Ms Lauren Atkins
AdvAPD
Lauren Atkins is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Senior Oncology Dietitian and Co-founder and Director of her business OnCore Nutrition. She has over 12 years experience in nutrition care, having worked at Peter Mac, The Royal Children’s Hospital and as team leader at Epworth Health. She is credentialed in eating disorders, paediatrics, FODMAPs and IBS and is passionate and experienced with the management of gastrointestinal disorders, including those related to surgical or anatomical changes, cancer treatment and other medical interventions, functional gut disorders and irritable bowel syndrome. She takes a holistic approach to managing symptoms and gut health.
Lauren is a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Nutrition Group Executive Committee and contributes to national cancer and gastrointestinal care research and frameworks. She provides education, research and training to Deakin University, University of Melbourne and Swinburne University.
A/Prof Andrew Brett
MBBS, FRACP Andrew is a Consultant Gastroenterologist, Endoscopist, and Consultant Physician. Andrew has a broad range of interests within gastroenterology and internal medicine with over 15 years' experience. This includes investigation and management of gastrointestinal bleeding, iron deficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disorders, colonic polyp surveillance and bowel cancer screening. Additionally, Andrew is proficient in conducting oesophageal pH testing and manometry and is certified in video capsule endoscopy.Alongside his clinical work, Andrew is a Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Melbourne and is involved in both teaching and research, with publications within Gastroenterology and Internal medicine. He is a member of the National Examiner's Panel for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and is the Greater Western Consortium Director of Physician Education with a commitment to the training and supervision of junior doctors. He was appointed Consultant Gastroenterologist at the RMH in 2006 and is also head of a General Medical Unit there, having since become an integral member of both teams.
A/Prof Britt Christensen
BSc, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, MPH
Associate Professor Britt Christensen is a gastroenterologist who combines public practice at The Royal Melbourne Hospital as Head of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and private practice in East Melbourne. She has undergone sub-specialty training in IBD at the University of Chicago, USA and in intestinal ultrasound in Milan, Italy.
Britt has a current research interest in pregnancy and IBD, mucosal healing and drug level monitoring in IBD and intestinal ultrasound in IBD.
Although Britt maintains a special interest in the inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, she is highly experienced in investigating and managing all gastroenterological complaints, including iron deficiency, gastrointestinal bleeding, bowel cancer screening, coeliac disease and liver disorders. She is head of the IBD faculty for the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA), a board member of GESA and is the scientific lead for the international bowel ultrasound group.
Dr Ilana Gory
MBBS, FRACP, PhD
Ilana is committed to improving the health outcomes of her patients and providing medical support with a holistic and caring approach.
Dr James Haridy
BPhysio, MBBS, MPH, CHIA, PhD, FRACP James is a Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist with a specialty interest in managing advanced liver disease, liver cancer and gastrointestinal complications of cancer treatments. He completed a PhD investigating the use of digital health in the treatment of Hepatitis C, and has completed a Masters in Public Health, majoring in Nutrition.He consults privately at Epworth Richmond where he provides a comprehensive service covering all aspects of gastrointestinal care including endoscopy, and holds a public appointment at The Royal Melbourne Hospital as clinical lead for hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy.
Mr Brett Knowles
General SurgeonMr Brett Knowles completed training in General Surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne in 2007. He then completed a yearlong Australian fellowship in Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary surgery at Box Hill Hospital, before heading to the United Kingdom for two years. The first year was spent as a clinical fellow in Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh working for Regius Professor James Garden. The second year was spent as the clinical and research fellow in the Hepatobiliary unit at Basingstoke NHS working for Mr Myrddin Rees (Basingstoke NHS is one of the leading European centres for liver and cytoreduction surgery).
Upon returning to Australia in late 2010, Brett commenced specialist practice in Melbourne with public appointments at St Vincent's Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Brett has an active involvement in teaching, surgical training and research and is committed to providing the highest standards of patient care.
A/Prof Andrew Metz
MBBS(Hons), FRACP
A/Prof Andrew Metz is a gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist. A/Prof Metz underwent gastroenterology training at the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he graduated with honours. He then undertook a fellowship in Therapeutic Endoscopy at Australia's top endoscopy institution at Westmead, Sydney where he focused on endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic mucosal resection.Andrew’s main research interests are in bowel and pancreatic disease, particularly in early detection and screening in pancreatic cancer, and novel endoscopic treatments. Andrew is Director of the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth, leading this centre of excellence in research, clinical care and patient experience for people living with pancreatic cancer. He is on the council of the Australian Pancreatic Club and the Australian and New Zealand Endoscopy Leaders Forum. Andrew is also Director of Endoscopy at Royal Melbourne Hospital and was previously Director of Endoscopy at Cambridge University Hospitals, UK.
Prof Ingrid Winship AO
MBCHB, MD, FRACP, FACDProfessor Ingrid Winship AO FAHMS, clinician scientist in clinical genetics, cancer genetics and genodermatology, is a leader in genetics research and health services. She is Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee and a member of the NHMRC Council. Professor Winship has translated research in genetics and cancer prevention into state-of-the-art clinical services, alongside person centred care, innovation, community engagement, teaching, succession planning and mentoring.
In 2020, Professor Winship received the award of the Order of Australia in recognition of her “distinguished service to medicine particularly to clinical genetics and research, to cancer prevention, and as a role model and mentor.”
Prof Winship is Group Director of Research and Chief Research Officer at Epworth HealthCare.
Dr Allan Zimet
MBBS, FRACPDr Allan Zimet completed his oncology training in Melbourne at the Peter MacCallum Cancer institute. Subsequently Allan spent 2 years doing a postgraduate fellowship in oncology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Since returning to Melbourne he has been involved in medical oncology both in the Private and Public hospital spheres. He currently practices at a number of Private Hospitals including Epworth, John Fawkner and Warringal Hospitals. From 1985 to 1992 he was a full-time oncologist at the Repatriation Hospital and currently attends both the Austin Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Clinic.
Allan has his major interests in the treatment of gastrointestinal (colon, stomach, oesophageal and pancreatic) cancers, lung cancer, lymphoma, myeloma and breast cancer as well as central nervous tumours. He aims to provide compassionate honest care with a patient focus, whilst maintaining quality-of-life and improving quantity of life.