NEUROLOGY NETWORK MELBOURNE - Key Persons
Doctor Kelly Bertram is a highly qualified Australian neurologist with international training in clinical neurology and a special interest in dystonia and other movement disorders as well as general neurology.
Her undergraduate medical training was undertaken at Melbourne University, where she obtained her medical degree in 2002. She was awarded the Peter G Jones essay prize in 2002.
Her post-graduate training was undertaken at The Austin Hospital. She specialised in Neurology, training at Geelong Hospital and The Alfred Hospital. Dr Bertram completed her neurology training as Movement Disorders Fellow at The Alfred Hospital after which she was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Doctor Kelly Bertram is a highly qualified Australian neurologist with international training in clinical neurology and a special interest in dystonia and other movement disorders as well as general neurology.
She is a visiting neurologist at The Alfred Hospital and other private hospitals.
Her undergraduate medical training was undertaken at Melbourne University, where she obtained her medical degree in 2002. She was awarded the Peter G Jones essay prize in 2002.
Her post-graduate training was undertaken at The Austin Hospital. She specialised in Neurology, training at Geelong Hospital and The Alfred Hospital. Dr Bertram completed her neurology training as Movement Disorders Fellow at The Alfred Hospital after which she was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
During 2010 she was visiting fellow at Rush University Hospital in Chicago, under the supervision of Prof Christopher Goetz and Prof Cynthia Comella.
Dr Bertram has published several clinical and scientific papers in high-quality peer-reviewed medical journals. Her published research cover topics that include: diagnosis and management of dystonia; non-motor complications of Parkinson's disease.
Dr Bertram has ongoing medical and scientific research interests that include the investigation of genetic causes of dystonia, cervical dystonia, treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy and stroke neurology. Dr Bertram specialises in the treatment of Movement Disorders, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy and other parkinsonian conditions. This includes administration of botulinum toxin for dystonia, facial spasm and blepharospasm as well as for chronic migraine and headache. She has experience in the management of patients with advanced treatments for Parkinson's disease, including apomorphine infusion and deep brain stimulation surgery.
Job Titles:
- Medical Acupuncturist and Specialist
Dr Allen Yuen is a Medical Acupuncturist and specialist Emergency Physician. He retired recently as Director of Emergency at Epworth Hospital, after a career as Director of Emergency at Prince Henry's, Monash Medical Centre, The Valley and Williamstown Hospital. He was also Chair of Accreditation, State Censor, Senior Examiner and Peer Reviewer for The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He is a current examiner for The Australian Medical Council.
He graduated in Medical Acupuncture from Monash University, where the best aspects of traditional Chinese Medicine and Orthodox Western Medicine are recognised.
Dr Amanda Gilligan is consultant neurologist with 25 years of clinical experience in neurology with areas of interest in stroke, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and general neurology. She is Director of Neurosciences at Epworth Eastern private hospital
Dr Gilligan completed her undergraduate degrees at Monash University in 1989. Her clinical training in Neurology was completed through the Royal Melbourne and Austin Hospitals and she became a specialist neurologist in 1998. With the support of a NH&MRC postgraduate scholarship, she completed a PhD in 2005, based at the National Stroke Research Institute (which is now part of the Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health) and the University of Melbourne.
Dr Dinushi Weerasinghe is a neurologist with sub-specialty training and interest in nerve conduction studies/electromyography and neuromuscular disorders. She also has an interest in general neurology.
She started her career in neurology as an advanced trainee at the Canberra hospital. She undertook further specialist training at the Liverpool hospital and Westmead hospital, New South Wales. She completed her fellowship in Neurophysiology (nerve conduction studies and EMG) at Westmead Hospital, Sydney before being admitted as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Physicians.
She moved to the USA for further training in Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular disorders at the University of Rochester, New York, Neuromuscular unit. She was the departmental fellow in Neuromuscular medicine and Peripheral nerve disorders.
She has many publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
She has also completed the British fellowship exams and has been admitted to the membership of the Royal College of Physicians, UK.
She has medical licence to practice neurology in the USA and Australia.
