Education and Experience

Qualifications

  • Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, General Surgery, FRACS (2009)
  • Master of Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, MS (2010)
  • Bachelor or Medicine and Surgery with Honours, MBBS(Hons) (2000)
  • Certificate of Clinical Performed Ultrasound (Breast and Endocrine) 2011

Post-Fellowship Training

  • 2010 AES Endocrine Surgery Fellowship
    • Hornsby Hospital and University of Sydney Endocrine Surgical Unit
  • 2009 Clinical Research Fellow, University of Sydney Endocrine Surgical Unit
  • Master of Surgery (Endocrine Surgery), University of Sydney
    • High Distinction awarded in all coursework subjects
    • Dissertation
      • BRAFV600E Mutation in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Impact on Disease Outcomes and the Need for Re-operative Surgery in an Australian Context

Chris has extensive experience in thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, breast and general surgery.

Public Hospital Appointments

  • John Hunter Hospital
  • Belmont Hospital
  • Supervisor of Surgical Training (General Surgery, Newcastle Rotation) 2010-2019
  • Head, Department of General Surgery, John Hunter Hospital

Private Hospital Appointments

  • Lake Macquarie Private Hospital
  • Newcastle Private Hospital

University and Professional Appointments

  • Conjoint Associate Professor, University of Newcastle
  • Co-deputy Director, HMRI Surgical and Perioperative Care Research Group
  • Research and Scientific Officer, ANZ Endocrine Surgeons
  • Associate Editor in Endocrine Surgery, ANZ Journal of Surgery
  • Hunter Biobank Scientific Advisory Committee

Professional Memberships

  • Australian and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons
  • International Association of Endocrine Surgeons
  • Asian Association of Endocrine Surgeons
  • ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group
  • General Surgeons Australia
  • Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine
  • Australian Medical Association
  • Psycho-onocology Co-operative Research Group
  • Hunter Medical Research Institute

Publications

2023

1.      O’Neill CJ, Carlson MA, Rowe CW, Fradgley EA, Paul C. Hearing the Voices of Australian Thyroid Cancer Survivors: Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Semistructured Interviews Identifies Unmet Support Needs.Thyroid. e-pub July 2023. DOI:10.1089/thy.2023.00800

2.      O’Neill CJ, Morris-Baguley H, Alam AS, Carlson MA, Blefari N, Rowe CW, Fradgley EA, Paul C. Thyroid cancer patient reported outcome measures in clinical practice: analysing acceptability and optimizing recruitment. ANZ Journal of Surgery. e-pub June 2023. DOI:10.11111/ans.18578

3.      Rowe CW, McGrath S, O’Neill CJ. Vascular Invasion in Follicular Thyroid Cancer – How Much is Too Much? Clinical Thyroidology. e-pub March 2023. DOI:10.1089/ct.2023;35. 120-122

4.      Widjaja W, Rowe CW, Oldmeadow C, Cope D, Fradgley EA, Paul C, O’Neill CJ. Current patterns of care in low-risk thyroid cancer—A national cross-sectional survey of Australian thyroid clinicians. Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. February 2023. DOI:10.1002/edm2.398

2022

  1. Blefari N, Rowe C, Wiadji E, Lambkin D, Carroll R, Fradgley E, O’Neill CJ. Long-term Health-related quality of life outcomes following thyroid surgery for malignant or benign disease: deficits persist in cancer survivors beyond five years. World Journal of Surgery. July 2022. DOI:10,1007/s00268-022-06643-5.

