Director
Professor Stephen Nicholls – Director of MonashHeart
Professor Stephen Nicholls was appointed to the position of Director of MonashHeart, Monash Health and Professor of Cardiology, Monash University in October 2018.
Prior to this he was the Deputy Director and Heart Health Theme Leader at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide and a cardiologist at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.
He is a Principal Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council, an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and is Honorary Secretary of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
His work spans the translational spectrum from the lab bench to the bedside, with a focus on understanding the factors that promote plaque formation, novel vascular imaging and leadership of large scale clinical trials of new therapies designed to reduce the risk of heart disease.
He has extensive academic and industry collaborations, having raised more than $100 million in research funding and has written more than 770 manuscripts, book chapters and conference proceedings.
Emeritus Director
Professor Richard Harper – Emeritus Director of MonashHeart
Professor Harper is a highly respected cardiologist, advisor, supervisor, lecturer and mentor. He has held the role of Emeritus Director of MonashHeart since 2005, was the clinical co-lead of the DHHS Cardiac Clinical Network and more recently has been appointed as the Chair of the Cardiology Committee for the Australian Government MBS Taskforce. He was also the previous director of the MonashHeart.
Professor Harper key priorities over the coming months is to continue to improve cardiac services for patients and to contribute to the planning for the Victorian Heart Hospital.
Clinical Nurse Coordinators
Ms Caroline Bowman – Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Early Intervention Systolic Heart Failure Program, MonashHeart
In March 2014 Ms Caroline Bowman was appointed to the role of clinical nurse consultant and established the Early Intervention Systolic Heart Failure (EISHF) Program alongside cardiologist Dr Siobhan Lockwood. EISHF is an innovative nurse led, cardiologist supported program focused on improving heart failure self-management/education, improving patient outcomes and reducing heart failure admissions. Caroline’s role involves patient focussed heart failure education, health literacy counselling and phone support following hospital discharge. Caroline also attends the weekly EISHF clinic, facilitates and coordinates patient multidisciplinary care needs and provides a central contact for general practitioners.
Ms Melissa Harvey – Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Cardiac Rhythm Management, MonashHeart
Melissa Harvey gained the position of cardiac rhythm management clinical nurse consultant in October 2016. Melissa began her cardiac nursing career in 2009 on MonashHeart’s cardiac care unit where she gained extensive cardiac nursing experience. Melissa helped establish the nurse led, cardiologist supported Atrial Fibrillation Clinic within MonashHeart where patients receive a combination of medical therapy, education and on-going support. Melissa holds a post-graduate certificate in cardiac care and a master of nursing practice.
Ms Maree Lawrence – Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Structural Heart Disease Program, MonashHeart
Ms Maree Lawrence is a long standing member of MonashHeart, having commenced in 1998 as a cardiac catheterisation laboratory nurse. During this time she undertook post-graduate education in critical care nursing as well as gaining extensive experience in roles including the clinical applications manager and as research coordinator. She became the structural heart disease clinical coordinator in June 2014. The structural heart program encompasses cases such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, percutaneous mitral valve repair, percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation, atrial septal and patent foramen ovale closures. Her role incorporates all aspects of pre and post procedural patient management, case scheduling, facilitating weekly ‘heart team’ meetings and providing ongoing patient education and support.
Educators
Ms Yasmine Ivankovic – Clinical Nurse Educator, Cardiac Care Unit, Clayton
After many years of cardiac nursing on the cardiac care unit, Clayton, Ms Yasmine Ivankovic has the position of clinical nurse educator for this 21-bed and 60 EFT unit. Yasmine’s passion is shaping new models of learning for cardiac care nursing and leading knowledge development in the cardiac field of healthcare.
Ms Kim Lumsden – Clinical Nurse Educator, 32 South, Cardiothoracics, Clayton
With over 25 years cardiac nursing experience including at the Epworth Hospital, Alfred Hospital and Austin Health, Ms Kim Lumsden joins MonashHeart as the clinical nurse educator for cardiothoracics; a position she is well skilled having been the clinical nurse educator of the cardiac and thoracic unit at Austin Health for a number of years. Kim has a Bachelor of Education from La Trobe University and a Critical Care Certificate from the Alfred Hospital.
Ms Eileen Nah – Echocardiography Educator
Eileen commenced as the echocardiography educator for MonashHeart in December 2017. She is committed to providing ongoing training, support and resources to ensure our trainees and senior sonographers develop a culture of lifelong learning and high performance standards.
