About Brad Bidwell

Dr Brad Bidwell grew up in East Gippsland in regional Victoria. Before he ever entered an operating theatre, he spent years in a research laboratory — first completing a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours, then earning a doctorate at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, one of Australia’s leading cancer research institutions.

His PhD investigated how breast cancer spreads through the body and how the immune system responds — research that contributed to six peer-reviewed publications, including a paper in Nature Medicine.

After completing his research, Dr Bidwell studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, drawn by a desire to care directly for people with cancer. He went on to develop a deep passion for surgery, and was selected for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) training program, which he undertook at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and St Vincents Hospital Melbourne.

Following fellowship qualification, Dr Bidwell completed two further years of advanced training in colorectal surgery, complex hernia repair and robotic surgery at University Hospital Geelong and Epworth Hospital Geelong.

He returned to regional Victoria — having spent time in Wangaratta during his surgical training and developed a strong connection to the area and its community. He now serves as Clinical Director of Surgery at Northeast Health Wangaratta, and consults at Wangaratta Private Hospital and Benalla Hospital.