Dr Salena Ward.

Dr Salena Ward is a Gastric, Bariatric and General Surgeon, with particular expertise in surgery of the stomach.

She holds appointments at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Fitzroy, Box Hill Hospital Eastern Health, Epworth Eastern Hospital in Box Hill and La Trobe Private Hospital in Bundoora. Her practice encompasses complex upper gastrointestinal surgery alongside bariatric and general surgery. Her areas of clinical interest include reflux and hiatus hernia management, bariatric surgery, gallbladder surgery and abdominal wall hernia surgery.

Dr Ward graduated in Medicine from The University of Melbourne in 2000 and completed her medical and surgical training through The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Alfred Hospital. She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2009.

Following her general surgical training, Dr Ward undertook dedicated post-fellowship training in oesophago-gastric surgery, first at Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne and subsequently at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. She returned to Melbourne in 2012 to commence consultant practice across the public and private hospital systems.

Alongside her clinical work, Dr Ward has maintained a strong commitment to surgical research, education and training. She completed a Master of Surgery through Monash University in 2013, with research examining gastrointestinal function following upper gastrointestinal surgery. She continues to contribute to research in upper GI surgery and postoperative care and is involved with the St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Surgical Research Group and the Eastern Health Surgical Research Group.

Dr Ward is also involved in the teaching and supervision of medical students, junior doctors and surgical trainees and holds an academic appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University.

Her approach to surgery is grounded in thorough assessment, technical excellence and considered decision-making. She places particular importance on clear communication with patients and referring doctors throughout investigation, treatment and long-term follow-up.

At Meridian Health, Dr Ward works within a multidisciplinary model spanning upper gastrointestinal health, bariatric surgery and metabolic health, enabling patients with complex or overlapping conditions to be assessed and managed collaboratively.