Chair
Professor Geoff McColl is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland. He is a medical practitioner with a speciality qualification as a rheumatologist. Professor McColl brings considerable clinical and research experience in the areas of rheumatology and immunology and in clinical pharmacology. He is currently the President of the Australian Medical Council. He is also a past member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and previous Chair of its Drug Utilisation Subcommittee. Professor McColl provides expertise in the field of rheumatology.
Members
Dr Kayte Evans is a General Practitioner at the Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service in Ballina NSW and is involved in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines. Dr Evans has worked in Aboriginal Health in NT, WA, and NSW for 31 years where she undertook annual assessments and reports on the public health and statistics of each remote community. In addition, she assisted in the introduction of measles vaccine in the early 1990’s and occasional cold chain failure and vaccine failure in these communities. Dr Evans has vast experience both within rural and urban Australian general practice, having worked extensively in the NT and QLD, as well as internationally as the Australian Embassy doctor in Cambodia. Dr Evans provides expertise in the field of general medical practice in Australia and infectious diseases.
Dr Janice Fletcher is a paediatrician, biochemical geneticist and genetic pathologist. She has extensive experience in clinical governance and medical administration. She currently works part time for NSW Health Pathology after a long career leading the provision of genetic and newborn screening services in South Australia. Dr Fletcher provides expertise in the field of paediatrics, genetics and inborn errors of metabolism.
Associate Professor Ingrid Hopper is a clinical pharmacologist and general physician at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and Associate Professor at Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Her clinical practice encompasses heart failure and care of older people. She is a clinician researcher with interest in the safe and effective use of medicines and high risk implantable medical devices. Associate Professor Hopper provides expertise in clinical pharmacology and general medicine.
Dr Joel Iedema is a clinical pharmacologist and endocrinologist. Dr Iedema has over a decade of experience in medicines governance with involvement in various medicines committees. He is the current deputy chair of the Queensland Health Medicines Advisory Committee. He maintains active clinical practice in endocrinology and general medicine. Dr Iedema provides expertise in the field of clinical pharmacology/pharmacokinetics and endocrinology.
Dr Debra Kennedy is the founder and current Director of Mothersafe, (the NSW Statewide Medications in Pregnancy and Lactation Advisory Service). She has background in the areas of clinical teratology and pharmacology as well as paediatrics and clinical genetics. Dr Kennedy provides expertise in the field of medicines in pregnancy.
Dr Maya Latimer is the Director of Clinical Haematology, The Canberra Hospital. She is also co-supervisor for the cytogenetics and molecular genomics laboratory, ACT Pathology. Her clinical and research interests include lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma and cytogenomics. Dr Latimer provides expertise in the field of internal medicine, particularly haematology.
Dr Bavahuna Manoharan is the State Clinical Director for the Covid-19 Vaccination Program in Queensland Health with oversight over the clinical aspects of the rollout and the Queensland Adverse Event Following Immunisation Program. He was previously the Deputy Director of Medical Services and Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Logan Hospital, and has held similar medical administration roles. His area of specialty is medical administration and he has a specific interest and deep experience in clinical governance systems, patient safety and quality care, digital health, in particular better utilisation of digital health technologies for improved patient outcomes, population health chronic disease and oncological management and designing Value Based Health Care systems. He holds several key leadership roles including Vice President and Director of AMA Queensland and Director of the National Australian Medical Association. Dr Manoharan provides expertise in the field of epidemiology/biostatistics, radiology, medicines in pregnancy and medical ethics.
Associate Professor Victoria Mar is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists and is currently the Director of the Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred Hospital. She has an interest in early diagnosis of melanoma and skin cancer and surveillance of high-risk individuals, including the use of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. Associate Professor Mar is a board member of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Group and a member of the Melanoma Guidelines Working Group. Associate Professor Mar provides expertise in dermatology.
Ms Joanne Muller has been a consumer/community representative in the health sector since 1994. She holds formal qualifications in science, teaching, law and governance. Currently she sits on the NSW Nursing & Midwifery Council, the NSW Radiation Advisory Council, the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce's Consumer Panel, and the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Reference Working Group. Her previous roles have included membership on the Therapeutic Guidelines group for Endocrinology, and on the ACSQHC's Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Clinical Care Standard Working Group. She has over 35 years as non-executive director roles in a wide variety of organisations and served six years as the legal member of the Cancer Council Ethics Committee (a Human Research Ethics Committees registered with NHMRC) and is an occasional lecturer on ethics and law for health students at two universities. Ms Muller provides expertise in consumer health issues.
