Experts

Healthed work with a team of general practitioners and medical professionals to ensure the highest quality education​

Dr Ibrahim Javed is currently an Enterprise Fellow (Senior Lecturer) and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia. He is also an adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland. He completed his doctoral studies at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2020 and postdoctoral research at AIBN, The University of Queensland. He joined the University of South Australia in 2023 where he is now directing the laboratory of Gut-Brain Axis, Aging and Therapeutics. Research in Javed’s lab focuses on the gut-brain axis and its implications for aging and Dementia. His research team is working to unfold the specific role of bad/pathogenic gut bacteria in the aging paradigms and Dementia associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. His team has discovered and published the molecular details of how bad bacteria in the gut can trigger a younger onset (aged under 65) and accelerate Dementia and how the brain can develop Dementia when fighting with microbial biofilms in the gut – the infectious etiology of Dementia. With this research trajectory, his vision is to develop towards a multifaceted therapeutic intervention for aging-associated diseases and Dementia. He also has a passion for public communication of scientific research and has published research stories in The Scientia Global Magazine UK, Insight+, The Medical Journal of Australia, interviews through ABC Radio, Radio 2 SM, Herald Sun and Channel 7 News. He is also an editorial board member of Nature Communications Biology journal.
Dr Lavender Otieno (PhD) is an Early Career Researcher behavioural scientist whose work focuses on the growing concern of nicotine use among young adults in Australia. Dr Otieno came to Flinders University from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute where she focused on investigating the motivating factors behind the growing use of nicotine vapes among adolescents in South Australia for translational implementation. Her current research interests Include: Tobacco control and smoking cessation Vaping product and e-cigarette use
I am a Psychologist in the Discipline of Behavioural Health, College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. My clinical expertise is in strength-based psychotherapy, and research interests include the design of digital mental health technologies, the lived experience of health service users, the acceptability and effectiveness of low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy, and strength-based mental health promotion.
Dr Joshua Trigg is a public health researcher with training and experience in psychological and population health research. His work focuses on health and occupational health risk factors, risk attitudes and motivators of risk behaviours. Dr Trigg came to the Flinders Public Health Team from Cancer Council South Australia, where he researched tobacco and alcohol use attitudes and behaviours, as well as community perceptions of culturally focused tobacco cessation messaging. His previous work has examined motivators and inhibitors of emergency risk taking behaviour, and wellbeing and quality of life domains, and has used various quantitative and qualitative methods. He is a member of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs and Public Health Association of Australia, and has worked with government health bodies, non-profits and various community organisations across Australia. His current research interests include: – Tobacco control and smoking cessation – Vaping and e-cigarette use – Alcohol consumption patterns – Health risk behaviours – Health promotion/risk messaging effectiveness – Wellbeing and quality of life Qualifications – PhD (Psychology) – BPsycSci(Hon) (First Class)
Prof Andrew Sindone, Cardiologist; Director of the Heart Failure Unit and Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, Concord Hospital; Head, Department of Cardiology, Ryde Hospital
Prof Andrew Sindone B. Med (hons), MD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FNHFA is Director of the Heart Failure Unit and Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Concord Hospital and Head of Department of Cardiology at Ryde Hospital. He runs the Concord Hospital Heart Failure Clinic, research, rehabilitation and outreach programs. He has been Principal Investigator in 50 international, multi-centre, clinical trials and authored over 100 articles. He is a Co-Chairman of the NSW Cardiovascular Expert Reference Group, Fellow of the Heart Foundation of Australia and is co-author of the Australian and the Asia Pacific Heart Failure Guidelines.

Dr Desmond Graham, Geriatrician; Northern Beaches Hospital, Sydney
Dr Desmond Graham is a Geriatrician who graduated from the University of Newcastle and completed specialty training at Westmead and North Shore Hospitals. He is actively involved with the Australia and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine and holds an academic appointment as a Clinical Lecturer with the University of Sydney. Dr Graham has a special interest in healthy ageing and peri-operative medicine. He provides holistic, patient-centred care for all patients with major geriatric syndromes including dementia, delirium, frailty, falls and end of life care. He participates in a monthly Healthy Ageing segment with Deborah Knight on 2GB radio and holds regular forums for the Northern Beaches community.

