Dr Pia Bernardi
BSc, Dip Mod Lang, Dip Surg Anat, MBBS, DMedSc, FRACS
“My purpose is to share my knowledge and experience with patients to provide the best care to meet their needs while modelling kindness and compassion.”
Biography
Dr Pia Bernardi is a specialist Colorectal and General Surgeon in Geelong who evaluates and manages multiple general surgical conditions. She is a member of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). She completed her General Surgery Fellowship from RACS in 2012 after training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne.
She then gained entry into the highly competitive CSSANZ post-fellowship training program in Colorectal Surgery. She commenced this by conducting translational research at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne (2013). She then underwent her clinical specialist training in Colorectal Surgery at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand (2014) and Royal Brisbane Hospital (2015). She moved to Geelong in 2016 to commence work as a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at University Hospital Geelong/Barwon Health and Epworth Geelong. She completed her thesis and obtained her Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Melbourne in 2017.
Dr Bernardi is experienced in minimally invasive abdominal surgery using both laparoscopic and robotic approaches. She has a special interest in colorectal and anal cancer and is the Chairperson of the Colorectal Multidisciplinary Meeting at Barwon Health, allowing her to develop close working relationships with Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and other specialties including allied health. She is experienced in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticular disease and pelvic floor disorders. She performs specialist procedures for rectal prolapse as well as sacral neuromodulation for faecal incontinence.
She is extremely conscious of the environmental impact of medical care. She is active in the Environmental Sustainability groups at both UHG and Epworth and is a member of the RACS Environmental Sustainability in Surgical Practice Working Party. She is also a member of Doctors for the Environment Australia. She endeavours to be as sustainable as possible in her practice, always striving to find ways to reduce waste and her carbon footprint as well as inspire and persuade others to do the same through education and research.
Qualifications
Doctor of Medical Science, University of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre 2013 - 2017
Post Fellowship Training in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand 2013 - 2016
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2012
Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy, University of Melbourne 2006
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Queensland 1999 - 2002
Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne 1995-1998
Diploma of Modern Language - Italian, University of Melbourne 1995-1998
Special Achievements
Epworth Medical Foundation Grant Recipient 2022
CSSANZ Foundation Second Year Trainees’ Research Award 2015
ACPGBI Travelling Fellowship Recipient; The Christie Hospital, Manchester; St James Hospital, Leeds; Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford 2014
CSSANZ Foundation Second Year Trainees’ Research Award 2014
Covidien Colorectal Research Fellowship Scholarship Recipient 2013
Anatomy Department Scholarship, University of Melbourne 1998 - 1999
Current Appointments
Chair of Senior Medical Staff Group Barwon Health
Consultant General/Colorectal Surgeon, Barwon Health
Consultant General/Colorectal Surgeon, Epworth Hospital Geelong
Previous Appointments
ANZTBCRS Colorectal Fellow, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane 2015 - 2016
ANZTBCRS Colorectal Fellow, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand 2014 - 2015
Specialist Registrar in General Surgery (SET): St Vincent’s Hospital, Geelong Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Northern Hospital 2008 - 2012
Professional Memberships
Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand
Ordinary member Nov 2016 - Present
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Fellow 2012
Surgical Education and Training Trainee 2006 - 2008
Basic Surgical Trainee 2008 - 2012
Gastroenterology Society of Australia (GESA)
Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Certificates - Colonoscopy & Gastroscopy (Adult)
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Feb 2021 - Present
Research
Doctor of Medical Science, University of Melbourne
Feb 2013 – Oct 2017
Colorectal Research Fellow
Supervisors: Prof R Ramsay, Prof W Phillips, Prof AG Heriot
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Title: “Prediction and Prognosis in Anal Cancer: Developing Models to Improve Patient Outcome”
http://hdl.handle.net/11343/198358
My work encompassed translational research into anal squamous cell carcinoma utilising methods in RNA sequencing and Bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. Potential novel targets have been identified. Patient-derived tumour xeongrafts were established and will enable long-term production and maintenance of human tumour tissue for pre-clinical analysis and testing of targeted therapies. One of the novel targets identified by RNA sequencing was tested in a pilot experiment using the pre-clinical xenograft model.