Dr Orla O’Brien is a consultant nephrologist and obstetric physician working at Alfred Hospital and Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. She has experience in remote and urban indigenous health and an interest in dialysis and tubular disorders. She is the Alfred’s lead physician for HIV-related renal disease. Dr O’Brien provides expertise in renal disease and medicines in pregnancy.
Professor Philip Robinson is head of the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. He also heads a drug trial research team at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute involving paediatric lung conditions. His main clinical interest is in suppurative lung disease, including CF and PCD as well as chronic lung disease of prematurity. Professor Robinson provides expertise in the field of respiratory disease.
Dr Susan Russell is a consultant paediatric haematologist/oncologist at Sydney Children’s Hospital (SCH) Randwick. Her experience includes management of children with leukaemia, lymphoma, solid tumours and those undergoing bone marrow transplantation. She is Head of the Haematology Programme and Director of the Haemophilia Treatment Centre at SCH. The programme manages children with bleeding disorders, thrombosis, haemoglobinopathies, and congenital and acquired bone marrow disorders. A recent focus of interest is the use of anticoagulants, novel agents and targeted therapies in the treatment of children with vascular anomalies and tumours. Dr Russell provides expertise in the field of paediatrics, haematology and oncology.
Clinical Associate Professor Rashmi Sharma has wide-ranging experience as a General Practitioner. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of General Practice at the Australian National University and has an interest in quality systems relating to prescribing, dispensing and regulation of medicines. She was a previous member of PBAC and is a current member of the Drug Utilisation Subcommittee. Clinical Associate Professor Sharma was awarded an OAM for her service to medicine, and provides expertise in the field of general medical practice in Australia.
Dr Kavitha Subramanian is a Senior Staff Specialist in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit at The Canberra Hospital and a full-time practising procedural gastroenterologist. She has a wide expertise in clinical gastroenterology and her clinical practice not only involves complex inflammatory bowel diseases but also irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancer screening and management of gastrointestinal bleeding. She is involved in clinical research in these areas including clinical trials in inflammatory bowel diseases. She has a strong interest and experience in medicines governance and is a member of the Canberra Hospital Drug and Therapeutics Committee. Dr Subramaniam provides expertise in general medical practice in Australia and gastroenterology and hepatology.
Dr Kee Meng Tan completed his neurology training at Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, with fellowships in Clinical Neurophysiology and Autoimmune Neurology. He joined the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Royal Melbourne Hospital and then the Director of Neurology at Gold Coast Hospital and Health Services. He recently assumed the role of Clinical Director of Diagnostic and Subspecialty Services at GCHHS. Throughout his career, he has taken on key advisory roles in clinical education in hospitals, medical schools and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Dr Tan provides expertise in the field of neurology.
Dr Theo Theodoros graduated from both pharmacy and medicines, with specialist training in psychiatry, at the University of Queensland. He works as a psychiatrist in both public and private settings. He also works with Queensland Health to deliver enhancements to the digital health and prescribing systems. Dr Theodoros provides expertise in psychiatry and pharmacy.
Professor Duncan Topliss is the Director, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Alfred, Melbourne, and Professor of Medicine, Monash University. He is a past President and Life Member of the Endocrine Society of Australia. He has a wide expertise in clinical endocrinology including thyroid disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, pituitary and adrenal disease, and endocrine hypertension. Professor Topliss provides expertise in the field of endocrinology.
Professor Euan Walpole is a clinical academic in medicine with a strong background in the clinical use of medication and standards. He is currently the Medical Director for the Division of Cancer Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Metro South Health in Brisbane. His core speciality is in medical oncology. Professor Walpole provides expertise in the field of oncology.
Associate Professor Dominica Zentner is an adult cardiologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, with areas of practice in general cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, pregnancy and heart disease, cardiac genetics and echocardiography. She is active in clinical research in these areas and currently serves as Chair, Quality Standards Committee and is a Board member of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Associate Professor Zentner provides expertise in the field of cardiology.