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This picture was taken in 2014. I look a bit older now, and I have to wear glasses.

My interests and perspective

I work with adults who have attempted suicide, who live with chronic pain, and who struggle with mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and anxiety.

I support people who live with medically unexplained physical and neurological symptoms.

I work with veterans/ex-service people, police officers, prison officers and other injured workers.

I support people who are considering IVF.

I have an interest in medication treatment options for alcohol and nicotine dependence.

I believe that psychiatric medication can be of enormous value, but I am also sensitised to side effects and toxicities after years of working with patients who have experienced these things in the general hospital.

I would describe myself as a patient, respectful person who remains deeply curious about people after more than 30 years of working in this field.

I like to listen and I love stories.

I like to laugh and I enjoy finding humour in unexpected places.

I am comfortable with ambiguity during the search for answers.

I am not a great expert on attention deficit disorder.

I do not offer inpatient care in a psychiatric clinic.

My preferred scope of practice is with people who are aged 30+.

EXPERIENCE

I trained as an Atheist Chaplain in the HIV/AIDS unit of San Francisco General Hospital in 1989.

I commenced my training in psychiatry in 1991 at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals in London, and I completed my training in 1998 at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

I worked for 20 years as a Staff Specialist in general hospital psychiatry at University Hospital Geelong (1999-2019) where I was responsible for psychiatry in the Emergency Department, the Intensive Care Unit, and medical/surgical/obstetric wards.

I have been a Member of both the Victorian Mental Health Tribunal and its predecessor, the Mental Health Review Board.

I have been in private practice in Geelong since 1999.

Qualifications

I have first degrees in medicine and psychology from the University of London and a master’s degree in criminology from the University of Cambridge.

I am a Member of the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

AHPRA registration: MED0001158804