Prof Dominic Dwyer, Medical Virologist and Infectious Diseases Physician; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, Sydney
Prof Dominic Dwyer is a medical virologist and infectious diseases physician in the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, located in the ICPMR at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. He has a clinical and research interest in viral diseases of public health importance. This includes HIV (where he coordinates an active program in antiretroviral drug resistance and HIV molecular epidemiology in Australia and the region), influenza and other respiratory viruses, and arboviruses. He leads an antiviral trials unit that has participated in over sixty studies of antiviral drugs and vaccines. His influenza research includes assessing interventions to prevent influenza transmission in closed environments, and developing assays for seasonal and pandemic influenza. CIDMLS has enhanced the laboratory investigative capacity in NSW for infectious disease outbreaks, with his particular focus being rapid detection and molecular epidemiology of outbreak and emerging viruses.

Dr Ted Wu, Endocrinologist; Senior Specialist Endocrinologist, Director, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Diabetes Centre; Director of Physician Training, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
Dr Ted Wu is a senior specialist endocrinologist, Director of the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital Diabetes Centre and Director of Physician Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has a long-term interest clinical diabetes, and teaching and research into diabetes complications and novel treatments. In 1998 he joined the RPA Diabetes Centre, formulating and delivering novel educational programs in clinical diabetes. He has published numerous articles, abstracts and book chapters and has been an invited speaker to many international symposia. He was instrumental in establishing RPA Hospital’s Diabetes Centre as a National Association of Diabetes Centre’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ and Australia’s only International Diabetes Federation ‘Centre of Education’.

Dr Ted Wu is a senior specialist endocrinologist, Director of the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital Diabetes Centre and Director of Physician Training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has a long-term interest clinical diabetes, and teaching and research into diabetes complications and novel treatments. In 1998 he joined the RPA Diabetes Centre, formulating and delivering novel educational programs in clinical diabetes. He has published numerous articles, abstracts and book chapters and has been an invited speaker to many international symposia. He was instrumental in establishing RPA Hospital’s Diabetes Centre as a National Association of Diabetes Centre’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ and Australia’s only International Diabetes Federation ‘Centre of Education’.
Dr James MacKean is based in Brisbane and works at both GenesisCare’s Chermside and Wesley centres. James also regularly visits GenesisCare Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast.
James was awarded the Windeyer Fellowship in 1999. He completed registrar training in New South Wales and a Fellowship year at Mt Vernon Hospital, London before commencing employment at The Wesley in 2000.He has a particular interest in all aspects of the management of Prostate cancer.
His other interests are Palliative care, Colorectal and Haematological malignancies. He is a member of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology Genito-urinary Group and a former chair of the Australasian Brachytherapy Group.
Prof Baber is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The University of Sydney and operates a specialist Gynaecology and Reproductive Endocrinology practice based on Sydney’s lower north shore. He also heads the menopause and menstrual disorders clinic at Royal North Shore Hospital. Prof Baber is a life member and Past President Australasian menopause Society as well as Past President International Menopause Society where he is also Honorary Life Member.
Dr John Eden (MB BS MD FRCOG FRANZCOG CREI) is a reproductive endocrinologist and gynaecologist. He is a Conjoint Professor in the Department of Women and Children’s Health, Royal Hospital for Women (University of New South Wales). He is a visiting medical officer at the Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, where he is Head of the Menopause Unit. John is a Director of the Women’s Health and Research Institute of Australia (WHRIA). He is a member of the Breast Cancer MDT at Prince of Wales Hospital Randwick. John is on the executive committee and co-chair of the NSW Health (ACI) Menopause Hub project. His research and clinical interests include managing menopause after breast cancer, early menopause, hormones and mood disorders, PMDD, menopausal hormonal therapy as well as herbal medicine. He has also written over 150 scientific publications.
Dr Terri Foran is a Sexual Health Physician and has a special interest in contraception, menopause issues and the management of sexually transmitted infections. She was previously the Medical Director of Family Planning NSW and is now in clinical practice in Darlinghurst. She is also engaged in both clinical and research work at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney. Dr Foran holds the position of Lecturer at the University of New South Wales in the School of Women’s and Children’s Health. She coordinates Phase 2 of their undergraduate Women’s Health program as well as supervising a number of modules in the Masters of Reproductive Medicine and Masters of Women’s Health Medicine Programs offered by UNSW.
Dr Sara Whitburn is the Deputy Medical Director at Sexual Health Victoria. She has a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practice, has Diplomas in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Family Planning. Dr Whitburn specialises in genital health, menopause, and IUD insertion training. Dr Whitburn is excited about enabling healthcare professionals to deliver great sexual and reproductive healthcare. Dr Sarah Callister is a senior medical educator with Family planning NSW. She currently leads the doctors FPAA course and is involved in development and teaching of courses in cervical screening, Implanon, and IUD insertion. She works in clinics with Family Planning at Newington, Penrith and an outreach post at Blacktown Women’s and Girl’s Health Centre. She is also an experienced GP having worked in Sydney’s inner west for the past 15 years.