Professor William van Gaal is the Director of Cardiology at Northern Health. He is also the Executive Divisional Director of Emergency Services at Northern Health which incorporates the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Cardiology Department.

He is a dual trained Interventional Cardiologist and Nuclear Physician. His main interest is treating chest pain and coronary artery disease (blockages of the heart arteries). He has recently served as the President of the Victorian Division of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Professor van Gaal graduated from the University of Melbourne (MBBS) in 1995. After achieving fellowship (FRACP) in nuclear medicine and cardiology, he moved to the United Kingdom in 2004 where he undertook a 4 year Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology (stenting blocked arteries) at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

During his time in Oxford he performed over 1000 interventional procedures including advanced techniques in complex coronary disease. He undertook his own randomised controlled trial examining the use of stents to replace the need for cardiac bypass surgery. During his time in Oxford Professor van Gaal completed a three year Masters in Evidence Based Medicine at the University of Oxford (MSc).

In late 2007 he returned to Australia to commence the Cardiology unit at Northern Health, where he commenced the interventional cardiology program - which now supports the northern community with 24/7 access to emergency cardiology procedures. Shortly after returning to Australia he completed his 3 year Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Melbourne examining the mechanisms and prevention of heart injury during heart procedures. He subsequently gained Fellowship to the Australian Cardiac Society (FCSANZ) and subsequently the European Society of Cardiology for his efforts in research and leadership in the cardiology community (FESC).

Professor Van Gaal is very widely published in the international literature with over 100 manuscripts in peer reviewed journals on the topics of heart disease, interventional procedures and techniques, and the mechanisms and prevention of heart injury during heart surgery and heart procedures. He has been principal investigator on over 30 international trials including first-inhuman trials, and recruited the first patient worldwide into a trial of a novel liquid device to prevent heart failure following heart attacks which achieved international acclaim.

His research interests include minimally invasive heart procedures that can replace the need for cardiac bypass surgery, cholesterol lowering agents including intravenous therapy to raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol), novel blood thinners for patients with heart disease, as well as new treatments for people with diabetes and heart disease. Professor van Gaal was the Australian lead cardiologist for a study in patients with stents who need blood thinners and has presented these findings at a national and interventional level. He leads the quality unit for Emergency Services at Northern Health and has a keen interest in researching new models of care to minimise the risk of harm to patients admitted to hospital with heart disease.

Professor van Gaal has served on the Victorian Cardiac Clinical Network Leadership committee. He was secretary of the Victorian Cardiac Society for three years before serving as the President of the Victorian Cardiac Society between 2016 until 2018. He currently serves on the steering committee, clinical quality committee and publishing committee of the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry. He chairs the New Technology committee and Northern Health, as well as the Quality committee and ethics committee.

Above all, Bill is known for the care and pride he takes in explaining to patients in simple terms the exact nature and cause of their condition, helping them understand the treatment options available, and offering new or innovative therapies that are available to treat their condition.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)
• Masters of Evidence Based Medicine (MSc) 2009
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) 2010
• Fellow of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (FCSANZ)
• Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC)
• Cardiovascular research
• Nuclear Medicine and coronary perfusion (blood supply to the heart muscle)

Dr Anastasia Vlachadis Castles is a consutant Cardiologist with an interest in valvular heart disease, chest pain, women’s heart health and cardiac imaging.

Anastasia previously trained and worked as a radiographer and then graduated in Medicine from Deakin University in 2013. She has also completed a Master of Health Professional Education in 2016 and a Master of Clinical Ultrasound in 2020 and then completed her cardiology specialty training early 2021, training at The Northern Hospital, University Hospital Geelong and Royal Melbourne Hospital, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

Anastasia has published and presented research both locally and internationally, on such topics as radiation exposure in coronary angiography, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, medical education and women in cardiology.

She is also a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Melbourne Medical School and instructs Advanced Life Support courses for clinicians.

Dr Castles is proud to be serving as a cardiologist in the local community where she grew up. She believes in approaching patients’ problems holistically and partnering with patients to manage their individual healthcare needs.

Qualifications
• Diploma in Languages (Advanced Modern Greek Studies)
• Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging (Honours)
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
• Master of Health Professional Education
• Master of Clinical Ultrasound
• Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Dr Zakariyya completed his early medical training in the UK and received membership with the Royal College of Physicians in 2007. He then moved to Australia and completed his physician training in Queensland and Cardiology training in Melbourne. Following this, Dr Zakariyya underwent advanced interventional and structural heart disease training including TAVI at Waikato Hospital in New Zealand. Dr Zakariyya is trained in transthoracic echo, contrast echo, stress echo and cardiac CT.

Dr Zakariyya has performed extensive humanitarian work as an interventional cardiologist.

His earlier appointments include working with NHS at Gloucestershire Hospital, UK, as a consultant interventional cardiologist providing coronary intervention and cardiac CT services.

Dr Zakariyya is well published and has presented research findings at various national and international conferences.