 

2021

  1. Smith S, Jacobsen J, Atlas A, Khofa A, Kovoor J, Tivey D, Babidge W, Clancy B Jacobson E, O’Neill C, North J, Wu R, Maddern G, Frydenberg M. Telehealth in surgery: an umbrella review. ANZ Journal of Surgery. November 2021. 91:2360-2375.
  2. Navani V, Lynam JF, Smith S, O’Neill CJ, Rowe CW. Castration failure in prostate carcinoma due to a functioning adrenocortical carcinoma. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2021 Oct 1;2021:21-0036. doi:10.1530/EDM-21-0036. Epub ahead of print
  3. Tao Y, Wang F, Shen X, Zhu G, Liu R, Viola S, Elisei R, Puxeddu E, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Lam A, Mian C, Vianello F, Yip L, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, O’Neill CJ, Sywak M, Clifton-Bligh R, Bendlova B, Sýkorová V, Zhao S, Wang Y, Xing M.  BRAFV600E Status Sharply Differentiates Lymph Node Metastasis-associated Mortality Risk in Papillary Thyroid Cancer, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 106, Issue 11, November 2021;106(11):3228–3238.
  4. Wiadji E, Mackenzie L, Reeder P, Gani JS, Carroll R, Smith SR, Frydenberg M, O’Neill CJ. Patient perceptions of surgical telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: lessons for future implementation. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 91:1662-1667.
  5. Wiadji, Holmes M, Burnett D, O’Neill CJ. Retroperitoneal schwannoma: two cases of complete resecton via a posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. ANZ Journal of Surgery. December 2021. 91(12):E793-395.
  6. Wiadji E, Mackenzie L, Reeder P, Gani JS, Carroll R, Smith SR, Frydenberg M, O’Neill CJ. Utilisation of telehealth by surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: lessons learnt. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Feb 2021. 91:507-514.

 

2020

  1. Papachristos A, Cherry T, Nyandoro M, Lisewski D, Stevenson S, Mercer P, Subramaniam S, Sidhu S, Sywak M, Blefari N, O’Neill CJ, Gundara J, Miller J. Bi-National Review of Phaeochromocytoma: Is ICU Admission always Necessary? World Journal of Surgery. Nov 2020. 45 790-796.
  2. Kim JK, Kim SG, Tan J, Shen X, Viola D, Elisei R, Puxeddu E, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Lam A, Mian C, Vianello F, Uep L, Resco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, O’Neill CJ, Sywak MS, Clifton-Bligh R, Bendlova B, Sykorova V, Xing M. BRAF V600E Status may Facilitate Decision-Making on Active Surveillance of Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma. European Journal of Cancer. Jan 2020. 124, 161-169.

 

2018

  1. Rowe C, Arthurs SA, O’Neill CJ, Hawthorne J, Caroll R, Wynne K, Bendinelli C. High-dose Preoperative Cholecalciferol to Prevent Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcaemia: a Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial. Clinical Endocrinology. Nov 2018. 90(2), 343-350.
  2. Wang F, Zhao S, Shen X, Zhu G, Liu R, Viola D, Elisei R, Puxeddu E, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Lam A, Mian, Vianello F, Yip L, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, O’Neill CJ, Sywak M, Clifton-Bligh R, Bendlova B, Sykorova V, Wang Y, Xing M. BRAF V600E Confers Male Sex Disease-Specific Mortality Risk in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Aug 2018. 36(27), 2787-2795.
  3. Shen X, Zhu G, Liu R, Viola D, Elisei R, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Lam A, Mian C, Vianello F, Yip L, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, O’Neill C, Sywah M, Clifton-Bligh R, Bendlova B, Sykorova B, Xing M. Patient Age-Associated Mortality Risk is Differentiated by BRAF V600E Status in Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Feb 2018. 36(5):438-445.
  4. Huang Y, Qu S, Zhu G, Wang F, Liu R, Shen X, Viola D, Elisei R, Puxeddu E, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Lam AK, Mian C, Vianello F, Yip L, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, O’Neill CJ, Xing M, Sywak MS, Clifton-Bligh R, Bendlova B, Sýkorová V. BRAF V600E Mutation-Assisted Risk Stratification of Solitary Intrathyroidal Papillary Thyroid Cancer for Precision Treatment. J Natl CancerApril 2018 110(4).362-370.

 

2016

  1. Bullock M, Ren Y, O’Neill CJ, Gill AJ, Aniss A, Sywak MS, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Learoyd D, de Vathaire F, Robinson BG, Clifton-Bligh RJ. TERT Promoter Mutations are a Major Indicator of Recurrence and Death due to Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2016 Aug;85(2):283-90.

