Supervision
Professor Gordon Parker
MB BS, MD, PhD, DSc, FRANZCP
Professor Gordon Parker is Executive Director, Black Dog Institute and Scientia Professor of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales. He was, for nearly two decades, Head of the School of Psychiatry at UNSW and Director of the Division of Psychiatry at Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals. In 2004 he received a Citation Laureate as the Australian Scientist most highly cited in the field of “Psychiatry/Psychology”. He has published over 500 journal articles and 6 books on mood disorders. His research has focused on modelling psychiatric conditions (depressive, bipolar and personality disorders) and examining causes, mechanisms and treatments for mood disorders. Professor Parker is the peer review consultant to The Lawson Clinic. During peer review meetings which are attended by all specialists at the Clinic, our psychiatrists / psychologist have the opportunity to discuss their cases (with the patient’s consent) with their colleagues and Professor Parker. In cases which are particularly challenging or warrant a second opinion, patients may be invited to attend a peer review meeting where Professor Parker together with our other specialists will review the case with a view to reaching a “consensus” as to the most appropriate diagnosis / treatment.
Clinicians
Dr Mark Rowe
MB BS, FRANZCP
Dr Mark Rowe is the Clinical Director of The Lawson Clinic. Dr Rowe was previously the Acting Director of a Mental Health Unit at a major public hospital and was also in private practice. He was the Director of ECT at Redland Hospital, Brisbane and has trained at the Black Dog Institute where he has visiting rights. Last year he was invited to attend the prestigious Lundbeck Institute in Skodsborg, Denmark to exclusively discuss recent advancements in the assessment and management of depression. Dr Rowe has a particular interest in sub-typing depressive illnesses, bipolar disorder, psychopharmacology and mood disorders which may be persistent, only partially responsive to treatment or treatment resistant. Dr Rowe sees patients from 14 years of age.
Dr Sonia Kumar
MB BS, (Hons), FRANZCP, Grad Cert Writ
Dr Kumar has worked as a general adult psychiatrist in private practice for several years, during which time she has treated the full spectrum of psychiatric illnesses, but the majority of her case load has been in mood disorders. Dr Kumar attained Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in 2003, after completing the majority of her registrar training at the Prince of Wales Hospital. Since Fellowship in addition to private practice, she has worked with the Early Psychosis Intervention Team at Liverpool Hospital and undertaken locum work in rural locations; she has worked for the Institute of Psychiatry as a course writer, editor and tutor for psychiatrists in training. Dr Kumar has also completed Advanced Training in Psychotherapies. She has particularly enjoyed working with young people in the first episode of an illness, and with women in the perinatal stages of life (including pregnancy, postnatal disorders and infertility). Dr Kumar sees patients from 14 years of age.
Dr Farzaan Mehta
MB BS, FRANZCP
Dr Mehta is a general adult psychiatrist with specific expertise in depression and bipolar disorder. She graduated from Medicine in Adelaide, South Australia in 1997, and completed most of her psychiatric training at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Amongst other places, she has worked at the distinguished Anxiety Disorders Clinic at St Vincent’s Hospital, the Mood Disorders Unit (now the Black Dog Institute, with Professors Gordon Parker and Phillip Mitchell) at Prince of Wales Hospital, the Perinatal Mental Health Clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women (with Professor Marie Paul Austin), and the Langton Centre (Drug and Alcohol). She has been engaged as a tutor for psychiatrists in training at the Institute of Psychiatry. Her special areas of interest are mood and anxiety disorders, women’s mental health and perinatal psychiatry. Dr Mehta sees patients from 16 years of age and particularly enjoys treating mental health problems related to pregnancy and the postnatal period, and mental illness in young adults.
Dr Michael Williamson
MB BS, FRANZCP, M Med
Dr Michael Williamson is a specialist psychotherapist and psychiatrist who spent three decades in the Mental Health Service, with some years of parallel private practice. In 1983, he commenced training in psychotherapy at Westmead Hospital and specialised in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Since 1988, he has been a member of the Faculty of the Master of Medicine programme involving teaching and supervision of medical trainees and is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in psychiatry at the University of Sydney. From 1992 to 1995 he was Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Newcastle. He has had extensive experience in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate medical and psychiatry trainees. He was the first NSW President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry (ANZAP) and taught and supervised for some years around Australia and New Zealand. Dr Williamson is particularly interested in developmentally related mood disorders.
Dr Sushmita Hunter
MB BS (Hons), FRANZCP
Dr Hunter graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1989 and completed her psychiatric training at St George and Westmead Hospitals. She is an experienced consultant psychiatrist and psychogeriatrician and a Fellow of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Institute of Psychiatry (New South Wales) in Old Age Psychiatry. Dr Hunter is a Senior Consultant Psychogeriatrician with the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and established the Old Age Psychiatry Service at Manly and Blacktown Hospitals as well as at Coffs Harbour. She has previously acted as the secretary of the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and in the role of Senior Medical Officer in Adult Psychiatry at Westmead Hospital. Dr Hunter was responsible for establishing ECT services (including the teaching guidelines for registrars) at Sutherland and Manly Hospitals and is currently a lecturer for the Institute of Psychiatry and medical student examiner and registrar supervisor. Dr Hunter specialises in mood disorders and comorbid mental illnesses in over 65s. She also sees adolescents and adults presenting with depression and bipolar disorder.
Dr Michael Hong
MB BS, FRANZCP
Dr Michael Hong is a general adult psychiatrist who has a particular interest in depression and bipolar disorder. He graduated from the University of New South Wales with a combined Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and has been practising psychiatry for 10 years, predominantly at Westmead Hospital. Dr Hong has experience in the practise of psychiatry in a number of different settings including mood disorders, forensics, Centre for Drug and Alcohol Service (where he co facilitated the Drug and Alcohol groups for people with mental illness), mental health rehabilitation, community outreach centres and early intervention for adolescents. He enjoys teaching immensely, and is a tutor for psychiatrists in training at the Institute of Psychiatry. He was also involved in teaching and examination of Sydney University medical students. Currently, Dr Hong works as a consultant psychiatrist at the Black Dog Institute’s Tertiary Referral Unit, at a major public hospital’s mental health unit and at The Lawson Clinic. He sees patients from 16 years of age.
Ms Vicki Richards
BA, BSc (Hons), MPsych (Clin), MAPS
Vicki is a clinical psychologist who has worked in both inpatient and community teams in the areas of anxiety and mood disorders as well as neuropsychiatry and community health counselling and psychotherapy. She has also been in private practice. Vicki is a registered clinical psychologist and a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the APS College of Clinical Psychologists and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. Vicki uses evidence based approaches (including cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy) in the treatment and management of anxiety disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. She tries to fit therapy to suit the individual needs of the patient. Assisting patients with “relapse prevention” and strategies for developing resilience is of particular interest to Vicki. She enjoys working with adults, older adults and adolescents.
Ms Marianne Plahn
BA Psych (Hons), MClinPsych, MAPS
Marianne is a Clinical Psychologist who has a wide experience working with children, adolescents and adults in the hospital, community, legal, educational, vocational and private practice settings. Marianne is trained in evidence-based treatments, which include cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy, relaxation therapy, supportive psychotherapy, neuro-therapy and EMDR. Her treatment approach involves tailoring appropriate assessment and therapy to promote patient recovery and long term remission. Marianne has extensive experience treating and managing anxiety disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. Marianne’s treatment and assessment approach with her patients is to focus on brain plasticity and emotional resilience.
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