June 5, 2025Northern Health hosted a dynamic and multidisciplinary Neurovascular Workshop last month, bringing together leading experts in neurology and vascular surgery from across the state and beyond. The collaborative event focused on enhancing neurovascular care, with particular emphasis on improving outcomes for patients affected by stroke.
The workshop, co-convened by Associate Professor Douglas Crompton, Head of Neurology, and Mr Shrikkanth (Raj) Rangarajan, Vascular Surgeon at Northern Health, offered a rare and impactful platform for open dialogue, clinical exchange and cross-specialty collaboration.
Held at Northern Hospital Epping, the event welcomed visiting clinicians including Dr Bernard Bourke, Vascular Surgeon from Gosford Hospital in New South Wales, Mr Damien Holdaway, Vascular Surgeon from Barwon Health, and Mr Jason Chuen, Director of Vascular Surgery at Austin Health.
The day featured robust discussions, shared insights, and live case presentations, highlighting real-world scenarios in the management of complex neurovascular conditions, particularly those involving carotid artery disease and acute stroke.
“This has been a great opportunity for stroke neurologists and vascular surgery specialists to study new techniques and look towards a future of enhanced collaboration, ultimately improving outcomes for people with strokes due to carotid disease,” said Associate Professor Douglas Crompton, Head of Neurology, Northern Health.
Mr Srikanth Rangarajan underscored the importance of multidisciplinary forums in tackling health challenges specific to the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
“Bringing together like-minded clinicians from different backgrounds allows us to provide insights we may not see within our own specialties. Stroke is highly prevalent in our catchment, and through shared understanding and new techniques, we can dramatically impact patient outcomes. It’s truly inspiring to see this kind of collaboration happen here at Northern Health,” he said.
“A big thank you to the organisers for this exciting initiative. The workshop included informative discussions and live cases that were valuable for both vascular surgeons and neurologists. I hope to see more of this in the future,” said Iman Byatt, Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Northern Health.
Dr Bernard Bourke, visiting from Gosford Hospital, reflected on the strength of the workshop’s structure and its collaborative nature.
“Raj has done an excellent job in presenting a multidisciplinary workshop that emphasised teamwork. It’s been incredibly valuable for everyone involved and should be expanded in the future,” he said.
Other visiting specialists echoed the importance of cross-disciplinary understanding.
“As neurologists and vascular surgeons, we can sometimes find ourselves working in silos, which makes opportunities like this workshop very valuable. Gaining insight into each other’s thought processes, priorities, and clinical structures helps us align more effectively. It was eye-opening to explore alternative stroke pathways and question existing approaches,” said Mr Damien Holdaway, Vascular Surgeon, Barwon Health.
“Raj brought us together today to have a shared conversation around the timing of carotid surgery in patients with symptomatic disease. These discussions are essential for removing delays and improving care pathways to prevent further strokes,” added Mr Jason Chuen, Director of Vascular Surgery, Austin Health.
Northern Health remains committed to fostering such collaborative events that bring together passionate clinicians united by a shared goal – to deliver safer, kinder and more integrated care to the communities we serve.
