Professor Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson is Elsie Inglis Professor of Clinical Reproductive Science, and Head of Section, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Edinburgh.

He has long-standing experience in clinical research in male and female reproductive endocrinology. His group was the first to show that kisspeptin administration to men increases luteinising hormone pulse frequency, with more recent work exploring the interaction between kisspeptin and neurokinin B in the control of reproduction in men and women.

Dr Stephen Cole is an experienced obstetrician and gynaecologist with an interest in low to high risk pregnancy care, multiple pregnancies, recurrent miscarriage evaluation and treatment, maternally-assisted caesarean section, maternal-fetal medicine and fetal surgery consultation.

Dr Charlotte Elder

MBBS(Hons) BMedSci FRANZCOG IFEPAG CCPU(Advanced Early Pregnancy)

Dr Charlotte Elder is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a special interest in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology and Transgender Health. She completed her MBBS (Hons) and BMedSci at The University of Melbourne in 2006 and, after an internship and residency year at the Alfred Hospital, moved on to undertake FRANZCOG training whilst working at Monash Health, The Mercy Hospital for Women and Box Hill Hospital. Charlotte completed a Fellowship in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology at The Royal Children’s Hospital and through this, joined their Gender Team. In 2016, Charlotte became the equal first Australian to achieve the international IFEPAG fellowship in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology.

Currently Charlotte has public appointments at The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Mercy Hospital for Women and Austin Health. She is also Chair of the RANZCOG Victorian Regional Committee and has a private practice in both obstetrics and gynaecology. Charlotte is passionate about young people’s health and helping everyone to achieve their potential. In her spare time, she enjoys running, swimming, crafting and cooking and occasionally produces a short film.

Dr Samantha Hargreaves is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Epworth Freemasons, and appointment with the Royal Women’s Hospital Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain Clinic.  Her clinical interests are minimal invasive surgery, colposcopy & menstrual disorders.
 

Associate Professor Martin Healey graduated from Melbourne University in 1986 and subsequently undertook his Obstetrics & Gynaecology training through Monash Medical Centre. He went on to complete an Advanced Laparoscopy Fellowship at the Mercy Hospital for Women, and a Doctorate of Medicine investigating endometriosis related pain.

Martin is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne. He has worked at the Royal Women’s Hospital since 1998 and is the Head of the Gynaecology 2 Unit.

Martin is interested in all areas of gynaecology with a private practice that focuses on treatment of endometriosis, complex laparoscopic surgery, fibroid resection, management of pelvic pain and infertility.

His main consulting rooms are in Richmond and he also consults from Surrey Hills and Sunshine.

Professor Gab Kovacs is a Reproductive Gynaecologist retired from clinical work. His current appointments include Director of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Clinical Institute, Epworth HealthCare, and Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University. Gab is also Chairman of the Board of Day Hospitals Australia. He is Past President of Family Planning Australia and The Fertility Society of Australia, Past Chair of IVF Director’s Group, and Past Councillor RANZCOG.

Dr Lee is Director of the Women's and Children's Clinical Institute, Epworth HealthCare and Chair of Obstetrics, Epworth Freemasons.

Her interests are high risk obstetrics, laparoscopic surgery, general gynaecology including colposcopy and menstrual disorders, menopause.

Dr Nicholas Lolatgis is a pioneer in IVF. He is the founder and Director of the Centre for Infertility Solutions. The Centre leaves no stone unturned to deliver to a couple a healthy baby.

Louisa Macleod is a specialist in social media and digital marketing, with a Bachelor of Professional Communication (Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication) and experience working in marketing across a variety of industries including agriculture, food and beverage, wellbeing, fashion and healthcare.

Louisa executes social media and digital advertising campaigns and content strategies and has seen success in bringing Epworth HealthCare’s social media presence to the forefront of private healthcare in the country. In her role at Epworth, she also assists Visiting Medical Officers and Executive team members to enhance their social media profiles and explore collaboration opportunities.

With experience in website development, search engine optimisation and copywriting, Louisa has been heavily involved in the redevelopment of a number of websites including for The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, the Royal Melbourne Show and financial advisory firm, Terra Australis. She also co-founded and regularly contributes to lifestyle website and blog, The Twenty Something Society.

Louisa has experience working with the media in a number of public relations roles both in-house and with agencies, with responsibilities including pitching stories, running media events and assisting with photo shoots and interviews.

