He is Head of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service within the Department of Gastroenterology at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Research Lead at the Basil Hetzel Institute, and Clinical Professor at the University of Adelaide. He is also the former Chair of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia IBD Faculty (2023-2025) and former Chair of the Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound (2021-2023).

Rob graduated from the University of Adelaide School of Medicine in 2005. He undertook his gastroenterology training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2013.

He then worked as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, United Kingdom, specialising in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Whilst in Oxford, Rob completed his thesis exploring genetic factors and mucosal immunology in ulcerative colitis, and was awarded a Masters of Science by Research (MScR) from the University of Oxford in 2015.

Rob holds a staff specialist position at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he is Clinical Lead of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service within the Department of Gastroenterology. He remains actively involved in research and was awarded a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis excellence for his PhD on in treatment targets in IBD, which he completed at The University of Adelaide in 2018.

He has published multiple papers in peer-reviewed international journals and has been an invited speaker at both national and international conferences. He is passionate about education and is a Professor at the University of Adelaide.

Rob founded the intestinal ultrasound service at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and coordinates a clinical and translational research program exploring therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome in IBD, both through diet and faecal microbial transplantation. He has been awarded the Michell McGrath Fellowship from The Hospital Research Foundation to pursue microbial manipulation in IBD.

As a proud Ambassador for the Jodi Lee Bowel Cancer Foundation, Rob is committed to raising awareness of bowel cancer prevention and early detection.

Rob is passionate about supporting initiatives that encourage prevention, awareness and early detection.

Rob is also taking his commitment beyond the clinic. Together with fellow gastroenterologist Dr Sam Costello, he will swim 20 kilometres as a duo in the iconic Geo Bay Swim in Western Australia. The challenging event begins in Dunsborough and follows a course through Geographe Bay towards the Busselton Jetty. To prepare, the pair have spent the winter months training in the waters around Adelaide.

The cause is deeply personal for both Rob and Sam. Early onset bowel cancer touched them closely when their friend and respected anaesthetist, Rick Champion, was diagnosed in his late 30s. His diagnosis was both shocking and devastating. Every year, Rob, Sam and their wider group of friends come together to celebrate and commemorate Rick’s life, achievements and lasting impact.

“I am delighted to become a Jodi Lee Foundation Ambassador! In my role as a gastroenterologist, I have seen first-hand the high rates of bowel cancer in Australia, particularly early onset bowel cancer. I am proud to support their mission to prevent bowel cancer and save lives through prevention and early detection.”