About MO

Anne Messenger
Editor
Anne Messenger has worked in medical journalism and communications for almost 20 years, including as editor of Australian Medicine, associate editor at Australian Doctor and head of Communications at General Practice Education and Training and the Sax Institute. She has a background in political journalism, having worked in three state parliaments and a degree in English and Philosophy from ANU.

Phone: (02) 9902 7862
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: anne.messenger@medobs.com.au

Dr Libby Harris, MBBS (Hons), FRACGP
Medical Editor
Libby obtained her MBBS (Hons) from UNSW in 1990 and has practised as a GP in Sydney and Canberra for the past 15 years. She obtained her FRACGP in 1996. Libby was student affairs co-ordinator at the University of NSW from 2005 until mid 2007 when she joined Medical Observer. She continues to work part-time as a GP on Sydney’s north shore and has a weekly live radio spot on ABC Radio in Canberra.

Phone: (02) 9902 7861
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: libby.harris@medobs.com.au

Dr Maria Pizzinga BMed (Hons) FRACGP
GP Consultant
Maria obtained her BMed (Hons) from The University of Newcastle in 2003. She worked as a resident and medical registrar in hospitals in NSW, ACT and the UK until 2007, when she commenced general practice training. She obtained her FRACGP in 2011. She works in part time general practice on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Phone: (02) 9902 7866
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: maria.pizzinga@medobs.com.au

Dr Nabeel Makmahi, MBchB, MRCGP (Distinction), FRACGP
GP Consultant
Since graduating in medicine in the United Kingdom, Nabeel went onto train and specialise in General Practice and Operational Medicine. He is a keen expedition medic and regularly participates in voluntary work in developing countries. Interests also include acupuncture where he obtained a COBC in this discipline in 2005.

Nabeel gained entry to the UK Royal college of General Practice with distinction in 2007 and worked in Northern England for 3 years before moving to Sydney in 2010.
Currently he is working as a GP in west Sydney and an active clinical editor.

Email: Nabeel.Makmahi@medobs.com.au

Dr Cassy Richmond, MBBS (Hons)
GP Consultant
Since graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) in 2001, Cassy has worked as a casual academic/medical tutor at the University of Sydney, medical faculty and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, clinical school. For the past 4 years, she has also worked as a freelance health writer for magazines, with a special interest in women's health issues and paediatric medicine. Additionally, Cassy is a member of the Brain Cancer Committee - Grey Matters, which was established through Cancer Council NSW, to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research.

 Email: Cassy.Richmond@medobs.com.au

Simon Wooldridge
Digital Editor
Simon has been a journalist for 18 years, writing features for the likes of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and working on staff at HQ Magazine covering politics, social issues and profiles. He has worked as an online contributor for the News Corp property whammo.com.au, via the Content Company. Most recently he was editor of Rolling Stone Australia, from 2003-2007. He joined Medical Observer in 2008.

Phone: (02) 9902 7804
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email:simon.wooldridge@medobs.com.au

Andrew Bracey
Political News Editor
Andrew joined Medical Observer in 2006 after graduating with a Communications degree from Charles Sturt University. He reports on medico-political issues relating to general practice, focusing on rural health, and was highly commended as best newcomer to journalism 2007 (Australian Bell Awards). Andrew also has a degree in Sport and Recreation.

Phone: (02) 9902 7872
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: andrew.bracey@medobs.com.au

Rada Rouse
Medical News Editor
Rada has been a staff reporter for Medical Observer since 2002, based in Brisbane. An experienced medical journalist, she has covered health politics in the Canberra press gallery, reported on medical research for the national wire service AAP, and freelanced articles to Nature Medicine In 2006 Rada won the inaugural RACGP award for clinical practice journalism.

Phone: (02) 3300 6536Email: rada.rouse@medobs.com.au

Kathryn Eccles
Medical News Reporter
Kathryn Eccles has been a journalist for 10 years, moving over to Australia six years ago after working on regional newspapers in the UK. She has worked at Medical Observer as both a clinical and political reporter for six years and now concentrates on editing Medical Observer's Primary Care Nurse and IMG supplements..

Phone: (02) 9902 7865
Email: kathryn.eccles@medobs.com.au

Danny Rose
Clinical News Writer
Danny joined the Medical Observer’s clinical team in early 2011, after more than two years as national medical writer for Australian Associated Press (AAP). He also has broad reporting experience spanning more than ten years working as a general and political news reporter across three states – Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.