Peter Maher has been a gynaecologist for 42 years.

He was appointed as visiting specialist and second assistant to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology on his return from  a senior registrar’s position in the UK in 1979.He worked as a general O&G until he became involved with MIS in 1990.Following a visit to Dr.Harry Reich in the USA in 1990 he returned to Australia and performed the first laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy in 1991 and co-published this in the Med. J. Australia. Since that time he established the Endosurgery Unit at Mercy Hospital for Women in 1993 and soon after a Fellowship program within the Unit under the auspices of the University. He was on the Founding Board of AGES and became its second President. He was also a Past Board Member of the AAGL ,president of ISGE and an honorary Life Member of the BSGE.

He has taught the principles of endoscopic surgery around the world for more than28 years.

He has co-authored books, chapters in textbooks and published widely on this topic in peer-reviewed journals.

He continues his role as head of Unit at Mercy Hospitaland is a Clinical Professor at Melbourne University.

Qualifications: MBBS (Hons), FRANZCOG, MR Med

Dr Kate McIlwaine completed her Obstetrics & Gynaecology training through Monash and has a Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery from the Mercy Hospital for Women.  She holds a Masters in Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales.  Kate’s special interests include minimally invasive surgery for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis and related conditions, infertility and menstrual management.  Kate consults at Genea Fertility in Heidelberg and Eastern Gynaecology in Mitcham.  She is a VMO Gynaecologist at various private hospitals including Epworth Eastern, St Vincent’s Private, Warringal and Mitcham Private.  Kate also holds a public appointment as a Consultant Gynaecologist on the Endosurgery Unit at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg. 

Janine is a health lawyer who works in private practice as a Principal Lawyer with Slater & Gordon, Melbourne in their Medical Law Department. Janine was admitted to practice in NSW in 2001 and has since that time worked almost exclusively in the health and medical law arena. She has co-authored two prominent medical law texts, Health Care and the Law (4th, 5th & 6th editions) and Australian Medical Liability (1st, 2nd & 3rd editions). In addition Janine co-authored the National Disability Insurance Scheme Handbook and has written and edited a number of chapters for Halsbury's Laws of Australia focusing on professional negligence and professional registration in the health arena and is also the author of the chapter on surrogacy. Janine is also the general editor for Australian Civil Liability Bulletin. Janine has taught Medical Law and Public Health Law at University of Western Sydney. In 2016 Janine took on the role of Senior Fellow at Monash University teaching Health Law to Masters and JD students. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at University of New England where her work focuses on the NDIS.

Professor Joseph Proietto is an Endocrinologist specialising in Diabetes and Obesity. He is a world-renowned investigator of the management of obesity. Professor Proietto established the first public obesity clinic in Victoria at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is now Head of the Weight Control Clinic at Austin Health. He is a senior specialist at the Austin Health Endocrinology Clinic. He is a past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society Obesity Society (ANZOS).

Specialities

Diabetes – Type 1 & Type 2

Obesity & Overweight

Metabolic Syndrome

 Dr Emma Readman completed her 2-year fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery and is head of the Endosurgery B Unit and Outpatient Hysteroscopy Unit at Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne. She is actively involved in research and teaching, and is an honorary lecturer with the University of Melbourne. Emma enjoyed a sabbatical in 2014 in France, Belgium and Italy studying endometriosis, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery. Emma has been visiting Mongolia for the last 11 years by invitation of the Mongolian Society for Gynaecological laparoscopy, and has been teaching and operating there. She was recently awarded the silver friendship medal by the Mongolian President, the highest honour given to foreigners in Mongolia. Emma has published widely and was a board member of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society. 

Rachel Ryan is a private obstetrician and gynaecologist at Epworth Freemasons, and obstetrician at St Vincent’s Private Hospital

She has a public appointment at The Royal Women’s Hospital which includes teaching students and trainees and is part of the Women’s and Children’s Clinical Institute Executive at Epworth HealthCare.

Rachel’s interests include high and low risk pregnancy and all aspects of general gynaecology, including colposcopy and laparoscopic surgery.

Grant Saffer is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist practicing at the Epworth-Freemasons Consulting Suites in East Melbourne. He is also the Associate Dean of Women's Health for the Epworth Clinical School of Medicine, University of Melbourne. Grant's medical focus is geared towards the care and management of natural pregnancy and delivery, ranging from low risk to a focus on high-risk pregnancies that may involve associated complications such as delayed conception, preeclampsia, hypertension, multiple births, gestational diabetes and assisted reproduction (IVF) pregnancies. 