She is a current member of the Australia New Zealand Association of Neurologists, American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
Dr Weerasinghe provides expert assessment and testing for nerve and muscle disorders using EMG and nerve conduction studies. Urgent appointments can be made.
Job Titles:
- Neurologist and Geriatrician
Dr Ganesvaran is a Neurologist and Geriatrician whose clinical interests include general neurology, movement disorders and geriatrics.
Job Titles:
- Doctor Panetta Is a Specialist Paediatric Neurologist With an Interest in Epilepsy, Metabolic Disorders, Headache and General Paediatric Neurology
Julie studied Medicine at Monash University, graduating in 1994. Her interest in neurology led her to a second year resident job at the Austin Hospital, and here she came into contact with paediatric neurologists. She decided to switch to paediatrics and commenced paediatric physician training. She started paediatric neurology training in 2003 at the Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland NZ, and from there continued training in Melbourne at the Royal Children's Hospital and then at the Mater Children's Hospital in Brisbane.
Doctor Panetta is a specialist paediatric neurologist with an interest in epilepsy, metabolic disorders, headache and general paediatric neurology.
Kar-Yan graduated from University of Melbourne and completed her specialty training in neurology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Cabrini Hospital and Western Hospital. She currently holds a Fellowship at The Alfred Hospital in Neurophysiology and Movement Disorders and is an Honorary Ffellow at Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
Dr Katherine Buzzard completed her BSc (Hons) and a PhD in cancer biology at the Peter Mac Callum Cancer Institute before embarking on her medical degree at The University of Melbourne, graduating with honours in 2005. Dr Buzzard undertook her neurology specialty training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Alfred Hospital before being awarded the ANZAN overseas fellowship to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square London, United Kingdom. She has completed subspecialty fellowships in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology. Dr Buzzard worked with Associate Professor Stephen Reddel at Concord Hospital in Sydney, where she gained valuable experience managing patients with complex neuroimmunological conditions including myasthenia gravis. She was also a Neurologist at the Multiple Sclerosis clinic at the Brain Mind Research Institute in Sydney.
Dr Buzzard returned to her home city of Melbourne in Feb 2015. She is currently working as a Consultant Neurologist at Eastern Health and The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Dr Buzzard holds an academic appointment at the Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, and is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of Melbourne. Her current research involves the development of an international observational database for patients with neuroimmunological diseases.
Dr Katrina Reardon is an experienced Neurologist with a special interest in Neuromuscular disorders which includes, inherited myopathies, muscular dystrophies, motor neuron disease and peripheral nerve diseases. She is also experienced in nerve conduction studies and electromyography.
Dr Reardon graduated with honours from University of Tasmania medical school in 1991 having been awarded 6 prizes for merit in different areas. She was awarded a fellow of the Australian College of Physicians in 1998 and went on to complete Neurology training at Monash Medical Centre and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. Dr Katrina Reardon completed further training in the neuromuscular field at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. She was awarded a Dora Lush Scholarship and completed her PhD studies at Melbourne University in 2001. Dr Katrina Reardon has over 25 papers published in peer reviewed journals
Dr Zhang is a neurologist with subspecialty interest and training in Headache Medicine and Movement disorders.
Dr Zhang is able to manage complex headache and migraine conditions. She believes in improving service delivery and advocacy for headache patients. She is actively involved in the Australia New Zealand Headache Society. She is also a visiting neurologist at Alfred Health. Her current research is in specialised inpatient management of headache.
Dr Zhang also specialises in management of Movement Disorders. She can administer injectable treatments for chronic migraines and cervical dystonia.
Dr Luke Chen is a highly qualified neurologist with subspecialty expertise in hearing and balance disorders, neuro-otology, neuro-opthalmology, eye movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, and has an interest in atypical parkinsonism.
His undergraduate training in medicine was at the University of Melbourne and obtained his MBBS in 2003, followed by completion of basic physician training at the Austin Hospital in 2007. After completing core years of advanced training in neurology at the Alfred and Austin Hospital in Melbourne (2008-2009), he undertook a Fellowship in neuro-otology from 2010 to 2013 with Professor Michael Halmagyi and his group at the Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. This group, led by Professor Halmagyi, is internationally renowned for leading the field in clinical and academic neuro-otology. He was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2011.
