REGIONAL SPECIALISTS TAMWORTH - Key Persons


Dr Hossein Ghazavi

Job Titles:
  • Head
  • Local ENT Surgeon
Dr Hossein Ghazavi has been a qualified otolaryngologist (ENT), head and neck surgeon since 2014. He is a fellow with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (FRACS). He specialises in nose and sinus issues, thyroid, parathyroid, head and neck lesions, obstructive sleep apnoea, paediatric conditions and ear diseases. He also has a high level of expertise and experience in rhinoplasty and facial plastic surgery. Dr Ghazavi completed a subspecialty training fellowship in head and neck reconstruction and skull base surgery at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle. He then became a consultant ENT surgeon there for a year. In February 2022, he moved to Tamworth and played a significant role in setting up the ENT unit at Tamworth Base Hospital, where there had been no ENT surgeon working for eight years. Dr Ghazavi is committed to the education and training of ENT surgeons and is actively involved in teaching the ENT registrars and resident medical officers. He has also published several articles in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Dr Hossein Ghazavi is a local ENT surgeon and operates out of Tamworth Base Hospital & Tamara Private Hospital

Dr Julia Thompson

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Neurologist
Dr Thompson obtained her medical degree from the University of Sydney and completed neurology training at RPA hospital in Sydney prior to moving to the UK and undertaking fellowships and research at Oxford University and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. During her fellowships she has done work in epilepsy, autoimmune neurology, neuroimmunology and MS, headache, as well as other subspecialty clinics. As a consultant she has also done a lot of work in stroke and acute neurology, and is passionate about improving services in acute neurology. Dr Thompson has since then worked as a consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lecturer at Kings College Hospital in London, as well as in Sydney, and has continued her research with the Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group. She has published in autoimmune epilepsies including LGI1 autoimmune encephalitis and has ongoing collaborations with the Oxford group. In addition, Dr Thompson is passionate about teaching, being a Clinical Lecturer for the Kings College University in London, and Oxford University, and she has won a number of awards over the last 10 years for teaching and leadership in both Sydney and the UK. She is a member of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), British Association of Neurologists (ABN), The Neurohospitalist Society (NHS), International Headache Society (IHS), International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), Movement Disorders Society of Australia and New Zealand (MDSANZ) and others. In addition to experience in a wide range of General Neurology, Dr Thompson has subspecialty interests in Epilepsy, Autoimmune Neurology/Neuroimmunology, Headache, Stroke, Neurology in Pregnancy, and the use of injectable therapies including nerve blocks and botulinum toxin for the treatment of headaches. Dr Thompson is also experienced in the management of cervical and lumbar back pain, and is happy to provide advice regarding this and liaise with interventional radiologists and neurosurgeons as required. Dr Julia Thompson is based in Sydney and works at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and Prince of Wales Hospital.

Dr Katie Nash

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
Dr Katie Nash is a Consultant General Paediatrician with a broad range of experience in general paediatrics, including medical, developmental, and behavioural presentations for children of all ages. She has special interests in newborn care and management of common problems in infancy, developmental paediatrics, and behavioural concerns. Dr Nash completed her medical degree at The University of Sydney, and subsequently obtained a Diploma of Child Health. She completed her training in General Paediatrics at Sydney Children's

Dr Mahima Kapoor

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Neurologist
Dr Kapoor obtained her medical degree from Monash University and completed most of her neurology training in Melbourne at The Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospitals. She was awarded the prestigious ANZAN Fellowship to complete her training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. She then completed a further two-year clinical fellowship at the MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University College London. In addition to having an interest in general neurology, Dr Kapoor has a subspecialty interest in Neuromuscular Disorders and Peripheral Neuropathies. She is currently undertaking further research as a PhD candidate through Monash University. Dr Kapoor is a current VMO at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and consults with both face-to-face and telehealth sessions to complement the subspecialty coverage of our neurology service.

