Associate Professor Philip Hayward is a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Mulgrave Private Hospital with extensive experience. Studying medicine at Oxford University, he trained in heart and lung surgery in London and came to Melbourne as a visiting fellow before commencing his consultant career in the UK. Following retirement of a professor in Melbourne, he returned to the Austin Hospital in 2008.

Now consulting and operating at Mulgrave Private Hospital, he also retains a strong interest and active involvement in both surgical practice and research, teaching at the University of Melbourne.

Associate Professor Hayward has over 10 years experience in complex coronary artery bypass surgery performed in both traditional and modern techniques, and a growing practice in minimally invasive techniques for valve replacement or coronary bypass. He also has an interest in safer surgery in the very elderly. He performs the full spectrum of adult cardiothoracic surgery with patients offered a selection of 1 public and 6 private hospitals.

Associate Professor Hayward is one of the first Australian surgeons to adopt a hybrid approach to multiple bypass surgery combining MIDCAB (minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass) surgery with stenting, as opposed to open heart surgery. This hybrid technique, sees suitable patients experience a significantly faster recovery time, avoiding the enormity of the procedure of open heart surgery. Patients are generally able to return back to work or usual activities within two weeks as opposed to traditional methods where recovery can take up to three months.