Dr Luke Chen is a neurologist and neuro-otologist. He is co-head of otoneurology diagnostic service, and head of Balance Disorders Clinic at the Alfred Hospital. He has special clinical interests in hearing and balance disorders (benign positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Meniere's disease, vestibular migraine, vestibular schwannomas, superior semicircular canal dehiscence, bilateral vestibulopathy and cerebellar diseases), neuro-ophthalmology, multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology. His research focuses on diagnosis of acute vertigo, vestibular physiology in central vestibular disorders, and using eye movement recordings to probe brain function in cerebellar diseases, multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr Jasinarachchi is a neurologist with a sub-specialty interest in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular disorders.
Dr Fedi is a specialist neurologist with an interest in epilepsy, stroke and general neurology. He trained in Neurology at The Alfred Hospital and The Austin Hospital in Melbourne, after having received accreditation as a specialist Neurologist in Italy. Dr Fedi also works in the Intensive Care Team at The Alfred Hospital.
Dr Martin Short is a highly qualified neurologist who has dedicated his research work over the past 10 years in the field of neuroimmunology and MS. He trained as a neurologist at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and The Alfred Hospital. His PhD studies were undertaken at Monash University and he has worked with teh MS teams at Monash Medical Centre and Western Hospital.
Dr Short is also an experienced electromyographer, performing EMG and nerve conduction studies in Fitzroy.
Dr Matthew Hughes is an experienced Neuropsychologist, with expertise in acquired brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. He has trained and worked in London and Melbounre, including at The Alfred Hospital.Dr Hughes performs detailed and expert neuropyschology testing to assess cognitive function in patients for:
memory disturbance
concussion
assessment of thinking difficulties
language disorders
assessment prior to brain operations
and for medicolegal purposes
Dr Michael Eller is a highly qualified neurologist with subspecialty training in headache neurology and movement disorders. He also maintains an interest in indigenous health and tropical medicine. He has previously worked as a visiting specialist at Monash Medical Centre and Royal Darwin Hospital. He currently consults at Monash Neurology.
In 2003 he completed a degree in medicine from the University of Sydney. Prior to this he completed a Bachelor of Science as well as much of a Bachelor of Arts with interests in archaeology and neuroscience. Postgraduate training was conducted at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital and The Alfred Hospital. Subsequent neurology training was undertaken at Monash Medical Centre and the Alfred Hospital after which he was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australian College of Physicians.
Dr Nicholas Crump is a highly qualified neurologist with subspecialty training in Neuroimmunology, Neuromuscular medicine, and Clinical Neurophysiology. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1999, and completed post-graduate Neurology training at Barwon Health, Monash Medical Centre, and Austin Health. Dr Crump has a long history of providing neurological services to northern Melbourne and northeast Victoria through visiting services to Epping and Shepparton, as well as our Heidelberg rooms.
Job Titles:
- Neurologist
- Principal Investigator at Nucleus Network Pty Ltd
Dr Gonen graduated from Tel-Aviv University, Israel and completed his specialty training in neurology in one of its affiliated hospitals (Shamir Medical Centre, Israel). He then underwent subspecialty training in epilepsy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Alfred Hospital combined with a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Melbourne. Dr Gonen is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and continues to actively participate in epilepsy related research.
In addition, Dr Gonen works as Principal Investigator at Nucleus Network Pty Ltd, where he oversees early phase clinical trials of a range of novel medicinal products in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies from around the world (e.g., GABA Therapeutics, Rani Therapeutics, Jnana Therapeutics, Autobahn Therapeutics, Reistone Biopharma, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai SIMR Biotechnology).
Doctor Poh-Sien Loh is a highly qualified neurologist with subspecialty training and experience in stroke and general neurology.His medical undergraduate training was at the University of Western Australia, where he obtained MBBS in 1992. He completed his internship and basic physician training at the Royal Perth Hospital.He had specialist training in Neurology at the Austin Hospital, and Box Hill Hospital. He was Stroke Research Fellow at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He became a specialist Neurologist in 2004.
Doctor Loh was appointed as a specialist neurologist at Eastern Health in 2005. He provides inpatient and outpatient services at Box Hill Hospital and Maroondah Hospital.
