Experts

Healthed work with a team of general practitioners and medical professionals to ensure the highest quality education​

Dr Rebecca Moore is a GP in Newcastle with a special interest in dementia. She works as a medical educator and is involved in dementia research through the Australian Dementia Network.

Dr Lauren Priest is a Geriatrician at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and a PhD candidate at Flinders University, focusing on ageing, dementia, and translational clinical research. After completing her fellowship in geriatric medicine, she has developed an integrated clinical–academic career at SALHN. She is the Principal Investigator in the Clinical Research Unit and a Lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. As an early-career researcher, her work spans dementia prevention, post-diagnostic support and innovative therapeutic approaches for ageing populations. She collaborates nationally and has published her work, presented internationally, and secured competitive research funding. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for older adults across Australia.
Dr Marita Long is a Victorian based GP working across clinical practice, medical education and research. She has a strong interest in women’s health and cognitive health. She is a current committee member for the Australian Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a member of the WIGP RACGP committee and is the President-Elect of the Australasian Menopause Society. Marita is actively engaged in various projects related to dementia, and is the first GP appointed as an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia and a Clinical Assoc Professor for Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre.

Dr James Brown is a gynaecologist with a focus on reproductive endocrinology. Through his work at WHRIA in Sydney NSW, he sees women with menopause, PMDD, PCOS and any other gynaecological condition. He also assists couples with infertility through Genea. Dr Brown holds a public appointment as the medical co-lead establishing the South-West Sydney Specialist Menopause Service, Australia’s first 100% virtual public menopause hub. He also researches and teaches through Western Sydney University, and is completing a PhD in Health Economics with the University of Technology Sydney.
Dr Jonathan Chan graduated from the University of Western Australia. He underwent training at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital including laboratory work investigating the role of skin immunity in the generation of tumour responses. He obtained the Fellowship of the Australasian College of Dermatologists in 2003.
He is a consultant dermatologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and also consults at Karrinyup Dermatology. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia and a Supervisor of Training of the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
His interests include all areas of general dermatology particularly psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and skin cancer management. His research interests are in the pedagogy of medicine and emerging therapeutics of skin disease.
Dr Jacob Ooi is an adult gastroenterologist who manages all gastroenterological and hepatological conditions. He has a wide area of interests including general gastroenterology as well as chronic liver disease management. He is a CCTRGE certified endoscopist who provides high quality endoscopic procedures (Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy) for his patients. He is a member of Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Gastroenterological Society of Australia.

Dr Ooi completed his Bachelors of Neuroscience with Honours at University of Western Australia before undertaking a post graduate medical degree at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. He completed his physician training with research fellowship in liver transplant medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as well as a clinical liver fellowship at The Royal Adelaide Hospital. He is a very approachable and experienced clinician who is commited to delivering comprehensive patient focused care.

Dr Ooi previously worked as a Gastroenterologist at Royal Perth Hospital and currently consults publicly at St John of God Midland Public Hospital. His consults privately at Riverview Endoscopy in Nedlands well as Midland Medical Specialists. He receives referrals for direct access endoscopy including colorectal screening.

Dr Wenjie Zhong is a Consultant Urologist and Robotic Urological Surgeon based in Sydney, Australia. Australian-trained, he was awarded the prestigious robotic surgeon certification through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. He also completed an advanced fellowship in uro-oncology at a high-volume centre within the North Bristol Trust in the UK, affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Dr Zhong has comprehensive expertise across general urology and uro-oncology and is an authorised prescriber of the Uromune vaccine for recurrent urinary tract infections. His clinical interests include the management of kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms and haematuria. He performs laser stone surgery and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Dr Zhong treats prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers, with particular expertise in male urethral reconstruction and continence procedures. He also manages erectile dysfunction and performs penile prosthesis insertion.

Dr Zhong has a strong research background, having authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences. His academic interests focus on advancing evidence-based practice in urology, particularly through high-quality clinical trial design.

Dr Luca Pomare is the principal dentist at Pomare Dental Group, where his practice is now focused exclusively on orthodontic treatments, including braces and Invisalign, as well as early intervention orthodontics with a strong emphasis on airway health.

