AMOS - Key Persons
Dr Margaret Dunkley was born and raised in Gippsland, and was 16 when she decided to become a doctor. After spending 8 years at Monash University she spent time training in Mildura, Townsville, Darwin, Mackay and Brisbane. It was only during her internship at Mildura that she decided to specialise in surgery. She returned to Mildura once she finished her training, where she now lives with her husband and 4 children. Dr Dunkley remains passionate about serving the rural community.
Job Titles:
- Bariatric Medical Practitioner
Dr Teresa Girolamo graduated medicine from the University of Adelaide, and since then has worked extensively in general practice both in Australia and overseas. In this time she has developed a passion for preventative medicine and lifestyle modification, and has been working in obesity management since 2008.
Dr Girolamo is able to approach her patients in a holistic manner, understanding that multiple stressors, both medical and psychosocial, may impact an individual's weight and lifestyle choices. She finds the positive medical outcomes that are achieved after bariatric surgery to be hugely rewarding. Patients often describe significant sustained weight loss as a positive life changing process, and Dr Girolamo is excited to be a part of this. She understands that there may be many hurdles along the way, and aims to support her patients and their families through this journey.
Job Titles:
- Bariatric Medical Practitioner
Since graduating medicine Dr Zanna Murfitt has worked in General Practice in Australia and Canada. She is passionate about improving the health and quality of life for these patients through evidence based treatments for obesity. Dr Murfitt also has a lot of experience in fertility problems and antenatal care.
Throughout her career, Dr Murfitt became aware that bariatric surgery, coupled with life-long lifestyle modification was the best evidence-based management approach for obesity and its related complications. She also understands that surgery is not always the best option for everyone. She is therefore dedicated to working with patients to find an evidence based weight management strategy that best suits them. She will then work alongside her patients and share in the journey to improved health and wellbeing.
Now working solely in the area of weight management, she has become enthusiastic about motivating people to find a renewed focus on themselves so that they can enjoy a better quality of life.
Dr Bessell also provides visiting surgical services to the Australian Defence Force. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, and has deployed to war zones including East Timor (twice) and Solomon Islands, and to Banda Aceh in support of ADF military operations. He is formerly the Chairman of the Military Section of the College of Surgeons, and the former Chairman of the SA Regional Board in General Surgery.
Adam completed his post graduate studies in Clinical Exercise Physiology where he specialised in Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation and Strength and Conditioning. He has continued to progress his knowledge in these areas and has developed vast understanding of exercise prescription working with a variety of clientele from athletes to the elderly.
Qualifications and memberships
Kathleen was awarded the New Colombo Plan Scholarship in 2018, where she travelled to the Philippines to volunteer in a nutrition program. She has experience in aged care, weight management and healthy meal development. Kathleen is passionate about food, mindful eating and having a diet sustainable for the long term.
Lauren is passionate about supporting clients through their weight-loss journey. As well as being a dietitian, she is also a qualified Yoga teacher.
Melanie Weeks completed her undergraduate and honours psychology training at the University of Adelaide and her Masters of Clinical Psychology at Flinders University. Her Masters thesis examined adult eating behaviours, specifically the implicit cognitive processes which support healthy food choices in line with long term weight loss goals. Mel also works as a psychologist in an adult acute mental health inpatient setting as well as supporting adults with mental health concerns in a private practice setting.