Ms Sarah O’Donnell – Clinical Nurse Educator, Cardiac Care Unit, Jessie Mcpherson Private Hospital
Ms Sarah O’Donnell has worked at the Jessie McPherson Private Hospital cardiac care unit for 13 years now and has a strong passion for cardiology and cardiothoracic nursing. She completed a critical care certificate at Deakin University and worked as nurse unit manager for 3 years on the unit. In 2018 she commenced the new role of clinical nurse educator which enables her to foster growth on the unit through knowledge and learning.
Mr Anthony Wald – Point-of-Care Echocardiography Educator
Mr Anthony Wald qualified as a cardiac physiologist in South Africa, subsequently working in Europe and Australia. He undertook the role of Chief Cardiac Physiologist of MonashHeart for 10 years before becoming the point-of-care echocardiography educator for Monash Health in mid 2015.
Mr Kevin White – Clinical Nurse Educator, Cardiac Catheterisation Labortories
Kevin has 15 years cardiac care and cath lab nursing experience and is the first full-time cath lab educator in Australia. Kevin set up an interventional cardiology stream of the critical care course in partnership with Deakin University and now guest lectures in contemporary cath lab nursing practice. He is a Victorian representative of the Interventional Nurses Council (INC) and a member of the INC national education guidelines working party and CSANZ continuing professional development committee.
Managers
Mr Steve Farrell – Chief Cardiac Physiologist
Steve Farrell completed his nurse training in Edinburgh in 1989 and worked in coronary care and cardiothoracic intensive care units in both Scotland and Australia until 1997. During this period he obtained a Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Nursing and trained in cardiac technology. In 1997 he was employed as a cardiac physiologist and was appointed chief cardiac physiologist at Epworth Hospital from 1997 until 2007 during which time he obtained a Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Ultrasound. In 1998 he joined MonashHeart to learn paediatric echocardiography and has assisted in the training of students undertaking diploma courses in cardiac ultrasound. Steve was appointed as MonashHeart’s chief cardiac physiologist in August 2015.
Ms Anna Geller – Nurse Unit Manager, Cardiac Care Unit, MonashHeart Clayton
Mr James Harley, RN, AMS(Cardiac), Grad Dip Medical Ultrasound, Lead Echocardiography Physiologist
James has 16 years’ experience as a sonographer commencing his training at Box Hill Hospital in 2002. He has been at MonashHeart since 2006 and completed his Diploma of Medical Ultrasound in 2007. As a senior sonographer he has extensive experience in stress echocardiography and has been involved in research and teaching at MonashHeart. James commenced as lead echocardiography physiologist in 2017.
Ms Jessica Cseh – Lead Cardiac Cathetherisation Laboratory Physiologist
Ms Amber Coleman – Nurse Unit Manager, 31 North, Jessie McPherson Private Hospital, Clayton
Ms Amber Coleman’s career as a cardiac/cardiothoracic nurse started in 2014 when she made the transition to 31 North after 13 years of gastroscience nursing, completing a post-graduate critical care certificate in cardiac care in 2015. Amber has undertaken a number of roles within Jessie McPherson Private Hospital including clinical nurse specialist, associate nurse unit manager, associate director of nursing and now nurse unit manager since May 2018.
Ms Chris Rasmussen – Nurse Unit Manager, Cardiac Care Unit, MonashHeart, Dandenong
Ms Chris Rasmussen has lead the cardiac care nursing team at Dandenong Hospital for a number of years, a team that is very experienced in all disciplines of acute cardiac care nursing. Chris is active on a number of Monash Health committees including the resuscitation committee and clinical review committee.
Ms Lucy Rudolph – Lead Cardiac Rhythm Management Physiologist
Lucy has more than 13 years’ experience as a cardiac physiologist in various hospitals in London and Australia. For the last five years Lucy focussed on the sub-speciality area of cardiac rhythm management, with qualifications, skills and experience in both cardiac electrophysiology and devices. Lucy became the lead cardiac rhythm management physiologist for MonashHeart in May 2015.
Ms Pauline Ryan – Nurse Unit Manager, 32 South, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton
Ms Pauline Ryan began her career in cardiothoracic nursing and has undertaken a number of roles including cardiothoracic preadmission co-ordinator and acting nurse unit manager for the cardiac care unit and respiratory unit at Monash Medical Centre. She has a post-graduate qualification in cardiac care and worked for a number of years in both the intensive care unit and 32 South prior to undertaking management roles.
Ms Anna Petrakos – Nurse Unit Manager, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories & Cardiac CT
Ms Anna Petrakos has a broad diversity of experience including intensive care and emergency department nursing prior to taking up a position in the Monash cardiac catheterisation laboratories in 2008. She has found her time in the cardiac cath labs highly rewarding and enjoyable as teamwork is the backbone of patient care, and strikes a good balance between patient acuity, a stable work pattern and more life-friendly working hours. Anna has been an associate nurse unit manager in the cardiac cath labs since 2012, gaining the nurse unit manager position in 2019.