His passion for early orthodontic intervention and airway focused care led to the founding of the MyoGrowth Academy, where he is dedicated to advancing education and outcomes in growth guided orthodontics. Dr Luca has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Orthodontics and has a special interest in clear aligner therapy, helping both children and adults achieve healthy, functional and confident smiles.

Dr Luca is a member of the Australian Dental Association, Australian Clear Aligner Society, and the International Team for Implantology. He has also volunteered his time providing dental care in rural Cambodia, supporting improved oral health in disadvantaged communities.

Dr Coleshill has a research background is in health psychology, specifically the placebo effect, treatment adherence, and the evaluation of digital health interventions. His research at the Black Dog Institute has focused on evaluating a blended care mental health support service for health professionals – The Essential Network (TEN).

Beyond this, Dr Coleshill is interested in interventions to support people experiencing burnout, interventions to reduce the experience of side effects from medications or improve medication adherence, as well as research into factors affecting patient outcomes.

Dr Katherine Petrie is a UNSW Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, currently working within the Workplace Mental Health Team. Dr Petrie has twelve years’ experience in the field of mental health, suicide prevention and digital mental health research at UNSW. During this time, Dr Petrie has worked on a range of projects at a coronial, epidemiological and clinical level, including projects prioritising lived experience. She was conferred her PhD in 2024 for her thesis investigating mental disorder and suicidality among Australian doctors using large national datasets.

Dr Petrie has extensive experience in the application of both quantitative and qualitative methods to suicide prevention, workplace mental health, and intervention development and evaluation. Her primary research interest is in understanding and addressing the risk and protective factors for mental ill-health and suicidality, particularly in high-risk workforces and vulnerable populations, and the translation of this evidence into practice. A particular interest and area of expertise is exploring and addressing mental illness and suicidality among frontline workforces, particularly healthcare professionals.

Her career objective centres around knowledge generation and translation into policy and practice to prevent mental disorder and suicidality among the general population as well as the working population, in particular at-risk occupations and vulnerable groups.

Anna Lucas (DNP, NP) is a doctorally-prepared Dermatology Nurse Practitioner with more than 15 years of experience spanning advanced dermatology, skin cancer medicine, oncodermatology and women’s health. She trained and practised at leading US institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she authored the centre’s first hospital-wide clinical standard of care for radiation dermatitis prevention, and has contributed to the field internationally through peer-reviewed publications, clinical practice guidelines and elected professional leadership. Now endorsed and practising autonomously across Australia under AHPRA, Anna focuses on expanding access to evidence-based dermatological and women’s health care, and on translating specialist knowledge into practical guidance for primary care. She has a particular interest in the dermatology of the menopause transition and in improving recognition of menopausal skin, hair and vulvovaginal changes as important contributors to women’s health and quality of life.
Jenna brings 17 years of experience working with children on the Autism Spectrum and 12 years of Speech Pathology specific experience into her consultancy and practice. Her life work to date has been focused on working with a diverse range of children and adolescence who have Speech, Language and Social Communication needs. She embarked on her journey as a behavioural therapist and then as a Speech Pathologist in both a public and private setting, locally and interstate.

She completed her Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) and Masters of Speech Pathology at Flinders University. She began working as an Applied Behavioural/Verbal Therapist during her studies and continued to use her knowledge, applying principals to her work as a Speech Pathologist. She has worked within the diagnostic team at Lyell McEwin Hospital, as a senior therapist and Clinic Manager at the Flinders Early Intervention Research Program as well as an independent contractor in the private practice realm. She has also written, coordinated and presented conferences/workshops across South Australia, for Flinders University, in Darwin, regional New South Wales and in Mildura with the aim to train professionals, students and caregivers in behavioural strategies and communication supports. Jenna is one of two authors who wrote the published book: “Managing Meltdowns and Tantrums on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent and Caregiver’s Guide.” She is recognised by The Autism Association of SA as able to provide diagnostic services for children, adolescents and adults suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Whether it be while she is conducting diagnostic assessments or during the implementation of therapy sessions, Jenna operates from the heart, she advocates for and guides her little people fiercely. She prides herself on providing families with honest, open and crystal-clear communication.

Her goal is to provide families with diagnostic clarity, a clear pathway forward, intervention plans that are sound and backed by quality evidence all the while considering family units as just that, families not numbers.

