Dr. Robert Finlayson

Director/ Co-founder of TSPC

Robert Finlayson has over 30 years clinical experience in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine. He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1978, became a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sexual Health Physicians in 1990, was elected to Senior Fellowship in 1998 and was formerly NSW state chairman. He is a Founding Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine within the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

He was coauthor of the 1985 Lancet paper that characterised HIV Seoconversion Illness, as well as numerous publications and conference presentations on HIV and Sexual Health Medicine.

Dr Finlayson’s current research interests include sexually transmissible diseases, human immunodeficiency virus and human papilloma virus infection.

He has been continuously active in HIV and Sexual Health clinical care, research and teaching since 1981 and is a conjoint lecturer at UNSW.

Dr Finlayson’s usual days at the clinic are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (fortnightly). 

Dr. Emanuel Vlahakis

Director

Emanuel Vlahakis is the Co-Director of TSPC. He has trained both as a Sexual Health Physician and General Practitioner, completing the FRACGP in 2004 and FAChSHP in 2007.

His research interests include all aspects of sexual health and HIV.  He is working with ASHM as a mentor to help develop and expand HIV programs in Papua New Guinea.  He also has a special interest in the medical management of transgender issues.  He has been invited to sit on several advisory panels assisting various HIV community groups and pharma.

He is also a keen practitioner of yoga and student of Eastern philosophies, and recently discovered the joys of gardening.

Dr Vlahakis’ usual days at the clinic are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (fortnightly).

Dr. Neil Bodsworth MD

Neil Bodsworth is a Sexual Health Physician practicing at TSPC.  He coordinated the clinic’s busy research program until March 2009. His two major research interests are the clinical interactions of HIV with other sexually transmissible infections and the chemotherapy of viral STIs.

Dr Bodsworth first became involved in clinical drug trials in 1988 when he coordinated the Australian participation in the early placebo-controlled studies of AZT for asymptomatic HIV infection.   Since then he has acted as Investigator on some 40 clinical trials of antiviral agents including 19 studies of drugs to treat human herpes virus infections.  He published 37 papers in the scientific literature of which 12 relate to herpes.

Dr Bodsworth is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sexual Health Physicians since 1989, and has served on STI advisory boards for government, academia and industry.  His doctoral thesis examined the interaction of HIV infection and the human hepatotrophic viruses.

Dr Bodsworth’s usual days at the clinic are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (fortnightly).

Dr. Linda Dayan

Linda Dayan is Sexual Health Physician and has worked with patients with HIV and other STI’s in New Zealand, London and Sydney for almost 20 years. In addition to her work at Taylor Square Clinic for 11 years, she was the Head of Department, Sexual Health, at Royal North Shore Hospital and Director of Sexual Health Services, Northern Sydney Health Services. She continues to lecture undergraduate students at the University of Sydney and writes a monthly sexual health column for an Australian medical magazine.

Dr Dayan completed her medical degree in 1983. She has been a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sexual Health Physicians since 1995, holds a Diploma of Obstetrics and is a member of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (MRCMA). Dr Dayan obtained a Masters in Medicine in 1996 and her thesis examined the toxicity and safety of an antiretroviral in patients with HIV.

Dr Dayan’s usual days at the clinic are Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Dr. Cathy Pell

Cathy Pell is a Sexual Health Physician and a Vocationally Registered General Practitioner. She worked at Taylor Square Clinic between 1997 and 2008, after training at Sydney, Pt Kembla and St George Sexual Health clinics, general practice in Wollongong and Family Planning clinics in Wollongong and Hurstville.

She has recently returned after spending 2 years in Darwin as the Sexual Health Physician for the Northern Territory Department of Health and Families (DHF). In this role she saw patients in the public sexual health clinic in Darwin three days a week and spent the remainder of her time working in the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Unit based at Royal Darwin Hospital. This unit provides oversight of programmes in the NT and Dr Pell worked on updating policies in sexual health, provided consultancy for health care workers in the NT and collaborated on a research project with DHF, AMSANT, Menzies School of Health Research and the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research in improving delivering of sexual health services in primary care settings in remote areas of the NT.

She returns to Taylor Square Private Clinic to provide ongoing holistic primary health care of patients with sexual health and other conditions, enriched by her experiences in the NT.

Dr Pell’s usual days at the clinic are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and  Saturday (occasional).

Dr. John Byrne

John Byrne graduated from the University of New South Wales some time in the last century. He has worked at TSPC since 1991, apart from a 2 year stint in Tasmania 2003-2005.

He is interested in gay mens health and general practice. His other interests are classical music, swimming and pinot noir.

Dr Byrne’s usual days at the clinic are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (fortnightly).

Dr. Terri Foran

Sexual Health Physician

Terri Foran is a Sexual Health Physician who has a special interest in women’s sexual and reproductive health with particular expertise in the areas of contraception, menopause and the management of sexually transmitted infections. She was the Medical Director of FPA Health from 1998 to 2004.

