Dr James Kollias

Dr Kollias has practiced as a specialist breast and endocrine surgeon in Adelaide since 1997. 

After undergoing post-fellowship training in breast and endocrine surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1994, Dr Kollias commenced clinical and laboratory based research at the internationally renowned Nottingham Breast Unit, supervised by Prof. Roger W Blamey. Dr Kollias was awarded a Doctorate in Medicine relating to breast cancer at the University of Nottingham and has an extensive portfolio of publications in the scientific literature in both breast and endocrine surgery. He is a Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Adelaide.  He was Chairman of the RACS Breast Section, Chairman of the BreasSurgANZ Breast Quality Audit and founding President of the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ). He continues to work as a visiting surgeon at BreastScreen SA. 

In addition to a heavy clinical load, he has an extensive record in teaching at all levels, research, major contributions to important multicentre clinical trials and a strong contribution to various professional organisations. For more information see Track Record and Curriculum Vitae. He currently consults at his private clinic in Angas Street, Breast Screen SA, St Andrew’s Breast Centre, Melbourne Street Breast and Endocrine Centre, and conducts operating sessions at St Andrew’s and Calvary Hospitals.

Breast Surgery

Dr Kollias specialises in breast cancer surgery, oncoplastic breast cancer surgery, breast reconstruction surgery and cosmetic breast surgery. Dr Kollias helped pioneer sentinel node biopsy in Australia in the mid-1990s and conducted a series of workshops to help train surgeons in Australia and New Zealand in this technique. Dr Kollias has an extensive experience in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic breast surgery, with multiple lectures/scientific presentations at national and international breast cancer conferences given in these areas. He has also conducted multiple workshops and has trained several dozen national and international breast surgical fellows in these techniques. Dr Kollias has performed breast cosmetic surgery since 1998, offering high-quality, affordable cosmetic procedures such as breast reduction, breast augmentation and breast lift (mastopexy) to his patients.

Endocrine Surgery

In the area of endocrine surgery, Dr Kollias has extensive experience in thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgery. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive parathyroid surgery and has gained a significant experience in minimally invasive adrenal surgery. From 2013, Dr Kollias has performed “keyhole” adrenalectomy procedures using the posterior retroperitoneal approach which is associated with less pain and quicker recovery than more traditional approaches.

Dr Kollias has extensive clinical experience in other areas of surgery including-

• Office ultrasound and breast/thyroid biopsy
• Lymph-node surgery and splenectomy (including “keyhole” splenectomy that he has performed since 1994)
• Venous access surgery (infusaports, vitalports) for chemotherapy
• Salivary gland surgery (parotidectomy and submandibular gland excisions)
• General surgery procedures (gallbladder surgery, appendicectomy, hernia surgery)

Charity Work

Dr Kollias has been involved in Breast Cancer charity work for over 10 years. 

As Patron of the Faith Hope Charity foundation, he has worked closely with the organisation’s founder, Mary Tarzia, to raise over $1 million to help patients treated for breast cancer through the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Funds raised have helped pay for important research equipment, scalp cooling devices for chemotherapy patients, breast care nurses, the BREATHE exercise and conditioning program for patients having chemotherapy/radiotherapy, tattoo equipment for breast reconstruction and monitoring equipment for breath-holding exercises during radiotherapy.

Dr Kollias was a founding executive member of the Foundation for Breast Cancer Care. This organisation which works closely with BreastSurgANZ works with partners and key stakeholders in medicine, raising money to support community-based projects, research, professional development and quality assurance procedures. 

