About us

Dr Nipu Jayatilleke is a Breast, Endocrine and General surgeon based in central Sydney and southern Sydney, and is a VMO surgeon at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, St.Vincent’s Private, and St.George Private Hospitals.

As a specialist surgeon, Dr Jayatilleke regards the surgical procedure itself as only a very small part of being an excellent surgeon. She sees the trust her patients and their loved ones place in her, as a privilege, and she takes this responsibility very seriously. As a consequence, Dr Jayatilleke’s clinical practice is underpinned by the importance of empowering her patients, at what is often a vulnerable and challenging moment in their lives. Her ability to listen and connect with her patients, and communicate clearly and empathetically, are the non technical skills that Dr Jayatilleke prides in herself. She knows that modern cancer treatment is a multidisciplinary team approach, and having open, collaborative communication between herself, oncology teams and the patient’s General Practitioner are intrinsic to providing outstanding care.

Dr Jayatilleke completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at The University of Sydney. She graduated from Medicine with Honours, as well as the Harold John Ritchie Prize for Clinical Medicine. She completes a Master’s degree in Surgery for her work in optimising care of women with lymph node positive breast cancer, for which she was awarded the John Lowenthal Medal.

After being awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Dr Jayatilleke undertook extensive sub-specialty training in breast surgical oncology and oncoplastic surgery. Through the BreastSurgANZ postgraduate program, she spent two years of training at the high volume centres of Waikato Hospital in New Zealand, and the world renowned Breast Cancer Institute at Westmead Hospital in Australia. Dr Jayatilleke is a full member of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand, as well as General Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Jayatilleke is a dedicated surgical educator. In addition to teaching clinical surgery to students at both the University of Sydney and The University of New South Wales, she is also the Deputy Director of Surgical Skills training at RPAH, as well as Site Director for Junior Surgical Trainees at RPAH. She is on the RACS faculty for a number of courses teaching CCriSP and ASSET courses.

Dr Jayatilleke is passionate not just about women’s health, but women in leadership and diversity in medicine and surgery. Dr Jayatilleke is a strong advocate in her profession. As an active member of the RACS, RACS Women In Surgery, and the Younger Fellows section, She convened the first joint leadership forum for emerging leaders between RACS and ANZCA, is a regular panellist in NSW RACS Younger Fellows Professional Development events, and a founding member of the Expert Advisory Group of the Younger Fellows section of the NSW RACS. Dr Jayatilleke presents a dynamic voice for diversity and equity within surgery.