Dr Saman Punchihewa is a highly qualified Consultant Neurologist with interests in neurophysiology, epilepsy and general neurology. Dr Punchihewa holds public appointments at Monash Medical Centre and Frankston Hospitals with a significant role in the Neurophysiology department at Monash Neurology.
He was awarded an Australian Government Scholarship (John Crawford Scholarship) to study Medicine & Surgery in Australia and also received Dean's Honors in two consecutive years at medical school. His undergraduate medical training was undertaken at Melbourne University and clinical training was at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. After completion of medical training, he went to New Zealand where he did his Basic physician training at Christchurch and Dunedin Hospitals.
Dr Tharani Thirugnana Chandran completed her undergraduate medical training in the United Kingdom with a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. She qualified from the University of Leeds and undertook postgraduate training in West Yorkshire in Geriatrics, Stroke and General Medicine. She worked as a Consultant Stroke Physician and Geriatrician for four years and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London.
In 2017 she moved to Melbourne to commence a PhD in Neuroimaging in Stroke with Monash University. She trained in Neurology and completed a fellowship in Stroke Medicine at Monash Medical Centre. She is currently working as a Consultant Stroke Neurologist at The Alfred Hospital. She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Associations of Neurologists and Stroke Society of Australia.
Dr Cheng is a neurologist with subspecialty interest and training in Headache Medicine and Movement disorders.
Dr Cheng graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2007 and completed her neurology training at Barwon University Hospital, Western Health and Alfred Health. She trained with the Headache Service, Movement Disorder Unit and the Acute and Chronic Pain Unit at Alfred Health.
Dr Cheng is able to manage complex headache and migraine conditions. She believes in improving service delivery and advocacy for headache patients. She is actively involved in the Australia New Zealand Headache Society. She is also a visiting neurologist at Alfred Health. Her current research is in specialised inpatient management of headache.
Dr Cheng also specialises in management of Movement Disorders. She can administer injectable treatments for chronic migraines and cervical dystonia.
Dr Will Lee is a specialist neurologist with interests in movement and neurodegenerative disorders as well as stroke and general neurology. He is a visiting neurologist at the Alfred Hospital and has been awarded the prestigious Movement Disorder Society of Australia Research Fellowship for 2012.
In 2003, Dr Lee completed his undergraduate medical training at The University of Melbourne. His post-graduate training in internal medicine and subsequent specialisation in neurology were undertaken at the Austin and Alfred hospitals. In 2011, he completed the Movement Disorder Fellowship at the Alfred Hospital and was admitted as a Fellow to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Dr Lee specialises in the management of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, dystonia and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Professor Chris Bladin graduated from Flinders University Medical School, Adelaide in 1984. He completed specialist training in Neurology at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne in 1991 followed by a Stroke Research Fellowship at Guy's Hospital, London and in 1992 a Stroke Research Fellowship at University of Toronto, Canada.
RAY McCluskey has been given a second lease on life.In 2001, the Sebastopol man was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.For almost seven years, the 73-year-old enjoyed a "very good quality of life".This was mostly due to medication which contained Levodopa, a replacement for the brain chemical dopamine which people with Parkinson's disease no longer produce in sufficient quantity for normal living.However, six months ago Mr McCluskey's condition deteriorated as he began to suffer increased involuntary movement and his medication became less effective.
His neurologist, Professor David Williams, informed him that his worsening condition was caused by the side effects of his medication.
"The cure was becoming worse than the complaint," Mr McCluskey, a member of the Ballarat Parkinson's Support Group, said.
Professor Williams then "both surprised and delighted" Mr McCluskey by suggesting he undergo a deep brain stimulation operation.
Job Titles:
- Member of Our Comprehensive Care Team
Sue has worked in the field of Movement Disorders for five years, having trained under the guidance of A/Prof David Williams. Sue is expert in the administration and management of patients with advanced treatments for Parkinson's disease, including apomorphine infusion and programming of deep brain stimulation devices.
Sue is an essential member of our comprehensive care team that aims to provide a high quality service, giving access to the most up-to-date information and treatments for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.