Our team

Dr Geraldine Hassett
Director of Rheumatology
Senior Staff Specialist and Conjoint Senior Lecturer UNSW
MB BS (Hons), FRACP, PhD, M.Med (Clin EPi)

Geraldine is a Consultant Rheumatologist with over 15 years of clinical experience in the management of adults with rheumatic diseases. She completed her medical training at Monash University in 1986 before undertaking physician training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She undertook her rheumatology training in Sydney before being awarded an NHMRC Postgraduate Medical Research Scholarship to undertake a PhD in Osteoarthritis at the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, St Thomas’s Hospital, London.

She has worked at Liverpool Hospital as a Consultant Rheumatologist in various capacities including as a Visiting Medical Officer and Staff Specialist since 2003. In 2014 she was appointed as the Director of the Rheumatology Department. She maintains an active clinical profile within the Department as well as contributing to its research and teaching activities. Geraldine has been a Conjoint Senior Lecturer at The University of New South Wales since 2008. Her PhD and a Masters of Medicine in Clinical Epidemiology were both obtained from The University of Sydney. She has obtained the ANZBMS Bone Clinical Densitometry Certificate and was a participant in the CEC Executive Clinical Leadership Program Cohort 14 in 2015. She has a strong research background and has presented her research at both national and international scientific meetings and in peer review journals. She is a member of The ARA Trust Scientific Advisory Board, is a registered practitioner with APHRA and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Associate Professor Kathryn Gibson
Senior Staff Specialist and Conjoint Associate Professor
BA BMBCh (Oxon) FRACP FRCP PhD

Kathy is a senior staff specialist rheumatologist at Liverpool Hospital and Director of the Health Informatics Unit for Sydney Local Health District. She graduated from Oxford University England with 1st Class Honours. She completed her FRACP in Rheumatology in Sydney and a PhD at the University of New South Wales. She has a track record in both health informatics and patient reported outcomes research. She pioneered the collection and analysis of patient reported outcome data in the Rheumatology department at Liverpool Hospital and has published in a number of the major rheumatology journals on this work. She has been an invited speaker at a number of informatics and rheumatology forums and has a specific interest in using technology and patient data to improve patient care. She has a strong track record in teaching as an examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, a supervisor for advanced trainees in Rheumatology and a teacher of undergraduate medical students from both UNSW and UWS.

Dr David Massasso
Staff Specialist, Conjoint lecturer UNSW
MBBS, BSc, BSc Med (Hon1), FRACP

David has been staff specialist in Rheumatology and Director of Prevocational Education and Training at Liverpool Hospital since 2007. He worked as a consultant in the High Risk Foot clinic at Liverpool Hospital from 2007 to 2009. He completed specialist Rheumatology training in 2006 having trained at Royal North Shore, Liverpool and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals. His clinical interests include: autoimmune connective tissue diseases, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthopathy and musculoskeletal medicine. He has published in several areas including: systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, osteoarthritis and infectious arthritis. He is a current examiner for The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He has been coordinator of NSW Australian Rheumatology Association state monthly meetings since 2007 and has been a member of the NSW Branch of the Australian Rheumatology Association Council since 2011. He is a past coordinator of training for NSW Rheumatology Advanced training. He also works in Private practice in Eastwood and is a visiting Medical officer at Ryde and Royal North Hospitals.

Dr Massasso also has private rooms at:
38 Denistone Road
Eastwood
Ph: 9804 6155
Fx: 9804 7149

Dr Michael Oliffe
Staff Specialist
BAppSc (Phty), MBBS (Hons), GC (ClinEpi), FRACP 

Michael is a consultant rheumatologist whose practice includes all areas of rheumatology including inflammatory arthritis, spondyloarthritis, vasculitis, lupus, and other connective tissue diseases. He also has an interest in sports related injuries having worked as a sports physiotherapist and is trained in musculoskeletal ultrasound. He is the Director of Training for the Australian Rheumatology Association (NSW) and is a primary investigator in several international clinical trials pursuing the latest treatment advances for patients with rheumatological conditions.