Dr Melinda Glover

Melinda completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Wollongong in 2010. Following this, she embarked on a career in general paediatrics, completing her training at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. This culminated in her acceptance as Fellow to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in November 2019. Melinda is a committed and passionate doctor who thrives on the challenges that general paediatrics creates. She has experience in the management of children of all ages from neonates to adolescents. She loves the challenges and has experience in the management of the unsettled infant, developmental and behavioural disorders and supporting parents and families through these. As well as her experience in general paediatrics, Melinda has a passion and dedication for both paediatric neurological disorders and paediatric infectious diseases. She completed a Fellowship in Paediatric Neurology at the Sydney Children's Hospital and has experience in managing neurological disorders such as seizures, weakness and headaches. She has completed a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene with the London School of Tropical Medicine which saw her study infectious diseases and public health throughout East Africa. To build on this knowledge, she completed a Master's of Public Health through the University of New South Wales in 2019. One of Melinda's passions is rural medicine and she enjoys navigating the challenges that rural medicine brings with families with a wholistic and pragmatic approach. She has spent 18 months working in rural and remote areas in Broken Hill and Port Hedland including clinics with the Royal Flying Doctors. She looks forward to working with the Regional Specialists and meeting the families and community of Tamworth.

Dr Neil Rawlinson

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Geriatrician
A Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians and a Senior Lecturer at University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Dr Rawlinson is a Geriatrician based in Sydney NSW with both private and public appointments. Dr Rawlinson completed his medical degree in 2005 at Liverpool University and worked in Liverpool UK for 2 years before emigrating in 2007. Falling in love with Australia he commenced his physicians training at RPAH hospital and the sub-specialised in geriatric medicine. He has over 6 years experience in Geriatric Medicine, with 3 years of advanced training at Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick and Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards. After obtaining his fellowship Dr Rawlinson has worked in different positions across Australia including regional centres gaining wide experience as a consultant geriatrician in acute and subacute geriatric medicine, rehabilitation, orthogeriatrics, community geriatrics and general medicine. He is also completing a Masters of Medical Education and heavily involved in teaching with Notre Dame University in Sydney NSW. Dr Rawlinson is passionate about care for the elderly, and accepts referrals for all patients aged 65 and over with general geriatric/medical problems including: Memory and dementia assessment Management of behavioural & psychological symptoms of dementia Depression and anxiety in the elderly Capacity assessments and fitness to drive Osteoporosis management Medication review Advanced care planning Nursing home management Management of multiple medical problems Diagnosis and management of Parkinson's Disease and related conditions

Dr Nishlan Pillay

Job Titles:
  • Cardiology

Dr Pavan Chandrala

Job Titles:
  • Nephrology

Dr Phoebe Williams

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Consulting from Regional Specialists Tamworth in February 2020
Phoebe is a Consultant Paediatrician who completed her training in General Paediatrics at Sydney Children's Hospital, as well as undertaking further subspecialty training in Infectious Diseases. Phoebe completed her medical degree at The University of Sydney and subsequently a Diploma of Child Health, Masters of Global Health Science and a PhD in Clinical Paediatrics with the Nuffield Department of Medicine at The University of Oxford (UK). Throughout her training Phoebe has worked in urban and rural health settings throughout Australia, as well as frequently working in East Africa. She continues to work closely with a number of hospitals in low-income countries and is passionate about global health issues. Phoebe is regularly invited to participate in international conferences addressing child health challenges on a global scale and works as a consultant for The World Health Organization (WHO). As a mother of four children (including triplets), Phoebe is committed to working with families to achieve their child's best health outcomes through health promotion and evidence-based management strategies. Phoebe has extensive experience in managing common childhood conditions (such as feeding and nutrition, asthma, skin conditions including eczema and developmental and behavioural paediatrics). Phoebe is particularly passionate about infant sleeping and settling problems, and is currently completing accreditation as a Neurodevelopmental Care (NDC) practitioner to provide evidence-based strategies to promote secure psychological attachment and infant neurodevelopment.​

Dr Stephen Duma

Job Titles:
  • Member of Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Dr Duma obtained his medical degree from the University of Sydney and completed training as a neurologist at St George and Westmead Hospitals. He later completed further subspecialty neurologist training as the Professor John Morris Movement Disorders Fellow at Westmead Hospital, under the supervision of Prof Victor Fung and Dr Neil Mahant. Dr Duma also has substantial research interests and has completed his PhD thesis related to Parkinson's Disease at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) under the supervision of Profs Tony Broe AM and Olivier Piguet. In addition to practicing as a neurologist, Dr Duma is also passionate about teaching. He is a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Sydney and lectures for the Master of Medicine program. Dr Duma is a member of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), International Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Society (IPMDS), Movement Disorders Society of Australia and New Zealand (MDSANZ) and others. In addition to General Neurology, Dr Duma has subspecialty interests in Parkinson's disease and other Movement Disorders (including tremor and dystonia), headaches, and the use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of these and other neurological conditions.

