About Frenchs Forest Doctors

Dr Sharmila Raju

MBBS, DCH, FRACGP

General Practicioner

Dr Sharmila Raju obtained her fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practice and completed a Diploma in Child Health whilst working in Peadiatrics at Redland Hospital in Queensland. After completing 5 years in General Practice in Brisbane, she has returned home to join the Family Practice.

Areas of Interest

• Women and Children's health
• Mental health
• Contraception
• Chronic disease management
• Antenatal shared care
• Implanon insertion & removal
• Paediatrics
• ADHD and can prescribe medications in collaboration with the treating specialist

In her spare time she enjoys running, and yoga.

Dr Tatiana Levina

MBBS, FRACGP

General Practicioner

Dr Levina speaks Ukrainian, and Russian, as well as English.

She is an experienced female GP who has been practicing in Sydney for over 10 years. Dr Levina has a background in Emergency Medicine and has a special interest in paediatrics, sexual health and mental health. Dr Levina is available Monday and Wednesday.

Areas of Interest

• Women and Children's health
• Contraception
• Antenatal shared care
• Chronic disease management
• Implanon insertion
• Paediatrics
• ADHD and can prescribe medications in collaboration with the treating specialist
• Pap Smears
• Iron Infusions
• Travel Vaccines including Yellow Fever

In her spare time she enjoys yoga, rock climbing, dog training, and dog agility and sports.

Dr David Loke

MBBS, FRACGP

General Practitioner

Dr Loke speaks Cantonese, Malay, and Indonesian, as well as English.

Dr David Loke has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. He graduated from Melbourne University in Victoria in 1996. He worked as a medical officer in the hospital including stints in emergency medicine. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2002. He and his family have been living in the North Shore in Sydney since 2007.

Dr Loke has been in general practice for over 20 years accruing a wealth of experience in general practice.

Dr Loke has a special interest in mental health including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder. He has interest in acceptance and commitment therapy to mindfulness. He also has experience managing chronic disease management in areas of diabetes, asthma, stroke, cardiac disease and others. He believes in preventative medicine and the need to be thorough in managing complex clients.

After working in general practice and having done stints in emergency, he is experienced in treating pediatric patients especially when they present with acute illness. He has two school aged children and is active in church, and does his share of driving children to their different activities.

Areas of Interest

• Men's health
• Mental health
• Chronic disease management
• Paediatrics
• Preventative health
• Obesity

In his spare time he enjoys going to the gym, and rowing.

Dr Nihal Pathirana

DFM, MBBS, FRACGP

Skin Cancer Doctor

Dr Nihal Pathirana obtained his MBBS in Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia in 2007 as a General Practitioner and Visiting Medical Officer in the rural town of Coonamble NSW.

He successfully completed and obtained his FRACGP in 2008 and was recognized as a specialist GP. After 4 years in Coonamble he went to Canberra in 2011 and in 2012 settled in Taree NSW.

Having observed the high prevalence of skin cancers in Australia, he applied his knowledge and experience of surgical procedures on skin cancer patients. He became a Member of Skin Cancer College of Australia in 2008 and undertook further extensive training in skin cancer diagnosis using modern technology and treatment.

Dr Nihal Parthirana completed all the requirements of the College and was granted Diploma in Skin Cancer medicine in 2011. In 2015, the SCCA recognized Dr Nihal Pathirana as an Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor.

To date, he has detected and managed thousands of skin cancers including more than 400 melanoma patients.

Areas of Interest

• Skin cancer Checks

Gaye Thompson

Registered Nurse

Gaye brings with her 35 years of nursing experience. Her nursing career started at Mona Vale District Hospital. Since that time she has specialised in many different areas including - acute surgical & orthopedics, Primary Health, Maternal/Child Health & Aged Care. She has also nursed overseas.

She is available on Mondays on Tuesdays for immunisations, Health Assessments, Preventative Health Planning, Wound Management.

Areas of Interest

• Aged care
• Child health
• Womens health
• Wound care
• Health assessments

Jan Hercules Venter

Clinical Psychologist

JH Venter is a Clinical Psychologist with experience working in the UK and Australia. He has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness and Systemic family work. He worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the United Kingdom before resettling in Australia where he held the Lead role for a team of Psychologists at the University of New South Wales, Psychology and Wellness.