 

Dr Carlos El-Haddad
Staff Specialist, Conjoint lecturer UNSW
(MBBS (Hons1), FRACP)

Carlos is a rheumatologist at Liverpool Hospital. After graduating with 1st Class Honours, he completed his physician training at multiple sites including Orange NSW, Nepean Hospital, Canberra Hospital, and Liverpool Hospital. He is currently undertaking a PhD in the field of medical education and patient-centered care (Western Sydney University). Carlos has presented his research at regional, state, national and international rheumatology and medical education conferences. His research interests include the theory and practice of medical education (particularly 'entrustable professional activities'), qualitative research methods, and implementing patient-centered care. Carlos teaches at undergraduate and post-graduate levels and is a conjoint lecturer with the University of New South Wales. More recently Carlos has helped establish the Liverpool Hospital Osteoporosis Refracture Prevention Service.

Carlos also has private rooms at:
Suite 10
42-48 Bigge St
Liverpool NSW 2170
PH: 9601 1446
Fx:9600 8580

Dr David Martens
Staff Specialist, Conjoint Associate Lecturer UNSW
B App Sc (Physiotherapy), MBBS, FRACP

David is currently appointed as a Staff Specialist Rheumatologist at Liverpool Hospital. Interests include all areas of Rheumatology, including inflammatory arthritis, crystal arthritis, back pain and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He commenced studying Physiotherapy in 2002 and worked as a physiotherapist for 8 years prior to commencing medical internship. He completed his medical training across Canberra Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred and Liverpool Hospital. In 2018 he won the Liverpool Hospital John Moutzouris Physician’s Physician Award. He has a passion for education, having worked as Clinical Superintendent in 2021, where he was responsible for the delivery of teaching and exams for all Physician Trainees at Liverpool Hospital. He is also a Conjoint Associate Lecturer at University of NSW. He has been active on a number of RACP committees, such as the NSW/ACT Trainees Committee, and the Adult Medicine Division Council. Research interests have included the use of Patient Reported Outcome Measures, and he has presented on this topic at state and national conferences, winning the Ray Robinson Award at 2020 NSW ARA Branch Meeting.

Dr Victoria Johnson MBBS, PhD, FRACP
Staff Specialist Rheumatologist
Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise, Sports Science and Nutrition) Honours 1
Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)

Victoria  is a Staff Specialist Rheumatologist with interests in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, vasculitis and myositis. Victoria completed her medical training at the University of Sydney in 2014. During this time she simultaneously completed a PhD focusing on knee osteoarthritis. Victoria completed her rheumatology training at Concord, Prince of Wales and Liverpool Hospitals and is also dual trained as an Exercise Physiologist and Nutritionist.
Victoria’s PhD focused on knee osteoarthritis following ligament and cartilage injuries in adolescents and adults. Victoria has presented her work at both Australian and international conferences and is a member of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and is also a member of the OARSI Young Investigators group. She continues to research in the field of osteoarthritis and is passionate about increasing and improving services for the management of early osteoarthritis of the knee and hip for the population of South Western Sydney.

A/Prof Vivek Thakkar
Staff Specialist, Clinical SubDean WSU Medicine, Conjoint Senior Lecturer UNSW
BSc(med) MBBS (hons) FRACP DMedSc

Vivek is a Rheumatologist, and clinically works as a staff specialist at the Liverpool Hospital. In other roles, he is the co-chair of the Annual Scientific Meeting Program Committee of the Australian Rheumatology Association and member of the NSW branch of the ARA council. In previous roles, he was the Clinican SubDean of the Macarthur Clinical School, WSU Medicine and jointly coordinated the year 2 UWS MBBS program. His clinical and epidemiological research interests are in connective tissue diseases and cardiopulmonary complications related to these conditions, chiefly pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. He is an active clinical researcher in both investigator and pharmaceutical studies.

A/Prof Thakkar only works at Liverpool Hospital once a month in the pulmonary hypertension clinic. All other times he can be found in his private rooms.