 

2015

  1. Shi X, Liu R, Basolo F, Giannini R, Shen X, Teng D, Guan H, Shan Z, Teng W, Musholt TJ, Al-Kuraya K, Fugazzola L, Colombo C, Kebebew E, Jarzab B, Czarniecka A, Bendlova B, Sykorova V, Sobrinho-Simoes M, Soares P, Shong YK, Kim TY, Cheng S, Asa SL, Viola D, Elisei R, Yip L, Mian C, Vianello F, Wang Y, Zhao S, Oler G, Cerutti JM, Puxeddu E, Qu S, Wei Q, Xu H, O’Neill CJ, Sywak MS, Clifton-Bligh R, Lam AK, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, Yu H, Tallini G, Holt EH, Vasko V, Xing M. Differential Clinicopathology Risk and Prognosis of Major Papillary Thyroid Cancer Variants. Nov 2015; 101(1):264-274.
  2. Chou A, Fraser S, Toon CW, Clarkson A, Sioson L, Farzin M, Cussigh C, Aniss A, O’Neill CJ, Watson N, Clifton-Bligh RJ, Learoyd DL, Robinson BG, Selinger C, Delbridge LW, Sidhu SB, O’Tool S, Sywak MS, Gill AJ. A detailed Clinicopathologic Study of ALK-translocated Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. American Journal of Surgical Pathology. May 2015; 39(5): 652-659.
  3. Xing M, Azahrani AS, Carson KA Shong YK, Kim TY, Viola D, Elisei R, Bendlova B, Yip L, Mian C, Vianelllo F, Tuttle RM, Robenshtok E, Fagin JA, Puxeddu E, Fugazzola L, Czarniecka A, Jarzab B, O’Neill CJ, Swyak MS, Lam AK, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, Nakayama H, Clifton-Bligh R, Tallini G, Holt EH, Sykorova V. Association Between BRAF V600E Mutation and Recurrence of Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Jan 2015; 33(1):42-50.

 

2014

  1. O’Neill CJ, Coorough N, Lee JC, Clements J, Delbridge LW, Sippel R, Sywak MS, Chen H, Sidhu SB. Disease Outcomes and nodal recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid cancer and lateral neck nodal metastases. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Apr 2014; 84(4):240-244.

 

2013

  1. Xing M, Alzahrani AS, Carson KA, Viola D, Elisei R, Bendlova B, Yip L, Mian C Wianello F, Tuttle RM, Robenshtok E, Fagin JA, Puxeddu E, fugazzola L, Czarniecka A, Jarzab B, O’Neill CJ, Sywak MS, Lam AK, Riesco-Eizaguirre G, Santisteban P, Nakayama H, Tufano RP, Pai SI, Zeiger MA, Westra WH, Clark DP, Clifton-Bligh R, Sidransky D, Landenson PW, Sykorova V. Association between BRAF V600E Mutation and Mortality in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Apr 2013; 309(14):1493-1501.

 

2012

  1. Bullock M, O’Neill CJ, Chou A, Clarkson A, Dodds T, Toon C, Sywak M, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Robinson BG, Learoyd DL, Capper D, von Deimling A, Clifton-Blight RJ, Gill AJ. Utilisation of MAB for BRAFV600E detection in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Endocrine Related Cancer. Nov 2012; 19(6):779-784.
  2. Bullock M, Duncan, EL, O’Neill CJ, Tacon L, Sywak MS, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Learoyd D, Robinson BG, Ludgate M, Clifton-Bligh RJ. Association of FOXE1 Polyalanine Repeat Region with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Sept 2012; 97:E1814-1819.
  3. Prichard RS, O’Neill CJ, Ouchareck JJ, Colinda YH, Delbridge LW, Sywak MS. A Prospective Study of Heart Rate Variability in Endocrine Surgery: Surgical Training increases Consultant’s Mental Strain. Journal of Surgical Education. Jul 2012; 69(4):453-458.
  4. Vasica G, O’Neill CJ, Sidhu SB, Sywak MS, Reeve TS, Delbridge LW. Re-operative surgery for bilateral multinodular goitre in the era of total thyroidectomy. British Journal of Surgery. May 2012; 99(5): 688-692.
  5. Prichard RS, O’Neill CJ, Ouchareck J, Sippel RS, Delbridge LW, Sidhu SB, Chen H. Is Focused Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy Appropriate for Patients with Familial Primary Hyperparathyroidism? Annals of Surgical Oncology. Apr 2012; 19(4): 1264-1268.