Publications and Abstracts
Molecular and genomic characterisation of a panel of human anal cancer cell lines
Guerra, GR, Kong JC, Millen RM, Read M, Liu D, Roth S, Sampurno S, Sia J, Bernardi MP, Chittleborough T, Heriot AG, Ramsay RG, Phillips WA
Cell Death & Disease 2021 Oct; 12(11):959, DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04141-5
Salvage Surgery for Locoregional Failure in Anal Squamous Cell Caracinoma
Guerra GR, Kong JC, Bernardi MP, Ramsat RG, Phillips WA, Warrier SK, Lynch AC, Ngan SY, Heriot AG
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 2018 Feb; 61(2):179-186 DOI:10.1097/DCR.0000000000001010
Transanal total mesorectal excision: dissection tips using ‘O’s and ‘triangles’
Bernardi MP, Bloemendaal ALA, Albert M, Whiteford M, Stevenson ARL, Hompes R, Techniques in Coloproctology, 2016, DOI: 10.1007/s10151-016-1531-6
Molecular Biology of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Future Research and Clinical Intervention
Bernardi MP, Ngan SY, Michael M, Lynch AC, Heriot AG, Ramsay RG, Phillips WA
The Lancet Oncology, Volume 16, Issue 16, e611 - e621, Dec 2015
Acute and chronic pseudo-obstruction: a current update
Bernardi MP, Warrier S, Lynch AC, Heriot AG
ANZ J Surg, 2015 May, DOI: 10.1111/ans.13148
Peritoneal Tumorigenesis and Inflammation are Ameliorated by Humidified-Warm Carbon Dioxide Insufflation in the Mouse
Carpinteri S, Bernardi MP, Germann M, Malaterre J, Heriot A, Chambers BA, Mutsaers SE, Lynch AC, Ramsay RG
Ann Surg Oncol 2015 Mar 21 [Epub ahead of print]
Post-operative Crohn’s Disease: Impact of Endoscopic Monitoring and Treatment Step-up on Outcome
De Cruz P, Bernardi MP, Kamm MA, Allen PB, Prideaux L, Williams J, Johnston MJ, Keck J, Brouwer R, Heriot A, Woods R, Brown S, Bell SJ, Elliott R, Connell WR, Desmond PV
Colorectal disease 2013 Feb; 15(2):187-97
Post-operative Crohn’s Disease: Impact of Endoscopic Monitoring and Treatment Step-up on Outcome
P De Cruz, MP Bernardi, P Allen, D Liew, M Johnston, J Keck, R Woods, A Heriot, R Brouwer, S Brown, S Bell, R Elliott, W Connell, P Desmond, M Kamm
Abstract for Digestive Diseases Week Chicago 2011, Gastroenterology 2011; 140 (5), (Suppl 1): S-782 (Abstract)
Abstract for Australian Gastroenterology Week 2010, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2010; 25 (Suppl 3): A90 (Abstract)
Abstract for United European Gastroenterology Week 2010, Gut 2010; 59 (Suppl III): A183 (Abstract)
Endoscopic, Clinical and Surgical recurrence rates of Crohn’s disease post Ileocolic resection in a Tertiary centre
P De Cruz, MP Bernardi, P Allen, D Liew, M Johnston, J Keck, R Woods, A Heriot, R Brouwer, S Brown, S Bell, R Elliott, W Connell, P Desmond, M Kamm
Abstract for Australian Gastroenterology Week 2009, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2009; 24 (Suppl 2): A313
Podium Presentations
Identification and Exploration of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Anal Cancer
Bernardi MP, Ramsay R, Phillips W, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Heriot AG
Tripartite Colorectal Meeting
Birmingham, United Kingdom, July 2014
Patterns of Treatment Failure for Anal Squamous Cell Cancer: Thirty years Experience in a Single Institution
Bernardi MP, Link E, Tomaszewski JM, Michael M, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Phillips W, Ramsay R, Heriot AG
Tripartite Colorectal Meeting
Birmingham, United Kingdom, July 2014
Identification and Exploration of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Anal Cancer
Bernardi MP, Ramsay R, Phillips W, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Heriot AG
Annual Scientific Congress
Singapore, May 2014
Assessment of Response After Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Anal Squamous Cell Cancer by FDG-PET
Bernardi MP, Link E, Tomaszewski JM, Michael M, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Phillips W, Ramsay R, Heriot AG
Annual Scientific Congress
Singapore, May 2014
Ileocolic resections for Crohn’s Disease: Impact of Medical Therapy
Bernardi MP, Woods R, Keck J, Johnston M, Heriot AG
Annual Scientific Congress
Brisbane, May 2009
Barber-Surgeons: A Doomed Guild of Masters and Misters in the Middle Ages
Bernardi MP, Watters D
Annual Scientific Congress
Brisbane, May 2009
Posters
Assessment of Response After Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Anal Squamous Cell Cancer by FDG-PET
Bernardi MP, Link E, Tomaszewski JM, Michael M, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Phillips W, Ramsay R, Heriot AG
Tripartite Colorectal Meeting
Birmingham, United Kingdom, July 2014
Patterns of Treatment Failure for Anal Squamous Cell Cancer: Thirty years Experience in a Single Institution
Bernardi MP, Link E, Tomaszewski JM, Michael M, Ngan S, Lynch AC, Warrier S, Phillips W, Ramsay R, Heriot AG
Annual Scientific Congress
Singapore, May 2014
Invited Presentations
Update on activity of RACS Environmental Sustainability Surgical Practice Working Party
RACS ACT Annual Scientific Meeting, Aug 2022
Overview of HPV-related Anal Lesions
RACS Annual Scientific Congress, Brisbane, May 2022
Minimally Invasive Techniques in the Obese Population: pros and cons
Tripartite Colorectal Meeting, Auckland NZ, Feb 2022
Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Watchful waiting or Intervention?
Colorectal Cancer – A Multidisciplinary Approach Meeting, Melbourne, Aug 2016
Positions of Responsibility
General Surgery representative for Senior Medical Staff Group, Barwon Health 2018 - Present
Colorectal Multidisciplinary Meeting Chairperson, Barwon Health 2017 - Present
Member Environmental Sustainability in Surgical Practice Working Party, RACS 2021 - Present
Member Operating Services Sustainability Committee, Barwon Health 2021 - Present
Member Environmental Sustainability Committee, Epworth Geelong 2021 - Present
Delegate to the RACS Younger Fellows Forum, Melbourne 2021
Trainee Representative Vic/Tas Regional Subcommittee of the Board in General Surgery 2010 - 2012
Participant at Australian Medical Association Doctors-in-Training Subdivision Meetings 2007
Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne – Department of Anatomy 2006