WeSearch

To save lives, this doctor is defying the orthodoxy

Nick Galvin· ·9 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 2 views
#cardiology#heart health#preventive medicine#screening#lifestyle
To save lives, this doctor is defying the orthodoxy
⚡ TL;DR · AI summary

Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Fenton, drawing on over 40 years of experience and personal family history, is challenging conventional heart disease screening methods in Australia. He argues that standard risk calculators are outdated and fail to account for key individual factors like family history and inflammation. In his book *The 5CH Lifestyle*, he advocates for broader preventive screening, including Coronary Artery Calcium tests, to identify at-risk patients earlier. Fenton emphasizes lifestyle changes and a more personalized approach to prevent heart attacks before they occur.

Key facts
Original article
The Sydney Morning Herald · Nick Galvin
Read full at The Sydney Morning Herald →
Full article excerpt tap to expand

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T01:35:00Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T01:35:00Z","description":"To impress cardiologist Stephen Fenton I keep my lunch choices on the healthy side.","headline":"To save lives, this doctor is defying the orthodoxy","keywords":"Lunch with, Just in, David Wenham, Bob Carr, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Japan, World War II, Albert Einstein, Features, For subscribers","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nick Galvin","jobTitle":"Arts Editor","url":"/by/nick-galvin-hveao"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/to-save-lives-this-doctor-is-defying-the-orthodoxy-20251215-p5nnur.html","@type":"WebPage"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"1322.6666666666665","url":"https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.16445000133288157%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/57f7374821a9aac70af8fea8e498d125b29f978d","width":"744"},"isAccessibleForFree":false,"hasPart":[{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":false,"cssSelector":".paywall"}],"publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"628","url":"https://www.smh.com.au/metro-assets/assets/static/smh.png","width":"1200"},"url":"https://www.smh.com.au"},"isPartOf":{"@type":["CreativeWork","Product"],"name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","productID":"smh.com.au:webonly"}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle","name":"Lifestyle"},"position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness","name":"Health & wellness"},"position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/topic/lunch-with-1q3","name":"Lunch with"},"position":3}]}AdvertisementLifestyleHealth & wellnessLunch withTo save lives, this doctor is defying the orthodoxyNick GalvinApril 28, 2026 — 11:35amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareAAAHaving lunch with a medical specialist is potentially a nervy affair. And doubly so when that doctor is a senior cardiologist on a mission to prevent more Australians dying at an untimely age from heart attacks.So I’m already feeling a little judged as I scan the menu at Centennial Park’s Centennial Homestead opposite Dr Stephen Fenton.Chorizo is off the menu when lunching with heart-health advocate Dr Stephen Fenton.Jessica HromasFenton had settled on the venue because of its mostly heart-friendly menu, but even so I have to drag my eyes away from the bacon, hash browns and chorizo (mmm, chorizo) towards something more likely to win approval.Happily, we both land on the vegetarian nourish bowl, which it turns out is both delicious and healthy. To drink, it’s sparkling water. My days of chips, burgers and maybe a cheeky chardie or two for lunch are now history and, by the look of Fenton, who has just turned 74, were never really part of his story.AdvertisementFenton – who is possibly the least judgy doctor I’ve met – has been in the heart game for more than 40 years, witnessing a period of extraordinary advancement in cardiology. Our connection stems from my own near-fatal heart emergency last year, which, happily, was fixed by a stenting operation. Fiona Foo, the angel in a mask and gown who operated on me, studied under Fenton…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald.

Anonymous · no account needed
Share 𝕏 Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Email

Discussion

0 comments

More from The Sydney Morning Herald