Dr Greg SZTO
An internationally respected cardiologist, Dr Greg Szto is a resident of the Mornington Peninsula and is committed to the provision and development of heart care for an area that was previously reliant on Melbourne metropolitan services. Greg is Director of Cardiology at Peninsula Private Hospital, renowned for its comprehensive diagnostic, emergency and elective heart care. His consulting rooms are located in Frankston (at Peninsula Private Hospital), Mornington and Rosebud.
A first-class honours graduate of Monash University, Dr Szto undertook his internship and specialist training at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, under the leadership of Associate Professor Aubrey Pitt and Professor Garry Jennings.
Dr Szto completed advanced coronary intervention training at St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, USA, under the mentorship of the late Professor Thomas J. Linnemeir, a pioneer in coronary angioplasty. During his four-year tenure, Greg became proficient in various aspects of coronary stenting, including rotablator decalcification atherectomy, valvuloplasty, as well as peripheral arterial angiogram and renal, carotid and iliac artery stenting. He participated in many clinical trials and gave presentations at US cardiology conferences.
On his return to Melbourne in 2000, Greg initiated the coronary angioplasty service at Frankston Hospital. He went on to establish the coronary angiography and stent service at Peninsula Private Hospital in 2003. In his role as Director of Cardiology, Greg oversaw the introduction of a coronary care unit, helped facilitate the direct admission of cardiac patients to the hospital. He collaborated with local radiologists to establish the multi-slice cardiac CT scanning program in 2007. He was involved in the development of an intensive care unit and subsequently the successful introduction of open-heart coronary artery bypass and valve surgery at Peninsula Private hospital in 2012.
As an interventional cardiologist, Greg performs coronary angiograms to diagnose heart artery blockages. He can proceed directly to inserting coronary stents, if heart artery blockages are found to be severe. Greg is one of few interventional cardiologists who can also implant the range of pacemakers (single and dual chamber and Leadless pacemakers),cardiac defibrillators and Conduction system pacing for patients with rhythm problems or heart failure. His vast pacing experience is shared with his colleagues by way of proctoring.
Acknowledging the myriad of issues related to blood thinners, Greg performed his first Watchman® left atrial appendage closure in 2013. The success of this technology for patients with a history of atrial fibrillation, resulted in him becoming the highest volume implanter in Australia with a reputation as a generous and effective proctor of the technology. To reduce the need for GA and TOE in this procedure, he currently utilises Intracardiac Echo (ICE) to guide the implant of the prosthesis. Ice is an evolving yet underutilised tool to optimise visualisation of the anatomy during the procedure.
Greg led the introduction of keyhole aortic valve implantation at Peninsula Private Hospital in 2015. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is of benefit for patients considered too high-risk for open heart surgery to repair their severe aortic stenosis. He is accredited to use both valve types, Balloon or Self expandable.
2024 marked the introduction of a new therapy to treat the symptoms experienced by patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. Working alongside his colleague Mariusz Wolbinski, the first TRIC valve procedures were performed at Peninsula Private Hospital.
Dr Szto aims to provide his patients prompt evaluation and medical management, enabling timely recovery and excellent health care. He is committed to offering his patients new and exciting treatments and technologies, allowing them to benefit from constantly evolving innovation in cardiology in the research arm of the practice.
He is active in investigator-initiated and global multinational clinical research. He has recruited many participants into clinical trials which are designed to offer new treatments and drug therapies, in areas including hypertension, heart failure, high cholesterol and heart attacks.
Dr Szto also speaks Cantonese and Malay. He enjoys the kind of travel that indulges his love of photography and maximises time spent with his wife Georgia, and children Hannah and Noah.