Our Medical Staff

Clinical Professor Peter Wong,
PhD, Grad Dip Clin Epi, FRACP, CCPU, A/FRACMA

Dr Wong started in the Department in Feb 2019 after 11 years practice in Coffs Harbour (which he still visits fortnightly), NSW where he helped establish the first Fracture Prevention Clinic and first Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Service in regional Australia. He completed a PhD at the WEHI/Melbourne University in 2006 looking at the molecular biology of inflammatory arthritis and bone disease and holds a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Newcastle University. He has particular expertise in biologic treatment of inflammatory arthritis, osteoporosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension and point-of-care US. Current research interests include the use of musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound (US) in improving medication adherence, assessment of osteoporosis refracture prevention models of care, bone health in men commencing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and vaccination in patients commencing b/tsDMARDS. He is a Clinical Professor in the Sydney Medical School, MD Research co-Coordinator at the Westmead Clinical School and Honorary Medical Director and Board Member, Healthy Bones Australia (formerly, Osteoporosis Australia).

Dr Ken Cai, MBBS(Hons), MSc(Med), FRACP, A/FRACMA

Dr Cai is a staff specialist at Westmead and Auburn Hospitals where he provides inpatient and outpatient clinic services. He is Clinical Lead of the Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program for Western Sydney Local Health District. Dr Cai was awarded the prestigious Leanne Stafford Award from Arthritis Australia to fund a research fellowship in New Zealand and is currently completing a research doctorate exploring the relationship between gout and cardiovascular disease. Areas of research include crystal arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, cardiovascular disease in rheumatology, the development of core domain sets for rheumatology trials and use of large datasets for medical research. He is actively involved in education of junior doctors and medical students and is a Clinical Senior Lecturer for the University of Sydney.

Dr Wendy Lau , BSc(Med) MBBS (Hons) FRACP

Dr Wendy Lau is a staff specialist at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals. Her interests are in general rheumatology, back pain and gout. She is involved in medical student teaching through the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University, junior medical staff teaching, and participates in the Department’s professional development activities. She is undertaking a PhD investigating gout through The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW.

Dr Shi-Nan Luong, BSc(Med) MBBS (Hons), FRACP

Dr Luong is a staff specialist at Blacktown and Westmead Hospitals. She has worked at University College London Hospital/University College London as a Rheumatology Clinical and Research Fellow, where she gained experience in managing complex patients with connective tissue diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She has a keen interest in obstetric medicine in rheumatology patients and has co-authored pregnancy-related Guidelines for the Australian Rheumatology Association. She is finishing a PhD investigating SLE in pregnancy at UNSW and also works as an Education-Focussed Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW.

Dr David Graham Spencer, MBBS, FRACP

Dr David Spencer has been a VMO at Westmead Hospital since 1979. He provides consultative services for the patients visiting the University Clinics and for inpatients.  He participates in professional development within the department through registrar training, journal club, peer review meetings, in-service lectures, and participation of clinical trials. Research interests are in the genetic basis of rheumatic diseases, therapeutic intervention in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

Dr Haesung Bak, MB BS (Sydney), FRACP

Dr Haesung Bak is a Visiting Medical Officer at Westmead Hospital and provides inpatient and outpatient clinic services for complex rheumatology cases. He provides clinical support to the Department through peer meetings and case reviews, ward rounds, journal club, lectures and clinical trials. He has rooms in Burwood, Baulkham Hills, Penrith and Lithgow.

Dr Beverly Ng, MBBS MSc FRACP

Dr Beverly Ng is a rheumatologist at Westmead Hospital. She completed Rheumatology Advanced Training in NSW, then undertook a Clinical Research Fellowship at Addenbrooke's Hospital (Cambridge, UK). She is completing a PhD exploring the role of the microbiome on treatment response in psoriatic arthritis patients. She is also actively involved in teaching junior doctors and medical students.