Professor Ravi Savarirayan is a clinical geneticist and Group Leader of Skeletal Biology and Disease at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. He is also Head of Clinical Genetics Services at the Victorian Clinical Genetic Services.

Ravi's primary clinical and research focus are the inherited disorders of the skeleton causing short stature, arthritis and osteoporosis.

He is the Foundation Director of the Southern Cross Bone Dysplasia Centre and immediate past-President of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society (ISDS) and was the first Australian to hold this post.

He has won numerous academic awards including the Fulbright Professional Scholarship for Australia that took him to Los Angeles in 1999 for further studies in the field of bone disorders.

He pursued his doctoral studies in the clinical and molecular aspects of these disorders and has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific journal papers. He conducts diagnosis and management clinics for patients and their families with these conditions throughout Australasia, and is an invited expert case-manager for the European Skeletal Dysplasia Network.

Professor Savarirayan's international reputation in the field has been demonstrated by being invited to deliver the opening scientific address at the Combined International Congress of Orthopaedic Associations, held every seven years.

Associate Professor Stern is a gynaecologist and fertility specialist. She is the head of reproductive services unit at The Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) and the Clinical Director of Melbourne IVF. She is also the head of clinical research at Melbourne IVF and the medical coordinator for the Fertility Preservation Service at RWH and MIVF. 

Associate Professor Kate Stern has coordinated the Fertility Preservation Service (FPS) at The Royal Women’s Hospital and Melbourne IVF for over 20 years. The FPS program aims to maximise fertility for women at risk of infertility and ovarian failure as a result of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment. The FPS was the first dedicated service for fertility preservation in Australia and continues to lead clinical programs and research in this area of medicine. The team have published widely in the area in peer reviewed journals and are regularly asked to present this work nationally and internationally.

Dr Hong Tran MBBS, FRANZCOG

Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne) and the Epworth Freemasons, GROW Obstetrics

Dr Hong Tran is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist based in Melbourne, Australia. 

She has an interest in vulval conditions including vulval surgery. She has been part of the multidisciplinary Vulval clinic team at the Women’s hospital for more than nine years and has a regular vulval theatre list.

Her private rooms are located at Epworth Freemasons Hospital.

Associate Professor Jim Tsaltas is the Head of Gynaecological Endoscopy and Endometriosis Surgery at Monash Health.  He is past president of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society (AGES).  He is currently chairman of the AGES Education Subcommittee.  He has long advocated for minimally invasive surgery to be the standard treatment for gynaecological conditions.  He is a senior consultant at the Epworth Freemasons and one of the clinical directors at Melbourne IVF.

Jim has published and presented widely in the field of advanced gynaecological endoscopy in Australia and worldwide.

Hailing from a clinical background with a Bachelor of Nursing and Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management, Nicole Waldron joined Epworth in February 2011 and was appointed as Executive Director Epworth Richmond in March 2014. Nicole stepped into a dual leadership role when she was subsequently also appointed as Executive Director Epworth Freemasons in May 2018; taking her leadership across sites to manage Richmond, in addition to the three Freemasons sites (Victoria Parade, Clarendon Street and Cliveden). Prior to her appointment as Executive Director, Nicole held Executive Director responsibilities for Epworth Medical Imaging and Group Strategy.

Nicole has an extensive background in healthcare management across the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Epworth in 2011, Nicole worked for Healthscope for 10 years. During this time she held roles with state and national responsibilities, including hospital state manager, general manager John Fawkner Private Hospital and national workforce planning manager.

In addition to her role as Director of the Epworth Medical Imaging Board, Nicole sits on the Board of Directors for non-profit organisation Berry Street and is also a member of the State Trauma Committee (Department Health and Human Services).

Dr Waring graduated from Medicine at UWA. She completed her FRCPA in Medical Microbiology, Melbourne, Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Stanford University. Dr Waring worked as a Medical Microbiologist at Dorevitch Pathology for eight years, before moving to California to work in biotechnology companies for four years. She then returned to Australia and worked as a Medical Microbiologist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospitals in Perth for two years.

Dr Waring is Chair of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia’s (RCPA) Microbiology Advisory Committee.

Dr Waring has been the Director of Medical Microbiology at Melbourne Pathology for 14 years working closely with Epworth HealthCare medical and infection control teams during this time.