 

2011

  1. O’Neill CJ, Vaughan L, Learoyd DL, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Sywak MS. Management of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Should be Individualised Based on Degree of Capsular and Vascular Invasion. European Journal of Surgical Oncology. Feb 2011; 37(2):181-185.
  2. Oucharek J, O’Neill CJ, Suliburk JW, Sywak MS, Delbridge LW, Sidhu SB. Durability of Minimally Invasive Parathryoidectomy in Young Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism. Annals of Surgical Oncology. May 2011; 18(5):1290-1292.
  3. Brown SJ, O’Neill CJ, Suliburk JW, Sidhu SB, Sywak MS, Gill A, Robinson B, Delbridge LW. Parathyroid Carcinoma: Increasing Incidence and Changing Presentation. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Jul/Aug 2011; 81(7-8):528-532.
  4. O’Neill CJ, Sidhu SB. Salivary Gland Disorders. How to Treat: Australian Doctor. Jan 2011;19-26.
  5. O’Neill CJ, Sidhu SB. Thyroid Cancer Update. Medical Observer. Apr 22, 2011:
  6. Prichard RS, O’Neill CJ, O’Hara J, Atmore BB, Hassall M. Pseudoangiomatous Stromal Hyperplasia of the Breast: An unusual pathology necessitating bilateral mastectomy during pregnancy. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Apr 2011; 81(4):304-305.
  7. O’Neill CJ, Chang LY, Suliburk JW, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Sywak MS. Sutureless Thyroidectomy: Surgical Technique. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Jul/Aug 2011; 81(7-8):515-518.
  8. Chang LY, O’Neill CJ, Suliburk JS, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Sywak MS. Sutureless Technology provides a Safe and Cost Effective Alternative to Conventional Techniques in Total Thyroidectomy. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Jul/Aug 2011; 81(7-8):510-514.
  9. O’Neill CJ, Chan C, Symons J, Learoyd DL, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Gill A, Sywak M. Parathyroid Cancer Encountered after Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy: Further Surgery may not be Required. World Journal of Surgery. Jan 2011; 35(1):147-153.

 

2010 & Prior

  1. O’Neill CJ, Oucharek J, Learoyd DL, Sidhu SB. Standard and Emerging Therapies for Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Feb 2010; 15:146-156.
  2. O’Neill CJ, Bullock M, Chou A, Sidhu SB, Delbridge LW, Robinson BG, Gill A, Learoyd DL, Clifton-Bligh R, Sywak MS. BRAFV600E Mutation is Associated with an Increased Risk of Nodal Recurrence Requiring Re-operative Surgery in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Surgery. Dec 2010; 148(6):1139-1146.
  3. O’Neill CJ, Spence A, Logan B, Suliburk JW, Soon PS, Learoyd DL, Sidhu SB, Sywak MS. Adrenal Incidentalomas: Risk of Adrenocortical Carcinoma and Clinical Outcomes. Journal of Surgical Oncology.Oct 2010; 102(5):450-453.
  4. O’Neill CJ, Gan J. Ischaemic colitis in an ironman triathlete: a case report and review of the literature. Surgical Practice. May 2008; 12(2):71-72.
  5. O’Neill CJ, Gillies DM, Gani J. Cholecdocholithiasis: Overdiagnosed Endoscopically and Undertreated Laparoscopically. ANZ Journal of Surgery. June 2008; 78(6):487-491.