THE CHILDRENS CLINIC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Expert in Respiratory Medicine
- Paediatric Respiratory Physician
Dr Bernadette Prentice is a Paediatric Respiratory Physician practising in Sydney and is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She completed her training in Respiratory Medicine at Sydney Children's Hospital and The Children's Hospital at Westmead
She has a Master's of Public Health and a PhD in Cystic Fibrosis. Dr Prentice teaches medical students in her role as Conjoint Lecturer in The School of Women's and Children's Health at The University of New South Wales. Dr Prentice has been awarded both The Thoracic Society of New South Wales/ Vertex Paediatric Clinical fellowship award in 2016 and a National Health and Medical Research Council Scholarship to undertake her research in paediatric lung conditions. She has published articles in several peer reviewed journals on wet cough in children, asthma and cystic fibrosis, and has written chapters on children's lung diseases. Dr Prentice has also been invited to present her research at National and International conferences. She has a special interest in children's asthma, chronic and recurrent cough and chest infections.
Job Titles:
- Expert in Respiratory Medicine
Dr Brad Martin is a Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Specialist. He graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours. He completed his specialist training at Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick and the Children's Hospital at Westmead and has also worked at John Hunter Children's Hospital in Newcastle.
He is a Staff Specialist in Sleep Medicine at Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick and is a Conjoint Lecturer in the School of Women's and Children's Health at the University of NSW. He also has a Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) degree from the University of Sydney and has published papers in Australian and international medical journals.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Expert in Endocrinology
- Senior Staff Specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Nepean Hospital
- SILVER "Thought Leader of the Year" Stevie Award in 2023
Dr. Leong an expert Paediatric Endocrinology has over 30 years of experience in managing childhood growth, pubertal and endocrine disorders and children and adolescents with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
He received his paediatric and endocrine training at the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, Randwick (now the Sydney Children's Hospital) and the former Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children's Hospital, Camperdown, before undergoing 3 years of clinical and research training in paediatric endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
He obtained his PhD from UNSW in 2001 in Molecular Endocrinology and Vitamin D action under the supervision of Professor John Eisman, AO at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research,
From 2004 to 2017 he was a Senior Staff Specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Mater Children's Hospital and then the new Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane. During this time he held a QLD Senior Research Fellowship at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), The University of Queensland. He also held a NHMRC Clinical Career Development Award, a NHMRC Health Professional Fellowship and received several other national and international clinical research awards for his research into child growth and obesity.
Since December 2016 Dr Leong has been a Senior Staff Specialist in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Nepean Hospital in Western Sydney. This position is associated with an academic appointment at the University of Sydney through the Nepean Charles Perkins Centre Research Hub where he conducts clinical research into child obesity, diabetes and metabolism.
Dr Leong is the Paediatric Clinical Lead in the unique whole of life span Nepean multidisciplinary Family Metabolic Health Service at the Nepean Hospital and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District. He is also the Head of Paediatric Diabetes services at the Nepean Hospital.
He has memberships of several national and international paediatric endocrine and research societies and was the last Chair of the Australasian New Zealand Paediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Society (ANZPEDS) Growth Hormone Advisory Committee, which helped the Federal Department of Health provide expert advice on children with short stature treated with growth hormone therapy.
Dr. Leong was a member of the NHMRC Research Translation Faculty.
See https://childhoodobesityprevention.com.au to obtain the "Ride to Life" book and other resources, including the monthly "Ride to Life" Health blog and the "Healthy Happy Children" podcast.
Associate Professor Gary Leong sees patients referred from specialists and general practitioners.
Dr. Leong an expert Paediatric Endocrinology has over 30 years of experience in managing childhood growth, pubertal and endocrine disorders and children and adolescents with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
He received his paediatric and endocrine training at the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, Randwick (now the Sydney Children's Hospital) and the former Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children's Hospital, Camperdown, before undergoing 3 years of clinical and research training in paediatric endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Dr Gary Leong won a SILVER "Thought Leader of the Year" Stevie award in 2023
"Ride to Life" was a Finalist (one of 3 books) for the 2020 Australian Business Books Award (ABBA).
Job Titles:
- Expert in Pain Management
- Pain Medicine Specialist
Dr Gretel Davidson studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating with Honours. After several years of working as a junior medical officer, including time as SHO in paediatrics and neonatology in Birmingham, UK.
She completed training in Anaesthesia at the Prince of Wales/Sydney Childrens Hospital, and a Fellowship at Childrens Hospital Westmead.
Since 2005, Gretel has worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist at both Sydney Childrens Hospital, Randwick, and Childrens Hospital Westmead.
Gretel completed her training as a Pain Medicine Specialist at the Michael J Cousins Pain Management and Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, and at the Childrens Hospital Westmead.
Gretel has a keen interest in teaching, and is an Instructor in Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS). She has also travelled to the Philippines yearly since 2014 to participate in volunteer surgical missions with charity Smile for ME.
