- Our Doctors
- Prof Michael Chao
Prof Michael Chao
MBBS (Hons) FRANZCR AFRACMA DMedSc, Radiation Oncologist
Medical Director of Radiation Oncology
For patients/carers
For doctors
MBBS (Hons) FRANZCR AFRACMA DMedSc, Radiation Oncologist
Medical Director of Radiation Oncology
Locations
Clinical interests
- Breast cancer
- Genitourinary cancer
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Benign conditions
- Osteoarthritis
Languages
Fluent
- English
- Cantonese / 廣東話
Biography
Clinical interests in breast, lung, and prostate cancers.
Michael is a Professor of Radiation Oncology whose work spans breast, prostate, and lung cancers, with a particular focus on harnessing modern radiation therapy to improve cancer control while minimising treatment-related side effects. In prostate cancer, he pioneered the introduction of rectal spacers in Australia, an innovation that has significantly enhanced the safety of radiation therapy for countless patients.
He completed his MBBS with Honours at Monash University in 1991 and was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (FRANZCR) in 1999. He then spent two years as a research fellow in the DNA Research Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, during which he was both an NHMRC Scholar and a Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Research Fellow. Michael later earned his Doctor of Medical Science (DMedSc) from the University of Melbourne.
A passionate researcher, Michael has authored more than 130 publications and supervises multiple PhD candidates. He began his consultant career in 2000 with GenesisCare and now consults at the Ringwood and Peninsula GenesisCare Radiation Oncology Centres. He also serves as an honorary radiation oncologist at Maroondah Hospital (Eastern Health) and as the breast cancer radiation oncology lead at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre. In 2025, he was appointed the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at GenesisCare.
Across his clinical, research, and leadership roles, Michael remains dedicated to advancing evidence-based, patient-centred radiation oncology.
More information
- Multidisciplinary approaches to breast cancer management
- Modern techniques for prostate radiation treatment
- Stereotactic prostate radiation therapy
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
- European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
- Australasian Society of Breast Diseases (ASBD)
- American Brachytherapy Society (ABS)
- Australasian Brachytherapy Group (ABG)
- Lee, S. F., Harris, N, Yip, P. L., Dean, J., Geary, B., Koufogiannis, G., Bauer, M., Joon, D. L., Foroudi, F., Choong, E. S., & Chao, M. (2025). Utilization of stabilised HA spacer in SBRT for retroperitoneal cancers: A case series and dosimetric analysis. Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, 52, 100943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctro.2025.100943
- Hong, A., Lee, S. F., Bolton, D., Ramani, S., Ischia, J., Chin, P., Vanneste, B., Collier, N., McKenzie, I., Pryor, D., Gogna, K., Lim Joon, D., Foroudi, F., Jack, G., Yip, P. L., Svatos, M., Orio, P., & Chao, M. (2025). Rectal wall infiltration following stabilised hyaluronic acid rectal spacer insertion in prostate cancer. Journal of Urology, 3(5), e00049. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU9.0000000000000285
- Lippens, J., Willems, L., Boychak, O., Pinakawa, M., Orio, P., Chao, M., Jain, S., Song, D., Zelefsky, M., Van Limbergen, E., & Vanneste, B. (2025). Implantable rectal spacers in prostate cancer radiotherapy: A systematic review. Practical Radiation Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prro.2025.03.009
- Wegener, E., Ng, M., Guerrieri, M., Showalter, T., Leon, J., Ramani, S., Dreosti, M., Lim, T., Wong, B., Chao, M., Hogan, K., Raman, A., McClintock, S., Foreman, D., Brown, M., McCombie, S., McMillan, K., Beattie, K., Frydenberg, M., Wong, L. M., Hayne, D., Yaxley, J., Stricker, P., & Martin, J. (2025). A multicenter implementation trial of an artificial intelligence–driven biomarker to inform shared decisions for ADT in men undergoing prostate radiotherapy: The ASTuTE protocol. BMC Cancer, 25(1), 250. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13622-1
- Yeh, J., Tacey, M., Harris, B., Lau, E., Lapuz, C., Pignol, J. P., Foroudi, F., Mathieu, D., Fong, S. C., Ng, S. P., Sim, J., & Chao, M. (2025). Stabilised hyaluronic acid gel marker versus surgical clips for tumor bed delineation in breast cancer radiotherapy using MRI simulation. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 205, 110749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2025.110749
- Lee, S. F., Yip, P. L., Spencer, S., Ho, H., Subramanian, B., Ding, W., Lapuz, C., Foroudi, F., Kai, C., & Chao, M. (2025). StrataXRT and Mepitel Film for preventing post-mastectomy acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: An intra-patient non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 121(5), 1145–1155.
- Qadir, A., Singh, N., Kywe Moe, A., Cahoon, G., Lye, J., Chao, M., Foroudi, F., & Uribe, S. (2025). Potential of MRI in assessing treatment response after neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients: A scoping review. Clinical Breast Cancer, 25(1), e1–e9.
Explore more
Disclaimer:
This website is provided for information purposes only. Nothing on this website is intended to be used as medical advice, or to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It should not be used as a substitute for your own health professional's advice. Any medical procedure or treatment carries risks. Before proceeding with treatment, you should discuss the risks and benefits of the treatment with an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual treatment outcomes and experiences will vary.