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. Greg is one of few interventional cardiologists who can also implant pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators for patients with rhythm problems or heart failure.

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.

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.

Vikki is a critical-care (ICU and Coronary care) trained nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, who joined our practice towards the end of 2003.  She met and worked with Greg Szto and other Mornington Peninsula cardiologists in a local Cath lab whilst performing a cardiac technician role.

She has had vast experience in the ICU, Coronary care and cath lab areas over the years. This experience was shared in her clinical educator role through Monash University and in the training of nurses during their Bachelor of Nursing degree.

There are not many clinical or administrative activities at Peninsula Heart Centre that do not involve Vikki.

She oversees the triage of referrals to ensure patients are seen in the appropriate time frame and ensures that tests the doctors deem necessary prior to consultation are performed, allowing for streamlined and thorough consultations. 

She begins the cardiac assessments, facilitates information gathering and formulation of patient management plans during the consultation. Patient education and discussion begins at this time.

ECG Stress testing, BP monitor and Holter rhythm analysis along with remote Pacemaker monitoring and management fall within her realm of practice and experience.

She is adept at assisting at specialised echo studies with bubble or Definity contrast in the diagnosis of PFO or thrombus.

She communicates with patients and doctors and acts as a resource in the doctors’ absence. 

She has been instrumental in the introduction of new procedures and in the development of the Structural Heart programs (LAAO and TAVI) within Peninsula Private Hospital. She is the first contact for clinical specialists, patients and their family throughout this procedural process. 

Vikki has the important role of Research Co-ordinator of the various clinical research and trials that have been conducted in our practice since 2005.

With Greg Szto as principal investigator, Vikki has had the opportunity to work in over 20 multi-national clinical trials ranging from first-in-man device trials to Phase 3 drug trials. She manages the Human Research and Ethics applications & responsibilities, coordinates patient visits, examinations, CASA-certified shipping of Biologic samples as well as completes all data entry. 

Her familiarity with introducing new products (approved and unapproved) has her dealing with organisations such as TGA on a regular basis. This allows our doctors the ability to offer further treatment options to their patients that may not be routinely available. She has established an Authorised Prescriber status for Dr. Szto in the treatment of bifurcation lesions with drug coated balloons and bifurcation stents.

Vikki is well-known to many doctors who have worked with her over the past 30 years and is a familiar face to our patients offering reassurance and continuity of care.

In her spare time, she enjoys a casual round of golf and spending time with her 4 adult children and grand-daughter Bonnie