As a Pain Medicine Specialist, Gretel aims to assist the approximately 20% of the population - adults and children - who experience chronic and complex pain. Chronic pain can be a cause of significant disability and distress to children and their families. Gretel's aim is to guide patients and their families with a multimodal approach to take control of the pain and restore meaningful function.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Expert in General Paediatrics
Dr Luke Lowes is a consultant paediatrician and fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Luke obtained his medical degree through the University of New South Wales and completed his Pediatrics training through the Sydney Children's Hospital. Luke is a VMO paediatrician at the Sydney Children's Hospital and the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. He is a Senior Lecturer in Children's Health at The University of New South Wales.
Luke has worked and trained in various paediatric and neonatal units across New South Wales providing him with a wealth of experience. Luke enjoys all aspects of paediatric care from newborns to adolescents. He works with children who have acute as well as complex and chronic medical issues. Luke practices patient-centered care whilst working closely with the patient's family and other health care providers.
Job Titles:
- Expert in Paediatric Allergy / Immunology and in General Paediatrics
- Specialist
Dr Margaret Li is a dual trained specialist in both Paediatric Allergy/Immunology and in General Paediatrics.
Margaret grew up in Sydney and obtained her double degree through the Combined Medicine-Science Program at The University of Sydney in 2012. She trained at a multitude of different paediatric and neonatal units across New South Wales and was the general paediatric fellow at the Campbelltown Hospital in 2020 which provided her with a wealth of experience. Margaret completed her specialist training across both Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick and The Children's Hospital, Westmead. She was awarded her RACP fellowship in 2023.
Margaret is actively involved in teaching and is a conjoint associate lecturer in The School of Women's and Children's Health at The University of New South Wales. She has been involved as a project investigator for an international food allergen immunotherapy trial and is a national coordinator for an international aeroallergen study. Margaret has published in peer reviewed publications in paediatric allergy and immunology and has received awards for her presentations at national conferences.
She is passionate about food allergy research and allergy prevention. Her special interest includes paediatric food allergy, eczema and allergic rhinitis. She also manages a variety of other immune conditions such as recurrent fever syndromes and immunodeficiency.
She is fluent in Cantonese. Outside of work, Margaret enjoys sketching and is an escape room enthusiast.
Dr Sean Kennedy is a paediatric nephrologist at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick and Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales where he is an active researcher and teacher
His PhD investigated the role of inflammation in acute kidney disease. He is experienced in all facets of renal medicine including the management and investigation of urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, kidney impairment, electrolyte disturbances, haematuria and proteinuria.He has a special interest in the management of children with high blood pressure. He sees patients with kidney disease across the whole spectrum of paediatrics, from babies to adolescents.
Job Titles:
- Expert in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
- Specialist
Dr. Greg Blecher is a Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Specialist. He did his medical degree in South Africa. He subsequently trained in London and in Sydney.
He has extensive experience in managing children with respiratory issues, with a particular interest in asthma, chronic cough & premature babies with chronic lung disease. Patients have access to lung function testing at SCH.
Dr. Blecher a Paediatric Sleep Specialist also specialises in children with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome, night terrors and difficulties sleeping. He is a Staff Specialist in Sleep Medicine at Sydney Children's Hospital and VMO at Liverpool Hospital. His patients can access sleep studies at Sydney Children's Hospital, Miranda Sleep Cottage and St Lukes Hospital, Potts Point.
Job Titles:
- Children 's CPR and Allergy Nurse
She graduated from the University of Sydney in 2001 and after completing her intern year, travelled abroad and spent two years working as a physiotherapist in England. On returning to Sydney, Nadia gained further clinical experience working in NSW Health Public Hospitals, including more than 16 years at SCH working with children. Nadia completed a Masters Degree in Paediatric Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney in 2008. She has extensive experience in assessing and treating newborns, infants, toddlers and children with neurological, respiratory and developmental orthopaedic conditions. Nadia has completed advanced training in the General Movements Assessment and is qualified to administer numerous standardized neurological and motor assessment tools to identify gross motor delays and atypical development. Nadia is passionate about helping every child reach their full potential in a supportive and fun environment.
Job Titles:
- Expert in Respiratory Medicine
- Professor
Professor Adam Jaffé is a Paediatric Respiratory Consultant at Sydney Children's Hospital and the John Beveridge Professor and Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of New South Wales.
He trained in London and in Sydney and was consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for 5 years before returning to Sydney. He specializes in children who have chest problems such as cough, asthma, chest infections and rare lung diseases. He has published over 250 research papers on children with lung disease. He is chairman of the NSW Department of Health, Aiming for Asthma Improvement in Children Program, he chairs Asthma Australia's Research Advisory Committee and Rare Voices Australia's Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee. His patients have access to one of the best respiratory diagnostic laboratories in the world at Sydney Children's Hospital. He is an acknowledged expert in flexible bronchoscopy.