Full Curriculum Vitae and Memberships

Teaching

• Undergraduate teaching of 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th Year medical students during structured lectures /informal bedside teaching and 4^th / 5^th Year OSCE examiner through the University of Adelaide in his role as Senior Lecturer, Department of Surgery (1997 – current); 5^th Year MSA supervisor (2012-2018); 4^th Year Surgical Home Unit Tutorials
• Adelaide University Surgical Students Society cadaver workshops (2012-2019)
• Intern Training through Royal Adelaide Hospital Intern Training Programme (RAH Intern Supervisor 2001 – 2014)
• Postgraduate teaching through formal lectures at the SA Branch of RACS (2001 – current) and RACS ASSET Course (Faculty member 2009 – current)
• Postgraduate teaching through formal lectures at Adelaide to Outback and SHINE Postgraduate Programme for General Practitioners
• Convenor, 2-Day Postgraduate training courses in Sentinel Node Biopsy, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide 1999- 2004 (6 courses in total)
• Convenor, Postgraduate training course in Surgeon Performed Ultrasound (3 courses in total, 2008-2009)
• Scientific Convener, RACS Annual Scientific Congress Breast Section Adelaide 2001, International Surgical Society International Surgical Week Breast Surgery International 2009, RACS Annual Scientific Congress Endocrine Section 2011
• Convener, Breast Reconstruction and Oncoplastic Cadaver Workshops, CTEC Perth, 2004; BreastSurgANZ, CTEC Perth, May 2012
• Facilitator, ASBD BreastSurgANZ Oncoplastic Workshop, Brisbane, Oct 2014

Research (see Full Curriculum Vitae)

• MD Thesis 
  “Clinical, Biological and Molecular Genetic Aspects of Bilateral Breast Cancer.” University of Nottingham, School of Medical and Surgical Sciences, October 2004.
• 133 published manuscripts in refereed scientific journals principally pertaining to areas of breast diagnosis, prognosis, management trends, novel surgical concepts, quality assurance and registry data.
• 106 oral presentations at National and International Scientific Meetings
• 47 scientific poster presentations at National and International Scientific Meetings
• 4 book chapters

Clinical Trials

Personal recruitment of patients into international clinical trials including:

• IBIS I
• IBIS II (2^nd highest recruitment officer for DCIS substudy for ANZ BCTG)
• ATAC
• IBCSG-23
• BIG-98
• SNAC I (2^nd highest recruitment officer in Australia and New Zealand)
• POSNOC

Intellectual Input

Provision of intellectual input into Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cancer Australia (National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre) with the following Working Parties:

• DCIS (2004 – 2005)
• Information Advisory Group (2005 – 2007)
• Breast Cancer Clinical Data Items Working Group (2006 – 2007)
• Sentinel Node Biopsy 2007
• Revision of Guidelines in Early Breast cancer (2007 – 2008)
• Secondary Lymphoedema Initiative 2008
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Early Breast Cancer for Malaysian Cancer Council (2009)   
• Working committee for breastsyllabus for Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound
  https://www.asum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CCPU-2015-Breast-syllabus.pdf

Governance

(only executive and Council memberships included)

• Executive Member, Australasian Society for Breast Diseases (2004-2010)
• Chairman, Breast Section, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2007 – 2011) and Deputy Chairman 2005 – 2007, Executive 2003 -2011)
• Founding President, Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (2010 -2011)
• Executive Member Endocrine Section, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2009 – 2013)
• Executive Member, SNAC Trial Management Committee (2003- 2007)
• Clinical Director BreastSurgANZ National Breast Cancer Audit (2003 – 2011)
• Chairman BreastSurgANZ National Breast Cancer Audit Steering Committee (2011 – 2014)
• Member Mortality and Morbidity Committee, St Andrew’s Hospital, Adelaide (2007 – current)

Community Excellence

• PATRON: Faith Hope Charity Foundation, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Hanson Institute, Adelaide, South Australia (2009 – current)
• Director, Foundation For Breast Cancer Care (2014 – 2017)

Awards / Scholarships

• Ellen Price Research Award – Modbury Hospital Sept. 1993 for project – “Laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy – a prospective study “
• Royal Adelaide Hospital Mark Jolly Travelling Scholarship – July 1994.
• Societe Internationale de Chirurgie (SIC) Travel Fellowship, 1999
• University of Adelaide: Derek Frewin AO Citation for Clinical Teaching – 2010, 2011, 2012
• RACS Award for Services to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 2012
• General Surgeons Australia Excellence in Surgical Teaching Award (SA/NT) 2016