Dr Foran is also a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales in the School of Women’s and Children’s Health and medical officer at the Research Unit at The Royal Hospital for Women.

Dr Foran regularly presents to medical practitioners and allied health professionals on sexual and reproductive health topics and currently she is the President of the NSW Sexual Health Society and a Committee member of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine.

Dr Foran has a long-standing interest in medical journalism and is currently the monthly Women’s Health columnist for Australian Doctor Magazine as well as being a regular contributor to both professional and popular publications on sexual health issues. She was the medical advisor on a book on contraception published by Choice in 2002 and was a contributor to an Australian book on Sexual and Reproductive Health issues published in 2005.

Dr Foran’s usual day at the clinic is Thursday.

Dr. Louise Tomlins

Louise Tomlins has worked at TSPC since 2003. She is a Registered GP, S100 Prescriber and is on the Training Program to become a Sexual Health Physician. She has a certificate in Family Planning and is an antenatal shared care GP affiliated with Royal Hospital for Women.

She has an interest in sexually transmitted infections, HIV medicine and womens health.

Dr Tomlins’ usual days at the clinic are Tuesday and Friday.

Dr. Matthew Shields

Matthew Shields is a Sexual Health Physician.  He is also a qualified General Practitioner.

His special interests include HIV medicine, sexually transmitted infections and dermatology.  He also speaks    Brazilian Portuguese.

Dr Shields’ usual days at the clinic are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (fortnightly).

Dr. Anna Vella

General Practitioner

Anna Vella is General Practitioner with interests in the fields of Sexual Health, HIV medicine and mental health.

Her current research interests are in the mental and physical health needs of gay men, lesbian women, HIV, HCV and HBV patients.

Dr Vella’s usual days at the clinic are Monday and Wednesday.

Dr. Taya Van Haren

General Practitioner

Taya Van Haren is a General Practitioner with special interests in sexual health and HIV medicine, and skin cancer.  After completing a Univeristy of New South Wales Medical Degree with Honours, she graduated as a General Practitioner in 2009 and is also a S100 prescriber. She has a certificate in Family Planning and is an antenatal shared care GP affiliated with Royal Hospital for Women and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

She is currently furthering her education in the areas of HIV medicine and dermatology / skin cancer.

Dr Van Haren’s usual days at the clinic are Tuesday and Thursday.

Dr. Michael Hing

Consultant Physician Gastroenterologist

Michael Hing was the founder of the Bondi Junction Endoscopy Centre in 1982 and he completed his medical degree M.B., B.S from Sydney University with Second Class Honours in 1974.

After doing some overseas medical work, Dr Hing returned to Australia to complete specialist training in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, holding training registrar positions at St Vincent’s Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Hospital, and became a Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 1982.

He is certified as competent in Endoscopy and Colonoscopy having obtained accreditation by the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Training and is a member of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia.

Dr Hing is also a founding Fellow of the Australasian College of Sexual Health Physicians (FACSHP) in recognition of his training and research interests in the venereological aspects of Gastroenterology and HIV medicine. He is the Gastroenterologist to the HIV unit at St Vincent’s Hospital and also holds appointments to St Vincent’s Private Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital and Wolper Hospital.

He is a co-author of a number of medical journal articles and a regular part-time lecturer to the Master of Medicine candidates at Sydney University.

Dr Hing is keenly interested in Eastern Philosophy and Religion and regularly meditates.

Dr Hing’s usual day at the clinic is Monday.

Miss Isabel Prone, Ms Sophie Dinning

Clinical Trials Coordinators

Wen Wen (Sabrina) Bi

Practice Nurse

Louise Houtzager

Louise Houtzager is an accredited practising dietitian (APD) with over 13 years clinical experience in Nutrition and Dietetics.  Louise provides nutrition and lifestyle counselling for health maintenance and the management of chronic diseases including HIV, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver disease and gastrointestinal disorders.

Louise has a special interest in sports nutrition and has a BSc in Human Movement (Exercise Science), in addition to her MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics.  Louise is a Fellow of the University of Wollongong (UOW) and provides nutrition lectures to both UOW and the University of Sydney Dietetics students.

Louise can help you achieve your health goals using food and lifestyle changes that can be incorporated into your busy daily life.  Ask your GP for more information or book an appointment through the Clinic reception.

Louise’s usual day at the clinic is Thursday.

Nicholas Doumani

Nicholas Doumani is a registered psychologist.  He is also an experienced counsellor.  He is an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Apart from his work at Taylor Square Private Clinic, Nick also works at TransCultural Mental Health Centre (NSW Health) as a Cross Cultural Clinical Consultant. He has lived and worked in Zimbabwe and USA.

Nick’s clinical interests include helping people with problems arising from exposure to various forms of trauma. He has provided clinical services to asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced torture and trauma.

He will utilise different therapeutic approaches to suit the person.  He prefers to work collaboratively with people.

Nick’s usual days at the clinic are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Ruth Hennessy

Psychologist

Ruth’s usual day at the clinic is Wednesday.