Senior Managers
Mr Ross Crawford – Business Manager
Mr Ross Crawford has worked extensively across many areas of health, including Austin Health and more recently at the Australian Red Cross, before joining the MonashHeart team in August 2018 as the business manager.
Ms Kirsten Garner – Director Clinical Operations – Inpatient Cardiac and Ambulatory Services
With an extensive background and post graduate qualifications in cardiothoracic and intensive care nursing as well as many years as the cardiac liaison co-ordinator for MonashHeart, Ms Kirsten Garner is well credentialed to undertake the role of operations manager – acute & cardiothoracics. Kirsten’s role ensures her love for MonashHeart and cardiothoracics is directed into service improvements in these areas.
Mr John Koutsoubos – Director Clinical Operations – Cardiac Interventional and Procedural
With a background in engineering, Mr John Koutsoubos changed his career to nursing, finding his niche in cardiac catheterisation laboratory nursing. John was the nurse unit manager of the three cardiac catheterisation laboratories at MonashHeart Clayton and the 320-slice cardiac CT service for a number of years before becoming the operations manager – diagnostics and procedural in 2014.
Ms Anne Mennen, Clinical Project Lead
Ms Anne Mennen has worked across many clinical cardiac areas as a registered nurse including cardiac care, emergency and cardiothoracics. She was the nurse unit manager of cardiothoracics 32 South Monash Medical Centre for seven years before 10 years as the operations manager for MonashHeart. More recently she has worked on developing the Victorian Heart Hospital; Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital to be built at Monash University, Clayton.
Service Heads
Dr Jeff Alison – Head of Cardiac Rhythm Management Services
Dr Jeff Alison completed his electrophysiology training at the University of Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, Canada. Jeff has been the Head of Electrophysiology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton since 1996 and since 2007 has been the Head of Cardiac Rhythm Management Services, MonashHeart. Jeff also holds an honorary electrophysiologist appointment with the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.
Professor James Cameron – Associate Director of MonashHeart, Director of Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre
Professor James Cameron’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering, Masters of Engineering Science, Bachelor of Medicine and Doctor Medicine. He is the Director of Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Director of Research and Education, MonashHeart and (adjunct) Professor of Medicine, Monash University as well as honorary Professor in the Latrobe Institute of Molecular Sciences, Latrobe University.
Dr Robert Gooley – Head of Interventional Services
Dr Robert Gooley is the head of interventional services and consults at MonashHeart Dandenong. He graduated from Monash University with first honours in 2004 and completed his physician training at Monash Health. He completed advanced training in cardiology at MonashHeart and has completed interventional fellowship and PhD. Robert is the recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Award, Faculty Postgraduate Excellence Award and a Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand scholarship.
Associate Professor Sarah Hope – Head of Paediatric Cardiology Services
Associate Professor Sarah Hope graduated from the University of Edinburgh and trained in paediatric cardiology both in the UK and in Australia. She achieved level 3 cardiac CT training at MonashHeart where she has extensive experience in cardiac CT for congenital heart disease. Sarah is Head of Paediatric Cardiology Services, MonashHeart, and practices as a paediatric cardiologist and CT cardiologist.
Associate Professor Philip Mottram – Head of Non Invasive Imaging Services
Associate Professor Phil Mottram is a clinical cardiologist and non invasive imaging specialist with expertise in all forms of echocardiography as well as cardiac CT. Phil is the Head of Non Invasive Imaging Service, MonashHeart, one of the busiest echo services in Victoria, performing over 16,000 echoes per year.
Associate Professor Arthur Nasis – Head of Acute Cardiac Services
Associate Professor Arthur Nasis is a consultant cardiologist and non-invasive imaging specialist who was appointed as the Head of Acute Cardiac Services, MonashHeart in February 2015. He has a particular clinical and research interest in the evolving role of cardiac imaging in the assessment of chest pain. He is the co-lead of the Victorian Cardiac Clinical Network, Department of Health & Human Services.
Associate Professor Sujith Seneviratne – Co-Head of Cardiac CT Services
Associate Professor Sujith Seneviratne, a graduate from University of Melbourne, pursued his interest in cardiac CT by completing a research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 2006-2007, achieving level 3 training. Sene is considered a leader in cardiac CT in Australia and is the Co-Head of the luminary site 320-slice Cardiac CT facility at MonashHeart where he also practices as an interventional cardiologist.
