariatric, Upper GI & General Surgeon

BSc, MBChB(Hons), MRCS, PhD, FRACS

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Dr Ashok Gunawardene is an Australian-accredited registered specialist general surgeon with advanced expertise in upper gastrointestinal conditions, minimally invasive keyhole procedures, and bariatric solutions. Throughout his extensive clinical timeline, he has built a highly recognized pathway of surgical refinement spanning core tertiary centers across the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.
He delivers high-quality, patient-centered care anchored firmly within modern evidence-based frameworks and global safety standards. Recognizing that navigating surgical pathways can be an anxious process for patients, his practice places a transparent premium on clear, accessible communication and multi-disciplinary continuum planning close to the patient’s home corridor.
His core procedural focuses include advanced laparoscopic weight loss surgery, precise therapeutic mapping of gallstones (including routine IOC), and minimally invasive hernia repair procedures. Dr Gunawardene holds comprehensive accreditation from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) for both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Beyond his active clinical practice, Dr Gunawardene is heavily invested in guiding the future generation of medical minds. He functions as an Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and delivers core surgical skill development labs for junior medical staff. His academic doctorate (PhD) focused on systemic inflammation cascades in oncological outcomes, confirming his standing as an academic clinician whose treatment paths directly mirror contemporary scientific data.
Outside of his professional commitments, Dr Gunawardene values family unity and regularly connects with nature through outdoor exploration across regional Victoria.

Academic Qualifications & Accreditations

*Dr Ashok is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. His extensive international training and research doctorate ensure your surgical care is guided by premium medical standards.

  • FRACS – Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in General Surgery (Recognized Board Certification).
  • PhD – Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Surgical Research, University of Otago.
  • MRCS – Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
  • MBChB(Hons) – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Graduated with Honours), University of Birmingham.
  • BSc – Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours in Anatomy, University of Leeds.

Professional Body Memberships

  • 🔹 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
  • 🔹 Australia & NZ Metabolic & Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS)
  • 🔹 Gastro-Oesophageal Surgical Association (AANZGOSA)
  • 🔹 Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)
  • 🔹 General Surgeons Australia (GSA)
  • 🔹 International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO)

Peer-Reviewed Publications & Research

  1. Thong, D. W., Islam, S., Gunawardene, A., & Kariyawsam, S. (2026). Utility of Single Transhiatal Chest Drainage After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A Propensity‐Score Matched Study of Safety and Feasibility. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 96(4), 889-894.
  2. Varghese C, McGuinness M, Wells C, Elliott BM, Gunawardene A, Edwards M, Vohra R et al. Variation in the practice of cholecystectomy for benign biliary disease in Aotearoa New Zealand: a population-based cohort study. HPB. 2023;25(8):941-953. doi:10.1016/j.hpb.2023.04.004
  3. Gunawardene A. Mackler’s triad in spontaneous pneumomediastinum. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2023;93(1-2):437. doi:10.1111/ans.17621
  4. Mahadik M, Gunawardene A, Sutherland A, Ah Yen D. Traumatic tension enterothorax in New Zealand: a case report. Journal of Trauma and Injury. 2023;36(3):258-260. doi:10.20408/jti.2022.0039
  5. Gunawardene A, Fischer J. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2022;92(5):1254-1255. doi:10.1111/ans.17573
  6. Mouat M, Gunawardene A, Sweetman L, Dennett E, Larsen P. Psoas muscle cross-sectional area and outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery. British Journal of Surgical Science. 2021;1(1):39-45.
  7. McGuiness M, Wells C, Gunawardene A, Varghese C. Surgical trainee research, audit and trials Aotearoa: an introduction into surgical collaborative research for medical students. New Zealand Medical Student Journal. 2021;33:39-41.
  8. Gunawardene A, Manning S, Holley A, Kristono G, Danielson K, Shekouh A, Larsen P, Dennett E. An IL8-CEA combined score is stage-specific in colorectal cancer. Surgery, Gastroenterology & Oncology. 2021;26(4):284-290. doi:10.21614/sgo-26-4-401
  9. Cowen S, Gunawardene A, Davenport E. Retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst mistaken as an adrenal adenoma. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2020;90(11):2354-2356. doi:10.1111/ans.16515
  10. Srikumar G, Gunawardene A, Kodeda K. Synchronous small bowel neuroendocrine tumour and lymphoma in a centenarian. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2020;90(12):2581-2583. doi:10.1111/ans.15952
  11. Desmond B, Gunawardene A, Griffiths B, Keating J. Segmental dilatation following side-to-side isoperistaltic strictureplasty in Crohn’s disease: a note of caution. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2019;89(12):E570-E571. doi:10.1111/ans.15001
  12. Tinawi G, Gunawardene A, Shekouh A, Larsen P, Dennett E. Neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer: how are we choosing? ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2019;89(1-2):68-73. doi:10.1111/ans.14935
  13. Bellamy F, Gunawardene A, Osipov V, Aljanabi I. Intra-abdominal desmoid tumour presenting as an acute abdomen. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2019;89(12):1654-1655. doi:10.1111/ans.14778
  14. Gunawardene A, Galvin S. Large pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with paradoxical cerebral infarction. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2019;89(7-8):E337-E338. doi:10.1111/ans.14454
  15. Gunawardene A, Dennett E, Larsen P. Prognostic value of multiple cytokine analysis in colorectal cancer: a systematic review. Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2019;10(1):134-143. doi:10.21037/jgo.2018.07.11
  16. Gunawardene A, Larsen P, Shekouh A, Dennett E. Pre-treatment Carcinoembryonic antigen predicts prognosis in colorectal cancer. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 2018;88(12):1311-1315. doi:10.1111/ans.14723
  17. Gunawardene A, Shekouh A, Larsen P, Dennett E. Disease recurrence following surgery for colorectal cancer: five years follow up. New Zealand Medical Journal. 2018;131(1469):51-58.
  18. Gunawardene AR, Chant H. Facial nerve injury during temporal artery biopsy. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2014;96(4):257-260. doi:10.1308/003588414X13814021677631
  19. Waydia S, Gunawardene A, Gilbert J, Cota A, Finlay I. 23 hour discharge post-laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is safe. Obesity Surgery. 2014;24(11):2007-2010. doi:10.1007/s11695-014-1353-2
  20. Gunawardene AR, Brown JH, Blann A. Does ethnicity and social deprivation affect length of hospital stay following elective breast surgery? Journal of One-Day Surgery. 2013;23(1):16-22.
  21. Gunawardene A, Mirza M, Keaney C. An unusual cause of a lump in the groin. BMJ. 2012;344:e693. doi:10.1136/bmj.e693
  22. Gunawardene AR, Corfe BM, Staton CA. Classification and function of enteroendocrine cells of the lower gastrointestinal tract. International Journal of Experimental Pathology. 2011;92(4):219-231. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2613.2011.00767.x
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