Phone: (02) 9902 7868Email: danny.rose@medobs.com.au

Emma Sorensen
Clinical News Writer
Emma Sorensen has over a decade’s experience as a writer and editor for companies in Australia, the UK and US. She was a Commissioning Editor at Allen & Unwin book publishers, before becoming Managing Editor of Arts Hub UK. She has also been Managing Editor for Classified Ad Ventures and Asia Pacific Director for the AIM Group.

Phone: (02) 9902 7865
Email: emma.sorensen@medobs.com.au

Byron Kaye
Political News Reporter
Byron has been a journalist for over a decade including stints at The Daily Telegraph and Australian Associated Press. Byron is also an award-winning screenwriter and director. Byron joined Medical Observer in 2011 having spent the previous year finishing his first feature film, Twenty Ten, and shopping it around the US where he recently signed with a distributor.

Phone: (02) 9902 7865
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: byron.kaye@medobs.com.au

Catherine Hanrahan
Features editor, Reporter
Catherine has a PhD in immunology and worked as a post-doctoral scientist in a rheumatology institute in London before moving into medical communications. She has experience in GP, specialist and allied health professional medical education and is an accredited Educational Activity Representative with the RACGP. Catherine joined Medical Observer in 2008 as a clinical and professional news reporter.

Phone:(02) 9902 7856
Fax:(02) 9902 7778
Email:catherine.hanrahan@medobs.com.au

Mark O’Brien
Political News Reporter
Mark has worked as a journalist across Sydney for the past eight years. Before joining the Medical Observer in early 2011, he covered state politics for the newspapers in the Fairfax Community Network. He has also been a court reporter for Sydney metro and suburban mastheads and covered local state and federal politics for mastheads in Sydney’s Fairfax and Cumberland newspaper groups.Phone: (02) 9902 7862Fax: (02) 9902 7778Email:mark.obrien@medobs.com.au

Darrin Tranter
Online Producer
Darrin joined Medical Observer's digital team in October 2011. Darrin has spent 9 of the past 10 years working in the broadcast media sector. Darrin's career so far includes working with ABC New Media, ABC Corporate Affairs, Fairfax Digital, Macquarie Radio 2GB/2CH & Foxtel's National Indigenous Television (NITV).

Phone: (02) 9902 7869
Email: darrin.tranter@medobs.com.au

Skin Things
Dr Stephen Schumack is honorary secretary of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, head and VMO at departments of dermatology at St George Hospital, Kogarah, University of NSW, and Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, University of Sydney. Dr Schumack coordinates Medical Observer’s dermatology casebook, Skin Things.

Heart of the Matter
Heart of the Matter author Dr Stephen Fenton graduated from Sydney University in 1976 and trained at Sydney Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Westmead Hospital. The leading cardiologist commenced private practice in March 1983 and this practice subsequently grew to become the Sydney Cardiology Group. Dr Fenton has membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the American College of Cardiology.

Sport Report
The authors of The Sport Report are the Orthopaedic Surgeons and Sports Medicine Physicians from Orthosports in Sydney. The surgeons at Orthosports specialise in joint replacement, ligament reconstruction and arthroscopic and open surgery to all parts of the body. The doctors in the Orthosports group are actively involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and operate in both the public and private hospital systems. The Orthosports rooms are located in Randwick, Concord, Hurstville, Nepean and the City. Authors of The Sport Report include: Dr Jerome Goldberg, Dr Andreas Loefler, Dr Doron Sher, Dr Mel Cusi, Dr John Best, Dr Paul Annett, Dr Todd Gothelf, Dr Peter Walker, Dr Ivan Popoff. www.orthosports.com.au

Germ Gems and Testing Testing
Associate Professor Bernie Hudson is a clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases physician. He holds specialist qualifications in pathology (microbiology), internal medicine (infectious diseases), public health and tropical medicine. He currently works as Senior Staff Specialist in the Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. He also holds a position as Clinical Senior Lecturer in Infectious Diseases at Sydney University. He is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sciences at James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland.

Sexual Healing
Dr Catriona Ooi is a sexual health physician, and director of sexual health for the hunter new England area. She is a conjoint lecturer at the University of Newcastle. She has worked in the field of HIV and sits in Australia and overseas.

Skin Things
Dr Adrian Lim is Director of Training with the Australasian College of Dermatologists (NSW faculty). He has a special interest in cosmetic and laser work and is medical director of uRepublic Cosmetic Dermatology (Sydney CBD). He also practices phlebology at Sydney Skin and Vein Clinic (Bondi Junction) and has general dermatology clinics at St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre (Kogarah). He contributes regularly to Skin Things.