Dr Suzanne Cartwright

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Australian Pain Society
Dr Suzanne Cartwright graduated from Flinders University Medical School in 2006, having undertaken her medical training in a variety of locations, including 18 months in regional areas. She completed her internship and RMO years at the Royal Adelaide Hospital then undertook training in anaesthesia in Adelaide and Alice Springs from 2008-2013. Having been encouraged to consider pain medicine training she moved to Victoria to undertake training through the Faculty of Pain Medicine in Geelong and Melbourne. She was awarded a Merit award at the 2014 Faculty of Pain Medicine examination, followed by obtaining formal qualifications as a Specialist Anaesthetist (FANZCA) and Specialist Pain Medicine Physician (FFPMANZCA). Dr Cartwright commenced private pain medicine practice in 2018. She sees patients with all types of persistent pain and aims to work with patients to help them achieve better function and quality of life through pain management strategies and techniques that are relevant for the individual. She has experience in managing pain through using interventional, pharmacological, psychological and physical strategies along with working with allied health practitioners to enhance the psychological and physical strategies. She has a particular interest in seeing patients with existing persistent pain or who are at risk of persistent pain prior to surgery. As an anaesthetist as well as a pain medicine specialist she is well equipped to work with the patient, surgeon and anaesthetist to develop and assist with executing a pain management plan from pre surgery through to rehabilitation. She also provides anaesthesia and acute pain management services at both Tamworth Hospital and Tamara Private Hospital. She is the medical director of the Acute Pain Service at Tamworth Hospital where she enjoys participating in the management of patients with complex acute pain as well as working to reduce the risk of transition to persistent pain. Dr Cartwright is a member of the Australian Pain Society, the International Association for the Study of Pain, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the Neuromodulation Society of Australian and New Zealand, the International Neuromodulation Society and the Medico-legal Society of NSW. She is an active participant in the training of anaesthetists and in the work of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists.

Dr Timothy Siu

Job Titles:
  • Consultant
  • Consultant Neurosurgeon
  • Neurosurgery
Dr Siu is a consultant neurosurgeon who has a special focus in minimally invasive surgery and has pioneered new and modified techniques in this field. He is amongst the first in applying 3D printing technology to create custom made implants for treatment of spinal deformity. After completing neurosurgery training in Sydney, he joined the fellowship program at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he received subspecialty training in the management of brain, spine and peripheral nerve tumours. He received his medical degree from the University of Sydney and his doctorate in visual neuroscience from the University of New South Wales. His clinical expertise includes lateral access and minimally invasive spinal surgery, awake surgery, multimodal imaging and electrophysiology guided surgery for eloquent brain. He is currently appointed as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University.

Dr. Wendy Wang

Job Titles:
  • Consultant Neurologist
  • Neurologist
Dr. Wendy Wang is a Neurologist with special interest in neuro-ophthalmology and general neurology. She grew up in Hobart and obtained her medical degree from the University of Tasmania in 2011. Wendy subsequently completed Neurology Advanced Training at the Royal Hobart Hospital and The Alfred Hospital. She undertook further subspecialty training in neuro-ophthalmology at the Alfred Hospital and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, mentored by Professor Owen White, Associate Professor Anneke Van Der Walt and Dr Neil Shuey. Her fellowship included additional training in nerve conduction studies at the Alfred Hospital. In conjunction with working at Tamworth Regional Specialists, Wendy consults at the Alfred Hospital in the neuro-ophthalmology and nerve conduction clinics. She looks after patients with general neurological conditions and stroke at Cabrini Hospital, in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Wendy is currently completing a Master's degree through Monash University, researching cognitive impairment in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (a condition involving raised intracranial pressure, which can cause optic nerve swelling, visual loss and headache). Wendy is passionate about neurology and enjoys providing comprehensive patient care. She will offer nerve conduction studies for peripheral nerve disorders, along with consultations for patients with neuro-ophthalmic and general neurological conditions such as: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (also known as IIH) Optic nerve disorders, such as optic neuritis/inflammation Ocular motility disorders that commonly present with double vision Temporal/giant cell arteritis Transient visual loss or visual symptoms Spinal cord and peripheral nerve disorders Headache, including migraines Seizures and Epilepsy Stroke Movement disorders, including tremors and Parkinson's Disease Immune-related neurological conditions such as myasthenia gravis Dr Wang does fly-in and fly-out and telehealth consults at Regional Specialists Tamworth.