Our Staff

Dr Brian Draganic

Dr Brian Draganic is a Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Newcastle and head of the Colorectal Surgical Department at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle Australia.

He graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1990 and completed general surgical training in the Hunter area before completing his Australian Colorectal Fellowship years at Concord and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals, and gaining further experience in the UK before commencing consultant practice.

He established the endoluminal ultrasound and anorectal physiology services at John Hunter Hospital and the Hunter Area Biofeedback Service on commencing consultant practice in the area and maintains a clinical, teaching and research role in the management of defecatory disorders along with a busy colorectal practice.

Assoc. Prof. Stephen Smith

Assoc. Prof. Stephen Smith graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1993. He completed general surgical training in 2001, including a year at Adenbrookes, Cambridge UK. He completed Colorectal CSSANZ Fellowship in 2003 with stints at RPA, Sydney and Royal Melbourne and Western, Melbourne. He completed Masters of Surgery in 2005 at Sydney University. He is currently a VMO Colorectal surgeon with appointments at John Hunter Hospital and the University of Newcastle, with a particular interest in enhanced recovery in colorectal surgery.

Dr Hasitha Balasuriya

Dr Hasitha Balasuriya is a colorectal surgeon who moved to Newcastle with his family in 2022. He graduated from the University of Western Sydney and was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2019 and is a Member of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Gastroenterological Society of Australia. He trained at Concord and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals in Sydney as well as rural and regional hospitals in NSW. He gained further exposure to colorectal surgery, undertaking sub-specialised fellowships in Edinburgh, UK (laparoscopic colorectal surgery, advanced endoscopy, trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery), Sir Charles Gairdner, WA (CSSANZ fellowship, sarcoma, organ preservation) and Concord, NSW (laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease surgery). He is a keen teacher, researcher, and patient advocate, and prides himself on his technical expertise and bedside manner. 

He has public VMO appointments at John Hunter and Belmont Hospitals, and private appointments at Newcastle Private Hospital and Newcastle Endoscopy Centre.