KidSpace
Kidspace author and regular contributor of updates in paediatrics, Professor Dominic A. Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Sydney in 1987 and trained in paediatrics and paediatric respiratory and sleep medicine at The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney. After completing a PhD he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Montreal Children’s Hospital / University of McGill. He is currently a Senior Staff Specialist in Respiratory Medicine at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Clinical Professor at The University of Sydney, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Paediatric Respiratory Reviews and recently published Better Health for our Children: a Guide for parents.

Food Factor
Food Factor columnist Lisa Yates is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian with a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics, graduating in 1995. Lisa runs her own private practice in Frenchs Forest Sydney and has interests in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight management, gastroenterology and sports nutrition. She also consults to the food industry and manages Nuts for Life - a health education program from the Australian Tree Nut Industry - which receives Australian Government matched funding for R&D activities, through Horticulture Australia. 

Lifestyle Matters
Dr Garry Egger is Professor of Lifestyle Medicine at Southern Cross  University and Director of the Centre for Health promotion and research. He is an advisor to the World Health Organisation in chronic disease and has written severeal NH&MRC reports for the Australian Government. Dr Egger has written 30 books (including 6 texts) and has over 150 peer reviewed publications. His latest text is 'Lifestyle Medicine: Managing Disease of Lifestyle in the 21St Century' 2nd ed (McGraw-Hill, Sydney, 2011).

What Lies Beneath
Cliff Rosendahl graduated with a basic medical degree at the University of NSW in 1974. Following an internship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital . He practised in Rural Queensland for 7 years before moving to Brisbane as a general practitioner. He has been in suburban private general practice since then and also had over 10 years experience in forensic medicine as a part-time government medical officer. He now practises as a primary care skin cancer practitioner and enjoys participating in research and educational activities particularly in the field of melanoma and skin cancer. He has had the privilege of being co-author and author of a number of original scientific articles.

Talking Women
The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health is a not-for-profit organisation which provides a unique response to the needs of women through excellence in research, community and professional education and clinical care. The Foundation translates the latest research findings into practical health and lifestyle approaches for women and their health professionals.

The Talking Women column is authored by the Jean Hailes Foundation’s team of clinicians and researchers  who provide a breadth of expertise in many areas of women’s health.

www.jeanhailes.org.au

Past contributors

Dr Linda Dayan
Medical Observer’s sexual health writer Dr Linda Dayan is a previous director of the Sexual Health Service at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital. Dr Dayan now works in a private sexual health and HIV practice at Taylor Square Private Clinic in Darlinghurst, Sydney, and writes a monthly column - Sexual Healing – for Medical Observer.

Dr Bob Kass
Dr Bob Kass is one of Australia’s pioneers in the discipline of travel medicine. After acting as general manager and then CEO and national medical director of the Travel Doctor-TMVC between 1989 and 2001, he moved on to work with and take on a senior lecturer’s appointment in the University of Adelaide’s department of general practice where he is involved in their International Health course. He writes Medical Observer’s monthly Travellers’ Checks column.

Professor Dedee Murrel
Professor Murrell is head of dermatology, St George Hospital, and conjoint professor at the University of NSW, Sydney. She is also consultant dermatologist for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Her special interests include blistering disorders, genodermatoses and clinical trials. Professor Murrell coordinates Medical Observer’s dermatology casebook, Occasional Spot

Professor Gordon Parker
Mind Over Matter author Professor Gordon Parker has been ranked as one of the world’s leading researchers in his field and is in the top 0.1% of cited authors on psychiatry/psychology research internationally. He is scientia professor of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales, and executive director of the Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales.

Dr Susan Towns
Dr Susan Towns is head of the department of adolescent medicine and a senior staff specialist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney. Her special interests include how coping with chronic illness interacts with the developmental changes of adolescence. She has continued ongoing clinical research to advocate for adolescent health issues, and writes Medical Observer’s adolescent health column Teen Troubles.

Gemma pillars
Art Director

Phone: (02) 9902 7790
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: gemma.pillars@medobs.com.au

Melissa Hartley
Graphic Designer

Phone: (02) 9902 7792
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: melissa.hartley@medobs.com.au

Robert Santos
Chief sub-editor

Phone: (02) 9902 7873
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: robert.santos@medobs.com.au

Frazer Mackenzie-Andrew
Group Advertising Manager

Phone: (02) 9902 7854
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: frazer.mackenzie-andrew@mims.com.au

Rose Fulete
Sales Manager

Phone: (02) 9902 7831
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: rose.fulete@medobs.com.au

Brooke McGrath
MO Classifieds

Phone: (02) 9902 7858
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: brooke.mcgrath@medobs.com.au

Romina Villanueva
Advertising and Production Manager

Phone: (02) 9902 7857
Fax: (02) 9902 7778
Email: romina.villanueva@medobs.com.au

Siobhan Murphy
Country Manager