Dr Marita Long is a Victorian based GP working across clinical practice, medical education and research. She has a strong interest in women’s health and cognitive health. She is a current committee member for the Australian Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a member of the WIGP RACGP committee and is the President-Elect of the Australasian Menopause Society. Marita is actively engaged in various projects related to dementia, and is the first GP appointed as an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia and a Clinical Assoc Professor for Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre.

Dr Lauren Priest is a Geriatrician at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and a PhD candidate at Flinders University, focusing on ageing, dementia, and translational clinical research. After completing her fellowship in geriatric medicine, she has developed an integrated clinical–academic career at SALHN. She is the Principal Investigator in the Clinical Research Unit and a Lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. As an early-career researcher, her work spans dementia prevention, post-diagnostic support and innovative therapeutic approaches for ageing populations. She collaborates nationally and has published her work, presented internationally, and secured competitive research funding. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for older adults across Australia.

Prof Pravin Hissaria is the head of unit of Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Immunopathologist at SA Pathology and Clinical Professor in the Adelaide University Department of Medicine. He was the Chair of the South Australian Immunoglobulin Therapeutics Advisory committee from 2010-2024. He was the Medical Director of COVID vaccination program in SA. He is a member of several national councils, working groups and advisory committees, including the past member of Council of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), the Royal College of Pathologists Australia Immunopathology Advisory committee and the ASCIA Drug allergy working party. Prof Hissaria’s main interests in allergic diseases focuses on use of basophil Activation Test as a biomarker to bridge the gap between sensitisation and clinical allergy. He has published extensively in fields of Insect Venom, Drug and Food allergies and currently holds a NHMRC grant for looking at a novel genetic marker explaining Mast Cell activation. He is a current member of the National Centre of Allergy excellence (NACE) in Australia in streams of venom and drug allergies. Prof Hissaria has received peer-reviewed grants and authored 108 publications. He has given invited lectures at local and international conferences. He is also a chief investigator in multiple Investigator initiated and industry sponsored clinical trials of novel therapeutics in Allergic diseases.
Dr Rebecca Moore is a GP in Newcastle with a special interest in dementia. She works as a medical educator and is involved in dementia research through the Australian Dementia Network.

Dr Lauren Priest is a Geriatrician at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and a PhD candidate at Flinders University, focusing on ageing, dementia, and translational clinical research. After completing her fellowship in geriatric medicine, she has developed an integrated clinical–academic career at SALHN. She is the Principal Investigator in the Clinical Research Unit and a Lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. As an early-career researcher, her work spans dementia prevention, post-diagnostic support and innovative therapeutic approaches for ageing populations. She collaborates nationally and has published her work, presented internationally, and secured competitive research funding. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for older adults across Australia.
Dr Marita Long is a Victorian based GP working across clinical practice, medical education and research. She has a strong interest in women’s health and cognitive health. She is a current committee member for the Australian Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a member of the WIGP RACGP committee and is the President-Elect of the Australasian Menopause Society. Marita is actively engaged in various projects related to dementia, and is the first GP appointed as an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia and a Clinical Assoc Professor for Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre.

Dr James Brown is a gynaecologist with a focus on reproductive endocrinology. Through his work at WHRIA in Sydney NSW, he sees women with menopause, PMDD, PCOS and any other gynaecological condition. He also assists couples with infertility through Genea. Dr Brown holds a public appointment as the medical co-lead establishing the South-West Sydney Specialist Menopause Service, Australia’s first 100% virtual public menopause hub. He also researches and teaches through Western Sydney University, and is completing a PhD in Health Economics with the University of Technology Sydney.
Dr Jonathan Chan graduated from the University of Western Australia. He underwent training at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital including laboratory work investigating the role of skin immunity in the generation of tumour responses. He obtained the Fellowship of the Australasian College of Dermatologists in 2003.
He is a consultant dermatologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and also consults at Karrinyup Dermatology. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia and a Supervisor of Training of the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
His interests include all areas of general dermatology particularly psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and skin cancer management. His research interests are in the pedagogy of medicine and emerging therapeutics of skin disease.
Dr Jacob Ooi is an adult gastroenterologist who manages all gastroenterological and hepatological conditions. He has a wide area of interests including general gastroenterology as well as chronic liver disease management. He is a CCTRGE certified endoscopist who provides high quality endoscopic procedures (Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy) for his patients. He is a member of Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Gastroenterological Society of Australia.

