Dr. Stephen J. Nicholls, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FCSANZ, FAHMS

Stephen J. Nicholls, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FCSANZ, FAHMS, is a preventive cardiologist and atherosclerosis imaging researcher affiliated with Monash University and Monash Health in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in preventive cardiology and atherosclerosis imaging. He is appointed as Inaugural Director of the Victorian Heart Institute and the Victorian Heart Hospital and Professor of Cardiology.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Stephen Nicholls worked at the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Australia in 2012, then served as Deputy Director and inaugural Heart Health Theme Leader at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and as Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide, before moving to Monash in October 2018. He was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Cardiology is a medical specialty reached through a medical degree, internal medicine training and a cardiology fellowship, with further subspecialty training on top. Dr. Stephen Nicholls practises within preventive cardiology and atherosclerosis imaging, and the profile below sets out the qualifications and appointments behind that.

Who Dr. Stephen Nicholls Is

• Full Name And Credentials: Stephen J. Nicholls, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FCSANZ, FAHMS
• Profession: Preventive cardiologist and atherosclerosis imaging researcher
• Field Of Focus: Preventive cardiology and atherosclerosis imaging
• Current Position: Inaugural Director of the Victorian Heart Institute and the Victorian Heart Hospital and Professor of Cardiology
• Institution: Monash University and Monash Health
• Location: Melbourne, Australia
• Sees Patients: Yes, in a clinical setting
• Previous Appointments: Worked at the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Australia in 2012, then served as Deputy Director and inaugural Heart Health Theme Leader at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and as Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide, before moving to Monash in October 2018

Academic Background Of Dr. Stephen Nicholls

The qualifications below are drawn from the institutional, professional body and publisher sources listed at the end of this profile.

• Medical Degree: MBBS, University of Adelaide
• Specialty Training: Cardiology, John Hunter Hospital
• Doctorate: PhD in medical biochemistry, University of Adelaide, on the anti-inflammatory properties of high density lipoproteins in atheroprotection

Dr. Stephen Nicholls Clinical And Research Interests

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Stephen Nicholls as centred on:

• Preventive cardiology and cardiovascular risk reduction
• Atherosclerosis imaging and intravascular ultrasound
• High density lipoprotein biology and inflammation
• Severe dyslipidaemia and PCSK9 inhibitors
• Design of imaging endpoints in cardiovascular trials

Dr. Stephen Nicholls Current And Past Appointments

• Inaugural Director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University, dedicated to developing future cardiovascular health solutions
• Director and Program Director of the Victorian Heart Hospital, Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital, which opened in February 2023
• Director of MonashHeart at Monash Health, appointed in October 2018
• Professor of Cardiology at Monash University
• Past President of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Led a long series of imaging based trials of anti atherosclerotic therapies
• Editorial board member of the Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology

Dr. Stephen Nicholls Awards And Distinctions

• Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2015
• RT Hall Prize of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2018
• Eric Susman Prize of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, co-awarded, for outstanding contribution to the knowledge of internal medicine
• Has topped national rankings of cardiovascular researchers in Australia
• Author of several hundred peer reviewed articles

Dr. Stephen Nicholls Institutional Affiliation

Monash University and Monash Health

Melbourne, Australia. Clinical commitments at this institution are arranged through its own departments and services. Confirm the current address, department and telephone number with the institution before travelling, because academic appointments and clinic sites change.

Understanding Atherosclerosis Imaging And Lipid Therapy

Familial hypercholesterolaemia and other severe lipid disorders are inherited conditions in which cholesterol runs very high from birth, and untreated they can cause heart disease in early middle age. They are common enough to matter, roughly one person in 250, and still widely undiagnosed. The practical point for families is that a diagnosis in one relative should prompt testing in the others, because treatment started early changes the outlook completely while treatment started after a heart attack can only limit the damage.

Cardiologists Working Alongside Dr. Stephen Nicholls In This Field

If you are comparing specialists, these profiles cover closely related areas of cardiology:

• Dr. Steven Nissen, lipid therapy and cardiovascular trials at Cleveland Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
• Dr. Thomas Luscher, vascular biology and coronary disease at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, King’s College London and the University of Zurich
• Dr. Paul Ridker, inflammation and cardiovascular biomarkers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Dr. Salim Virani, complex dyslipidaemia at Aga Khan University, with adjunct appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute

Browse the full cardiologist directory for more heart specialists.

How To Request An Appointment With Dr. Stephen Nicholls

Dr. Stephen Nicholls is a practising preventive cardiologist who leads clinical services at Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital. Access is usually arranged through the institution, a referring doctor or its own clinic rather than through this directory. Insurance participation, fees and waiting times vary by institution and by plan, and they change over time, so check coverage with both the institution and your insurer before scheduling. Use the enquiry button on this page to ask about availability.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Stephen Nicholls

What did Dr. Stephen Nicholls study?

MBBS, University of Adelaide. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Stephen Nicholls?

Stephen J. Nicholls, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACC, FESC, FAHA, FCSANZ, FAHMS. Full credentials are listed above.

What position does Dr. Stephen Nicholls hold?

Dr. Stephen Nicholls is Inaugural Director of the Victorian Heart Institute and the Victorian Heart Hospital and Professor of Cardiology, based at Monash University and Monash Health.

What is Atherosclerosis Imaging And Lipid Therapy?

Atherosclerosis Imaging And Lipid Therapy is the area of cardiology concerned with preventive cardiology and atherosclerosis imaging. Cardiologists working in it, including Dr. Stephen Nicholls, diagnose and treat these conditions and carry out the research that sets the standard of care for them.

Has Dr. Stephen Nicholls received professional recognition?

Yes. Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2015. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Stephen Nicholls hold leadership roles in the field?

Yes. Inaugural Director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University, dedicated to developing future cardiovascular health solutions. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

References Supporting This Dr. Stephen Nicholls Profile

• Victorian Heart Institute leadership team
• Monash University news
• Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences fellow profile

Fact Checking Process For This Dr. Stephen Nicholls Profile

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including university faculty pages, professional register and society records, journal author statements and publisher biographies. Qualifications, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Update note: Worked at the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Australia in 2012, then served as Deputy Director and inaugural Heart Health Theme Leader at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and as Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide, before moving to Monash in October 2018.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

Important Disclaimer About Dr. Stephen Nicholls

Information only, not medical advice. Location, services, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with Monash University and Monash Health. Severe or sudden chest pain is a medical emergency.