He is particularly interest in the following: Adult mental health Anxiety disorders (PTSD, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety and Phobias) Low mood and depression Grief and Bereavement Workplace stress, burnout and resilience Board Approved Supervisor.

Areas of Interest

• Adult mental health
• Anxiety disorders
• Low mood and depression
• Grief and Bereavement
• Workplace Stress, burnout

Errol Madder

Hypnotherapist

Errol , Clinical Hypnotherapist has discovered his goal in life is to help people realise their own potential and live free of limiting beliefs. Errol is motivated and driven to helping people work through what is holding them back. Empowering people to enjoy living life the way they choose to and to facilitate healing within.

Errol has training across many different modalities including Hypnotherapy, Gestalt Psychotherapy, Counselling, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Family constellations. Due to these expansive studies Errol has a unique knowledge across many therapeutic modalities leaving him skilled and confident in working with people across a wide range of areas. Errol is continuously studying, upskilling and learning new techniques for the benefit of his clients.

Errol is fully accredited with the Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA), Also a member of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists (ASCH) and the Hypnotherapy Council of Australia (HCA). Errol holds qualifications in Hypnotic Sciences (HTA), Diploma in Hypnotic Sciences majoring in Gestalt Psychotherapy and Counselling (HTA), Certificate in Master class of Quit Smoking (AHC).

You do not need a referral to book an appointment. Please note there is no medicare rebate available for this service. $145/hr and Quit smoking session $450. All sessions are for 1 hour, however a 2 hour session is required for smoking cessation so please book 2 consecutive sessions for this.

Areas of Interest

• Smoking Cessation

Charmaine Skea

Psychologist

Charmaine is registered clinical psychologist with over 20 years experience in Mental Health. Charmaine's knowledge and experience range from working with children and young people, adults and families. She has also gained valuable experience and training working in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Child and adolescent mental health and adult mental health in both the private and public psychiatric hospitals.

She's a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the College of Clinical Psychologists and is registered with the Psychological Board of Australia. She is an accredited dialectical behaviour therapist and has extensive training in acceptance and commitment therapy. She also has the special interest in couples and relationship therapy and has undertaken intensive training to further enhancer skills. Charmaine is registered to provide psychological assessment and therapy for workers compensation.

**GP referral required

Areas of Interest

• Deliberate self-harm
• Anxiety and depression
• Stress and worry
• Behavioral and adjustment difficulties
• Relapse prevention (mental illness and addiction)
• Difficulties with the emotional regulation
• Relationship difficulties
• Eating disorders
• Trauma
• Workers compensation

Ali de Vos

Chiropractor

Ali has been practicing since 2008 in Neutral Bay and Cremorne. She has a wide patient base which includes athletes, families and the elderly. She utilises traditional Chiropractic techniques but also incorporates gentler techniques, rehabilitation, nutritional and training advice where necessary. Ali works with a wide variety of practitioners and likes to tailor treatment to the individual and work alongside other practitioners to achieve the best outcomes. Her history as a rowing coxswain and coach has given her a particular passion for treating athletes and injury prevention and performance enhancement. She also has two little girls and enjoys treating families. She incorporates several gentle techniques to treat children and women throughout their pregnancy.

Fees: $120 for a new patient (45 mins) and $80 (30 mins) thereafter. GP Management plans welcome. Private Health fund claim available

Areas of Interest

• Applied Kinesiology
• Sports Chiro and taping techniques
• Retained Neonatal reflexes
• Massage and Soft tissue work

Nicole Quirk

Podiatrist

Our resident podiatrist delivers excellent foot care and medical assessments of the lower limb. Available on Friday afternoons, Nicole is experienced in all areas of podiatry including diabetic foot care, wound management, ingrowing nails and fungal infections. Custom Made and Prefabricated Orthotics and Children's Gait and Foot Posture Assessments available.

Care Plans (EPC) are accepted, but will incur a gap payment.

Areas of Interest

• Diabetic Foot Care
• Ingrowing toenails
• Fungal infectionss
• Wound management
• Children's Gait
• Orthotics

Emma

Registered Nurse

Emma has been a Registered Nurse for over 20 years. She has specialised in the area of Trauma and Orthopaedic Nursing within the Public Hospital environment and has now moved into Primary Health.

She has a passion for child and family health, acute and chronic wounds and immunisations.

Emma is an Authorised Nurse Immuniser

She is available in clinic on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Areas of Interest

• Immunisation
• Wound Management
• Health assessments
• Spirometry
• ECG