About
A/Prof Kostalas is a consultant gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and interventional endoscopist who has resided in Port Macquarie since 2013. He holds a conjoint professorial appointment at the University of NSW and is completing his DPhil at the University of Oxford, researching serrated polyposis syndrome.
His education includes an undergraduate medical degree (with first class honours), a Masters in Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology), a Masters of Science from the University of Oxford (Evidence-Based Health Care and Medical Statistics), a Masters in Biostatistics (Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia, University of Queensland), Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and Graduate Statistician (GStat) accreditation from the Statistical Society of Australia.
Stuart has performed more than 15,000 colonoscopies and holds GESA conjoint committee accreditation in Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy, and ERCP. He is passionate about providing very high quality colonoscopy, particularly the detection and endoscopic removal of polyps.
International Training
Recognising the Japanese mastery of interventional endoscopy, Stuart brought Prof Noriya Uedo to Port Macquarie to supervise and teach advanced endoscopic procedures. In 2018 he was joined by Prof Takashi Toyonaga, one of the world's leading experts in endoscopic cancer resection. This collaboration continued with further educational visits in 2019 and an advanced endoscopy masterclass in 2020.
In 2024, Stuart ran the inaugural Port Macquarie ESD Course (PMEC) with Prof Toyonaga, providing hands-on individualised ESD training for Australian gastroenterologists. He regularly travels overseas to train with international experts, ensuring his skills and knowledge remain current and relevant.
Clinical Interests
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
- Third Space Endoscopy (EFTR, STER, Z-POEM, G-POEM)
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)
- ERCP
- Quality in colonoscopy and polyp detection
- Serrated polyposis syndrome and sessile serrated lesions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Hepatology
Academic Roles
- Conjoint Associate Professor, University of NSW
- DPhil Candidate, University of Oxford
- Founder, Port Macquarie Gastroenterology Research Group (2023)
- Founder, Port Macquarie ESD Course (PMEC)
- Gastroenterology representative and Deputy Chair, Medical Advisory Committee, Port Macquarie Private Hospital
- Member, GESA Rural and Remote Special Interest Group
- Member, Australian and New Zealand Endoscopy Leaders Forum
- Primary supervisor of Gastroenterology Advanced Trainees at Port Macquarie
- Winner, Wiley Blackwell Publishing Award for Clinical Excellence in Adult Medicine (RACP, 2012)
Selected Publications
View full publication list on ResearchGate →