A/Prof Thakkar also has private rooms at:

The Hub
Suite 1007
31C Lasso Road
Gregory Hills NSW 2557
Ph: 9054 9626
Fx: 9054 1360
 

Specialist Medical Centre
Suite 12
17-21 Moore St
Liverpool 2170
Ph: 9821 4654
Fx: 9821 3858

Joint Medical Specialists
2 Weston St (Entry on River Rd)
Revesby NSW 2212
Phone: 02 9773 4308 | Fax: 02 9773 4307

Dr Ayano Kelly
Locum Staff Specialist
MBBS Bsc (Med) BA FRACP

Ayano Kelly is a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Medicine and Health, South Western Sydney Campus, an early career researcher with a strong interest in person-centred research and implementation and evaluation of evidence-based models of care to improve health-care delivery. She graduated from the University of New South Wales with Honours and completed Basic Physician Training at Liverpool Hospital and Rheumatology Advanced Training at John Hunter Hospital and the Canberra Hospital. She has worked as a Rheumatologist at the Canberra Hospital and Liverpool Hospital.

Her PhD at the Australian National University is on “Identifying and addressing patient-centred outcomes to improve medication adherence in Rheumatology”. She is the chair of the OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) Adherence Special Interest Group, with over 50 members including patient research partners, health professionals and researchers from 12 countries. The group aims to improve the evaluation of medication adherence trials by creating a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based minimum set of outcome domains (core domain set) in rheumatic conditions. She has conducted several qualitative research studies including systematic reviews, focus groups and individual interview studies, and has been an invited speaker at rheumatology conferences on the topics of qualitative research methods and medication adherence. Her research has contributed to improved service delivery in osteoporosis re-fracture prevention and paediatric to adult transitional care services in several hospitals in NSW.
 

Dr Elaine Yu Ching Ng
Rheumatology Advanced Trainee

Dr Katherine Nguyen
Rheumatology Advanced Trainee

Helene Rickard
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Helene completed a Bachelor of Nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse at Liverpool Hospital before commencing work in the Rheumatology Department in 2002. More recently she has completed a Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Nursing. Helene coordinates the Toxic Drug Monitoring Program (TDMP), and biologic applications (bDMARDS). Helene also assists in Rheumatology outpatient clinics and provides support for outpatients and consultants between appointments including investigations, appointments, care and provides education for patients with inflammatory and other rheumatological diseases.

Fiona Briggs
Registered Nurse
Rheumatology Study Coordinator

Fiona is a Study Coordinator for the Department of Rheumatology. She obtained her Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Technology, Sydney and has been a Registered Nurse since 2001, starting her career in Orthopeadics and Trauma surgical nursing and has been working in Rheumatology for the last 6 years. Fiona has completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Nursing and Post Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing: Orthopeadics. Fiona was the President of the Rheumatology Health Professionals Association (RHPA) and continues as the NSW State Representative and Scholarship Coordinator. She was a Co-writer for the Post Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Nursing developed through the College of Nursing. Fiona’s current appointments include Rheumatology Nurse, Research Nurse Connective Tissue Disease and Ingham Institute Affiliate. She is responsible for the start-up and ongoing coordination of clinical trials and research within the department.

Elise Thomas
Office Manager

Sharon Rodrigues
Administration Officer

Sarah Mohammed
Administration Officer

Kim Nguyen
Administration Officer

Jessica Dinh
Administration Officer

Sacha Bossina
Physiotherapy

Sacha Bossina is a Physiotherapist. She graduated from The University of Sydney in 2001 and has been working within the Rheumatology Department at Liverpool Hospital since 2004. She is a senior clinician in the area of rheumatology physiotherapy in which she holds extensive specialist knowledge and skills. She provides a consultancy service in rheumatology physiotherapy across the Sydney South West Local Health District. She provides clinical supervision and support to health professionals and students. She assists managers in service development and quality improvement. She is passionate about assisting patients to achieve their optimal function and quality of life.

Gloria Spratt
Physiotherapy 

Gloria Spratt is physiotherapist who graduated from the university of Sydney in 2000. She has been working at Liverpool hospital since 2002 and has over 15 years of clinical experience as a physiotherapist. She has a keen interest in the care of patients with Rheumatological Conditions and Chronic Pain. Gloria has completed the ‘Therapy in disorders of the Hand’ Master of Health Science (Physiotherapy) course in 2006. Gloria is also a certified hand therapist (CHT USA) successfully passing a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in the upper quarter rehabilitation. She is also a full member of the Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA).