Dr Ooi completed his Bachelors of Neuroscience with Honours at University of Western Australia before undertaking a post graduate medical degree at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. He completed his physician training with research fellowship in liver transplant medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as well as a clinical liver fellowship at The Royal Adelaide Hospital. He is a very approachable and experienced clinician who is commited to delivering comprehensive patient focused care.

Dr Ooi previously worked as a Gastroenterologist at Royal Perth Hospital and currently consults publicly at St John of God Midland Public Hospital. His consults privately at Riverview Endoscopy in Nedlands well as Midland Medical Specialists. He receives referrals for direct access endoscopy including colorectal screening.

Dr Wenjie Zhong is a Consultant Urologist and Robotic Urological Surgeon based in Sydney, Australia. Australian-trained, he was awarded the prestigious robotic surgeon certification through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. He also completed an advanced fellowship in uro-oncology at a high-volume centre within the North Bristol Trust in the UK, affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Dr Zhong has comprehensive expertise across general urology and uro-oncology and is an authorised prescriber of the Uromune vaccine for recurrent urinary tract infections. His clinical interests include the management of kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms and haematuria. He performs laser stone surgery and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Dr Zhong treats prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers, with particular expertise in male urethral reconstruction and continence procedures. He also manages erectile dysfunction and performs penile prosthesis insertion.

Dr Zhong has a strong research background, having authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences. His academic interests focus on advancing evidence-based practice in urology, particularly through high-quality clinical trial design.

Dr Luca Pomare is the principal dentist at Pomare Dental Group, where his practice is now focused exclusively on orthodontic treatments, including braces and Invisalign, as well as early intervention orthodontics with a strong emphasis on airway health.

His passion for early orthodontic intervention and airway focused care led to the founding of the MyoGrowth Academy, where he is dedicated to advancing education and outcomes in growth guided orthodontics. Dr Luca has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Orthodontics and has a special interest in clear aligner therapy, helping both children and adults achieve healthy, functional and confident smiles.

Dr Luca is a member of the Australian Dental Association, Australian Clear Aligner Society, and the International Team for Implantology. He has also volunteered his time providing dental care in rural Cambodia, supporting improved oral health in disadvantaged communities.

Dr Coleshill has a research background is in health psychology, specifically the placebo effect, treatment adherence, and the evaluation of digital health interventions. His research at the Black Dog Institute has focused on evaluating a blended care mental health support service for health professionals – The Essential Network (TEN).

Beyond this, Dr Coleshill is interested in interventions to support people experiencing burnout, interventions to reduce the experience of side effects from medications or improve medication adherence, as well as research into factors affecting patient outcomes.

Dr Katherine Petrie is a UNSW Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Black Dog Institute, currently working within the Workplace Mental Health Team. Dr Petrie has twelve years’ experience in the field of mental health, suicide prevention and digital mental health research at UNSW. During this time, Dr Petrie has worked on a range of projects at a coronial, epidemiological and clinical level, including projects prioritising lived experience. She was conferred her PhD in 2024 for her thesis investigating mental disorder and suicidality among Australian doctors using large national datasets.

Dr Petrie has extensive experience in the application of both quantitative and qualitative methods to suicide prevention, workplace mental health, and intervention development and evaluation. Her primary research interest is in understanding and addressing the risk and protective factors for mental ill-health and suicidality, particularly in high-risk workforces and vulnerable populations, and the translation of this evidence into practice. A particular interest and area of expertise is exploring and addressing mental illness and suicidality among frontline workforces, particularly healthcare professionals.

Her career objective centres around knowledge generation and translation into policy and practice to prevent mental disorder and suicidality among the general population as well as the working population, in particular at-risk occupations and vulnerable groups.

Anna Lucas (DNP, NP) is a doctorally-prepared Dermatology Nurse Practitioner with more than 15 years of experience spanning advanced dermatology, skin cancer medicine, oncodermatology and women’s health. She trained and practised at leading US institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she authored the centre’s first hospital-wide clinical standard of care for radiation dermatitis prevention, and has contributed to the field internationally through peer-reviewed publications, clinical practice guidelines and elected professional leadership. Now endorsed and practising autonomously across Australia under AHPRA, Anna focuses on expanding access to evidence-based dermatological and women’s health care, and on translating specialist knowledge into practical guidance for primary care. She has a particular interest in the dermatology of the menopause transition and in improving recognition of menopausal skin, hair and vulvovaginal changes as important contributors to women’s health and quality of life.
Jenna brings 17 years of experience working with children on the Autism Spectrum and 12 years of Speech Pathology specific experience into her consultancy and practice. Her life work to date has been focused on working with a diverse range of children and adolescence who have Speech, Language and Social Communication needs. She embarked on her journey as a behavioural therapist and then as a Speech Pathologist in both a public and private setting, locally and interstate.