Dr Carmella Gunasingam BMed MPH FRACP

Dr Gunasingam is a Visiting Medical Officer at Westmead Hospital. She provides inpatient services as well as leading a Biologics Clinic. She has a keen interest in teaching and mentorship and is involved in student and junior medical officer education. She actively participates in the Department’s professional development and research activities.

Dr Jianna He MBBS MClinEd FRACP

Dr Jianna He is a rheumatologist at Westmead Hospital, providing outpatient service in Biologics Clinic. She completed Rheumatology Advanced Training in NSW, including a year of immunopathology training at Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology. She has just commenced a PhD at the Westmead Institute of Medical Research investigating muscle immunopathology. Dr He has a keen interest in medical education and has completed a Masters in Clinical Education (Flinders University). She is the Coordinator of NSW Adult Rheumatology Training.

Dr Alwin Lian

Alwin is in his final year of Rheumatology Advanced Training. He enjoys long walks and collecting folk pottery.

Dr Helen Au

Helen is a final-year Rheumatology Advanced Trainee with subspecialty interests in musculoskeletal US and vasculitis. She relishes teaching for the University of Sydney Westmead Clinical School and University of Western Sydney. In her spare time, she enjoys Reformer Pilates and coastal walks. She is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin

Professor Nicholas Manolios, MB BS (Hons), MD, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Professor Nicholas Manolios is involved with clinical service to Westmead Hospital, administration, teaching and research within the department. Special research interests are in (i) structure and assembly of the T–cell antigen receptor. In particular, the role of the T-cell receptors in the predisposition and causation of auto–immune and inflammatory rheumatic disorders; (ii) Structure–function relationships of T cell assembly and T–cell activation; (iii) Drug design on new synthetic peptides that may be used as therapeutic agents to suppress inflammation; and (iv) Drug delivery using nanoparticle technology. Recent interest has been marijuana and cannabinoid analogue effects on arthritis.

Website: Sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/nicholas.manolios.php

Dr Graydon Bruce Howe, MBBS, FRACP

Dr Howe is an Emeritus Consultant Rheumatologist to Westmead Hospital. He is involved with ongoing clinical trials, research, and clinical support of the department through registrar training, peer meetings and case reviews and student teaching. He has a private practice in Westmead. Interests in rheumatology include inflammatory diseases, teaching, computer based records, and use of computers in medicine.

Raseena Saleem

Raseena has just commenced as Departmental Secretary. She provides valued secretarial and administrative support to staff members to ensure smooth operation of the Department. She is also responsible for Biologics Clinic bookings.

Nick Green BSc (Hons), MPH, APAM

Nick is Coordinator of the Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program (OACCP) for the district. He has been a practicing physiotherapist for 24 years and has a background in musculoskeletal care, having previously held senior positions in orthopedics, trauma and emergency care at several large Sydney teaching hospitals. He recently completed a Masters of Public Health at UNSW and is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Nick is responsible for the overall implementation, coordination, outcome data management and administration of the OACCP. His role includes providing clinical advice and consultancy to other health care professionals and ensuring the ongoing evaluation and success of the OACCP.

Viji Dev Anand

Viji Dev Anand is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) and holds a Masters degree in Nutritional Science, a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics and membership of the Dietitian Australian Association.

Viji provides high quality nutritional care and education to people participating in the Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program (OACCP) at Westmead hospital and Auburn Hospitals. She provides nutritional care, dietary counselling, and education to Individuals with hip and knee arthritis with co-morbidities, especially diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and obesity. Viji also provides nutrition group education classes. The primary aim is to improve functional ability, quality of life and to slow disease progression by weight loss and healthy balanced eating.

Annemarie Saliba

Annemarie is a clinical nurse specialist and works as one of our clinical trial co-ordinators. Her roles include Ethics applications, clinical trial management and liaison with multiple stakeholders to ensure research studies run well. Annemarie also has experience as a Biologics Nurse and maintains a database of Rheumatology patients.