A/Prof Elisabeth Elder

Elisabeth studied medicine because it perfectly combined her passion for helping people, with her love of science. She was drawn towards working in breast surgery because she found connecting with and talking to women and helping them through a very stressful phase of their lives was very rewarding.

Elisabeth is one of the surgeons at the forefront of developing oncoplastic surgical techniques, which means that in appropriate cases she concentrates on a good cosmetic outcome as well as treating her patient's cancer. Oncoplastic surgery combines breast cancer surgery with plastic surgery. The combination of cosmetic and oncolgoical treatments gives women more treatment options. For example Elisabeth might take out a cancer and do a breast lift or reduction as part of the same operation. For patients who need a mastectomy, Elisabeth offers a wide range of reconstructive options, including implant based reconstruction (with or without nipple preservation) and tissue based reconstruction in collaboration with her plastic surgical colleagues.

Professor Elisabeth Elder graduated from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 1992. She then completed her general surgical training together with a PhD in tumour biology in 2002. After migrating to Australia, she specialised in breast cancer surgery at Concord Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Women and Royal North Shore Hospital. She completed her Australian surgical fellowship (FRACS) before taking up a staff specialist position in the Breast Cancer Institute at Westmead Hospital. Elisabeth returned to the Karolinska Hospital during 2008 to develop skills in oncoplastic breast surgery techniques.

Elisabeth is a Clinical Professor at University of Sydney and head of research at the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. She is involved in numerous research projects and clinical trials as well as teaching of medical students and trainees.

Elisabeth is president of the Australasian Society for Breast Disease and an previous chair of the oncoplastic subcommittee of Breast Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand and member of other national and international breast societies. She is a former council member of Breast Surgeons International and on the editorial board of World Journal of Surgery. She lecturers frequently at national and international meetings and participates regularly in breast cancer education for medical professionals, students as well as patient groups and the broader community.

Lakeview Private Hospital
Norwest Private Hospital
Westmead Public Hospital
Westmead Private Hospital