Dr Chantel Thornton is passionate about delivering the highest standard of care to patients with breast conditions, including multi-disciplinary care for breast cancer.
Chantel is a breast surgeon specialising in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and all benign breast conditions, including breast reconstruction, sentinel node biopsy, familial breast cancer and risk reduction surgery (skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomy) and delivery of multi-disciplinary breast cancer care. She has a special interest in oncoplastic breast cancer surgery, a relatively new sub-specialty aimed at maximising cosmetic results with breast conservation surgery. Chantel uses bedside ultrasound and also has the ability to perform core biopsies in the consulting rooms and she works with specialist breast pathologists and radiologists.
Chantel obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with First Class Honours from the University of Tasmania. She was awarded eight university prizes and graduated as Dux of her year in 2000. She also completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences and received a scholarship to complete an Honours Degree at the University of Hong Kong in 1998.
Chantel became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2010. She undertook surgical training at The Alfred Hospital and did a Fellowship in Breast Cancer Surgery at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Chantel has attended Oncoplastic Breast Surgery courses in Chicago and Washington, and at the Institute of European Oncology in Milan. She is a Member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Victorian Medical Women’s Society, the Australian Federation of Medical Women and the Medical Women’s International Association. Chantel is also a member of Women on Boards, and a member of the Cancer Council of Victoria, Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group and Breast Cancer Committee.
Philanthropy is an important part of Chantel’s life and she is currently on the Committee of Women at The Alfred, and a Board Member of the Foundation for Surgery – Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and a Board Member of the Foundation for Breast Cancer Care. Chantel is also a member of the Epworth Foundation Special Events Committee. Her former roles include Patron of the Royal Flying Doctors Service Flying 1000, Chair of Life Support which supports trauma care at The Alfred Hospital and Board Member of The Alfred Foundation. Chantel has also held a position as an Honorary Lecturer at Monash University.
Chantel is currently working at the Epworth Hospital Richmond, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