She completed her Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) and Masters of Speech Pathology at Flinders University. She began working as an Applied Behavioural/Verbal Therapist during her studies and continued to use her knowledge, applying principals to her work as a Speech Pathologist. She has worked within the diagnostic team at Lyell McEwin Hospital, as a senior therapist and Clinic Manager at the Flinders Early Intervention Research Program as well as an independent contractor in the private practice realm. She has also written, coordinated and presented conferences/workshops across South Australia, for Flinders University, in Darwin, regional New South Wales and in Mildura with the aim to train professionals, students and caregivers in behavioural strategies and communication supports. Jenna is one of two authors who wrote the published book: “Managing Meltdowns and Tantrums on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent and Caregiver’s Guide.” She is recognised by The Autism Association of SA as able to provide diagnostic services for children, adolescents and adults suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Whether it be while she is conducting diagnostic assessments or during the implementation of therapy sessions, Jenna operates from the heart, she advocates for and guides her little people fiercely. She prides herself on providing families with honest, open and crystal-clear communication.

Her goal is to provide families with diagnostic clarity, a clear pathway forward, intervention plans that are sound and backed by quality evidence all the while considering family units as just that, families not numbers.

Dr Marita Long is a Victorian based GP working across clinical practice, medical education and research. She has a strong interest in women’s health and cognitive health. She is a current committee member for the Australian Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a member of the WIGP RACGP committee and is the President-Elect of the Australasian Menopause Society. Marita is actively engaged in various projects related to dementia, and is the first GP appointed as an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia and a Clinical Assoc Professor for Wicking Dementia Education and Research Centre.

Dr Lauren Priest is a Geriatrician at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and a PhD candidate at Flinders University, focusing on ageing, dementia, and translational clinical research. After completing her fellowship in geriatric medicine, she has developed an integrated clinical–academic career at SALHN. She is the Principal Investigator in the Clinical Research Unit and a Lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. As an early-career researcher, her work spans dementia prevention, post-diagnostic support and innovative therapeutic approaches for ageing populations. She collaborates nationally and has published her work, presented internationally, and secured competitive research funding. She remains committed to advancing evidence-based care and improving outcomes for older adults across Australia.

Prof Pravin Hissaria is the head of unit of Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Immunopathologist at SA Pathology and Clinical Professor in the Adelaide University Department of Medicine. He was the Chair of the South Australian Immunoglobulin Therapeutics Advisory committee from 2010-2024. He was the Medical Director of COVID vaccination program in SA. He is a member of several national councils, working groups and advisory committees, including the past member of Council of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), the Royal College of Pathologists Australia Immunopathology Advisory committee and the ASCIA Drug allergy working party. Prof Hissaria’s main interests in allergic diseases focuses on use of basophil Activation Test as a biomarker to bridge the gap between sensitisation and clinical allergy. He has published extensively in fields of Insect Venom, Drug and Food allergies and currently holds a NHMRC grant for looking at a novel genetic marker explaining Mast Cell activation. He is a current member of the National Centre of Allergy excellence (NACE) in Australia in streams of venom and drug allergies. Prof Hissaria has received peer-reviewed grants and authored 108 publications. He has given invited lectures at local and international conferences. He is also a chief investigator in multiple Investigator initiated and industry sponsored clinical trials of novel therapeutics in Allergic diseases.

Upcoming Healthed Webcast

Practical Strategies for Behaviour Management in Dementia

Tuesday 7th July, 7pm - 9pm AEST

Speaker

Dr Chrys Pulle

Geriatrician; Principal Investigator, Internal Medicine and Dementia Research Unit, The Prince Charles Hospital

Dr Chrys Pulle provides practical and evidence-based recommendations on how best these behavioural and psychological symptoms can be assessed and managed.