Gloria has a great passion to see all patients valued and cared for, and for all to achieve optimal function and strength. She strives for excellence in providing treatment and rehabilitation, to enable patients to lead a sound quality of life.
 

Clinical Associate Professor Davinder Singh-Grewal
Paediatrics Visiting Medical Officer
MBBS (Syd Hons I) FRACP MMedSci PhD
 

Davinder Singh-Grewal is a paediatric rheumatologist with over 15 years of experience in the management of children with rheumatic diseases. He completed his medical training at The University of Sydney and his paediatric training in Sydney before undertaking a dedicated three year fellowship in Paediatric Rheumatology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Canada and has worked as a Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist at The Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, UK.

He is currently appointed at all three children’s hospitals in New South Wales – The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, The Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick and the John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle along with Liverpool Hospital in South Western Sydney.

Davinder is a Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Sydney, as well as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of New South Wales and The University of Western Sydney. He has completed a PhD in the field of Juvenile Arthritis and also a Masters in Medical Science.

Davinder has a strong research background with over 40 publications in peer reviewed journals, a number of competitive national grants and numerous ongoing research projects in the field of paediatric rheumatology.

He is an active member of Arthritis NSW which is the peak patient group for children with arthritis and is heavily involved with Lupus NSW and The Myositis Association which supports patients and families with children affected by SLE and JDM. Davinder is also the current Chair of the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group which is the national representative body for paediatric rheumatologists.
 

A/Prof Singh-Grewal also has rooms at:
Randwick Ph: 8212 4123
Westmead Ph: 9845 0678

Dr Damien McKay
Paediatrics Visiting Medical Officer
MBBS, BAppSc (Physiotherapy) MSpMed, FRACP (Paediatric Rheumatology)

Damien McKay is a Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatologist at Liverpool Hospital. Damien completed his medical studies at the University of Sydney in 2000. Prior to his medical training Damien completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and worked in orthopaedic and sports physiotherapy practices in Australia and the United Kingdom, providing a strong clinical base to build his specialist knowledge in paediatric rheumatology. 

Damien has subsequently developed a unique combination of expertise in paediatric rheumatology, following completion of specialist training with the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, and expertise in paediatric sports medicine, following completion of a Masters in Sports Medicine as well as a Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Sports Medicine at The Children’s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine.

In addition to his appointment with the Rheumatology Department at Liverpool Hospital, Damien also holds appointments as a Paediatrician at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, a Clinical Lecturer with the University of Sydney in the Discipline of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, and as a Medical Officer with the Cronulla Sharks NRL Rugby League Football Club. Damien has authored or co-authored numerous publications in peer reviewed journals. His research interests include fitness assessment and exercise prescription in children with rheumatic disease, as well as factors influencing injury in adolescent athletes, an area for which he has previously been invited as a Scientific Advisor to the International Olympic Committee.
 

Dr McKay also has rooms at:
Miranda Ph: 9525 3444
Moore park PH: 8323 6500

Dr Ian Gotis-Graham
Visiting Medical Officer
MB BS, FRACP, PhD
Ian Gotis-Graham is a visiting medical specialist in Rheumatology at Liverpool Hospital since 1999. He graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours. He completed specialist training at Concord and St George Hospitals. He completed his PhD at UNSW looking at the role of mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Over the last 17 years, he has focused on clinical rheumatology. He has been involved in the training of Rheumatology Registrars at Liverpool Hospital since 2002. He has published articles in peer reviewed scientific and medical journals. He has a particular interest in osteoporosis and has provided a bone densitometry service since 2003. He is an approved assessor of permanent impairment for the State Insurance Regulatory Authority.

Dr Gotis-Graham is only available in his private rooms at:
Suite 10
42-48 Bigge St
Liverpool NSW 2170
Ph: 9601 1446
Fx: 9600 8580