Neurologist (Brain Specialist)
Social Profiles:
Headache evaluation
Memory assessment
Treatment for migraines
Neurological exam
Management of seizures
I’m a neurologist working out of Perth, Western Australia. My main interests are multiple sclerosis and neurophysiology – particularly EMG and nerve conduction studies. I finished medicine at the University of Western Australia in 1997 and did my neurology training at Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth Hospitals. After becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians I spent 2010 in Auckland doing a dedicated EMG fellowship, then came back to Perth and started consulting. These days I have public appointments at Fiona Stanley Hospital (where I run the weekly MS clinic), Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Nedlands, and I still do some sessions at Fremantle Hospital. Privately I see patients at Nexus Neurology in the Wexford Medical Centre at Murdoch. I look after the full range of neurological problems, but most of my week is spent on inflammatory CNS conditions – especially MS – and neurophysiology referrals. I’ve been involved with the Perron Institute’s MS research programme for a long time, helping with clinical trials and long-term follow-up studies. I’ve always believed the best results come when everyone is on the same page, so I work closely with MS nurses, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists and neuroradiologists. I still see every new patient myself and I try hard to keep continuity – the same person following someone from diagnosis through the years makes a real difference. Patients come from all over WA and sometimes further afield. Some are in the very early stages when we’re still working out what’s going on; others I’ve known for more than a decade. My approach hasn’t changed much: listen properly, explain things in plain language, and offer treatment that actually fits the person sitting in front of me. I’m happy to take referrals any time and I do my best to stay available for questions from patients and GPs alike.
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS); The University of Western Australia; 1997
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) – Neurology; Royal Australasian College of Physicians; 2011
Clinical Fellowship in Electromyography (EMG); Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand; 2010
Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in Neurology.
Present: Consultant Neurologist at Nexus Neurology (private practice in Murdoch, near Nedlands) and The Perron Institute (clinical research in Multiple Sclerosis).
Present: Subspecialty focus: Electromyography (EMG) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
2015–present: Consultant Neurologist at Fiona Stanley Hospital; runs a weekly Multiple Sclerosis clinic.
2011–present: Consultant Neurologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fremantle Hospital.
Description:Victimization in the United States is common and has long lasting negative impacts for individuals, often disproportionately impacting those of color and from low socioeconomic communities. The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) model aims to provide comprehensive mental health and wrap-around case management services for underserved victims of crime. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we sought to further our knowledge about the impact of the TRC model. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were based at three sites. Access to treatment ranged from 55.7% to 72.3%; treatment completion rates ranged from 40.4% to 43.0%. Individuals who completed mental health services showed improvement in PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, while experiencing lower rates of injury recidivism. Several studies demonstrated improvement in mental health symptoms and social needs in individuals from underserved communities. Researchers should focus on expanding and diversifying upon current knowledge to better understand the impact of the TRC model.
Description:Objectives: The primary aim of this pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster RCT was to determine the efficacy of a co-designed dementia specialist training program (the PITCH program) for home care workers (HCWs) to improve their confidence and knowledge when providing care for clients living with dementia. Methods: HCWs who provided care to clients with dementia were recruited from seven home care service provider organisations in Australia between July 2019 and May 2022, and randomised into one of 18 clusters. The primary outcome was HCW's sense of self-competence in providing care services to people living with dementia at 6 months post PITCH training measured by the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff (SCIDS) Scale. Results: Two hundred and thirteen HCWS completed baseline assessment and almost half (48.4%) completed all three study assessments. HCWs in clusters that received PITCH training had significantly higher sense of competence (measured by SCIDS) than those who had not received PITCH training. Post hoc analysis revealed that face-to-face PITCH training consistently resulted in improvements in the HCWs sense of competence, dementia attitudes and knowledge when compared to online training and when compared to no training. PITCH training had no effect on the sense of strain HCWs felt in delivering dementia care. Conclusions: Given the majority of care for people living with dementia is provided at home by family carers supported by HCWs, it is essential that HCWs receive training that improves their skills in dementia care. This study is an important step towards better care at home for people living with dementia.
Description:Background: In long-distance spaceflight, the challenges of communication delays and the impracticality of rapid evacuation necessitate the management of medical emergencies by onboard physicians. Consequently, these physicians must be proficient in tools, such as ultrasound, which has proven itself a strong diagnostic imaging tool in space. Yet, there remains a notable gap in the discourse surrounding its efficacy in handling acute medical scenarios. This scoping review aims to present an updated analysis of the evidence supporting the role of ultrasound in diagnosing acute conditions within microgravity environments. Methods: A systematic search was executed across three bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE (Embase.com), and the Web of Science Core Collection. We considered articles published up to February 25, 2023, that highlighted the application of ultrasound in diagnosing acute medical conditions in either microgravity or microgravity-simulated settings. Exclusions were made for review papers, abstracts, and in-vitro studies. Results: After removing duplicates, and filtering papers by pre-determined criteria, a total of 15 articles were identified that discuss the potential use of ultrasound in managing acute medical conditions in space. The publication date of these studies ranged from 1999 to 2020. A relatively similar proportion of these studies were conducted either on the International Space Station or in parabolic flight, with one performed in supine positioning to simulate weightlessness. The included studies discuss acute pathologies, such as abdominal emergencies, decompression sickness, deep venous thrombosis, acute lung pathologies, sinusitis, musculoskeletal trauma, genitourinary emergencies, and ocular emergencies. Conclusions: While ultrasound has shown promise in addressing various acute conditions, significant knowledge gaps remain, especially in gastrointestinal, cardiac, vascular, and reproductive emergencies. As we venture further into space, expanding our medical expertise becomes vital to ensure astronaut safety and mission success.
Description:Topical defensins have recently gained attention as agents to improve skin composition. This study aimed to aggregate and synthesize studies in the literature assessing the effects of topical defensins on skin composition in the context of its ability to combat signs of aging.
Enrollment Status: Completed
Published: March 16, 2023
Intervention Type: Drug
Study Drug: Mavenclad®
Study Phase: Phase 4
