The director of cardiology at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital is recovering from surgery after being stabbed in a violent home invasion last week.

Police say Dr James Leitch was in Armidale, NSW, about 10pm on Sunday 25 June when four men allegedly broke into his home and confronted him in the hallway.

The 67-year-old was stabbed once in the back, before the group stole a number of his personal items and fled the scene.

Detective Inspector Kingsley Chapman from New England Police said a strike force had been established to investigate the incident.

“We believe he sustained a single stab wound to his back and that has caused significant injury, requiring surgical intervention at Armidale Hospital,” he said.

“They took two mobile phones, a wallet and a set of car keys.”

Dr James Leitch. Source: Hunter Heart

After undergoing emergency surgery on Sunday night, Dr Leitch was transferred to John Hunter Hospital last Monday in a stable condition.

A clinical associate professor at the University of Newcastle, Dr Leitch has written more than 81 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, including as first author of the 2022 CSANZ position statement on the follow-up of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.

In addition, he has worked as volunteer proctor for cardiac procedures in New Zealand, India, Vietnam and Myanmar, according to his professional biography at Hunter Heart.

He practices at John Hunter Hospital and at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital in Newcastle.

Local NBN News reported the house where he was attacked belonged to his late mother, Rosemary Leitch, who died in 2022 and had been the first female mayor of Armidale.