Arthritis

Susan is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and Accredited Nutritionist (AN) with 25 years experience working as a dietitian in the public and private sector as well as university teaching and research. As a working parent of three children, Susan understands the pressures operating in a busy lifestyle, to provide nutritious foods that are also well accepted by all members of the family and within a budget. Susan holds a passionate interest in helping clients with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, weight management and IBS to meet their health goals. Susan is also interested in the areas of aged care, disability and children‚'s nutrition.

Dr. Tien's medical journey began at the University of Sydney, where he earned his degree. He then completed his foundational physician training in Sydney before specialising in Rheumatology in Melbourne. His focus has also encompassed osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, where he worked in a dedicated clinic.

Irwin has been practicing as a rheumatologist in Sydney since 2003. He is the co-founder and medical director of BJC Health, a multidisciplinary team of rheumatologists and allied health professionals dedicated to treating individuals with rheumatic diseases.

Christine Guirguis is an AHPRA-registered acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She has a particular interest in women’s health, fertility, pregnancy, hormonal health, pain and complex conditions, combining Traditional Chinese Medicine with a collaborative and evidence-informed approach.

Karina is a degree-qualified Clinical Naturopath who supports clients through every stage of life, from childhood to the later "wisdom years," with a personalised, evidence-informed approach to health and wellbeing. She completed her Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) at Endeavour College of Natural Health, where she developed strong clinical foundations under the guidance of experienced practising naturopaths. With a particular passion for neuroscience, cognitive function and mental health, Karina is currently undertaking a Masters pathway in Mental Health and Neuroscience, deepening her understanding of the brain-body connection and how it influences long-term health. She is committed to combining contemporary research with holistic naturopathic care to help her clients optimise their wellbeing and achieve sustainable health outcomes.

Oscar is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and acupuncturist, seeing people for muscular skeletal conditions and pain. He combines classical herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and gua sha with a classical Wen Bing approach to support patients with chronic pain, mental health concerns, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, gut health issues and conditions such as PMS and dysmenorrhea, working closely with the wider team to integrate Eastern and Western approaches to care.

Cody Kennedy is a Naturopath, Nutritionist, and the founder of CK Health, bringing over 21 years of experience in the natural health industry and a deep understanding of the real hurdles people face when navigating chronic and complex health conditions. Holding a Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Medicine, a Bachelor of Medicines Management with Honours in Complementary Medicine, and a Graduate Certificate in Evidence Based Complementary Medicine, as well as certification as a Microbiome Analyst under world-renowned microbiome expert Dr Jason Hawrelak, Cody combines rigorous, research-driven knowledge with a grounded, practical approach to wellness that is anything but airy-fairy. She believes that lasting health comes from addressing the root cause first, then combining the right blend of nutrition, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to create the conditions the body needs to function and repair.

Sam is an integrative holistic Physiotherapist with a double degree in Physiotherapy and Exercise and Sports Science, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal and complex lower back pain. By focusing on the root cause of discomfort rather than just the symptoms, Sam empowers his clients through a highly individualized approach to achieve lasting, long-term relief. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, he is dedicated to helping patients with persistent conditions regain their optimal function and health.

Paul Bird is a highly experienced rheumatologist and researcher, specialising in arthritis and rheumatic diseases. He earned his medical degree with Honours from the University of Newcastle, completed rheumatology training in Sydney, and obtained a PhD in MRI for Rheumatoid arthritis in 2005. Dr Bird has held specialist roles at major hospitals and managed a rural rheumatology clinic. He is committed to medical education and is the Medical Director of Emeritus Clinical Research Sydney, leading trials on advanced rheumatology treatments. As a member of the OPAL group, Dr Bird focuses on improving rheumatology care through research. He is internationally recognised for his expertise in rheumatic disease and imaging, currently chairs the International Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Association, and actively contributes to global rheumatology research and education.

Dr. Leticia Deveza is a rheumatologist and Fellow of the RACP, currently serving as a lecturer and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sydney. She completed her PhD in 2019 and remains actively involved in research and teaching medical students. Dr. Deveza is well-versed in diagnosing and managing both autoimmune and non-autoimmune conditions affecting the joints and musculoskeletal system.

Dr Alexandra Capon is a compassionate rheumatologist who prioritises holistic care, treating the whole person rather than just the condition. She specialises in inflammatory arthritis, including Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, and Gout, with a particular focus on supporting women with these conditions during their childbearing years. Passionate about physical activity, Dr Capon has contributed to sports medicine literature, especially concerning Masters athletes. She graduated with Honours from the University of New South Wales in 2007 and achieved her Rheumatology Fellowship in 2015. Dr Capon is also dedicated to educating junior doctors, regularly delivering lectures in Rheumatology.

A/Prof Fred Joshua is a dedicated physician specialising in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, with expertise in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. He completed a PhD focused on the use of ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis and has presented research internationally. A/Prof Joshua pioneered rheumatological ultrasound in Australia and helped develop a degree for rheumatologists through the Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine, where he is President Elect.

Anna is one of NZ's most broadly experienced and highly trained practitioners in the field of complementary medicine. She is one of only a small number of practitioners worldwide who have undertaken multiple full professional courses of training (in Anna's case: acupuncture, nutritional medicine, chiropractic, heart-centred counselling, lifestyle medicine certification) which she is then able to integrate within her practice to the benefit of patients. This, coupled with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner (and enhanced by her experience as mother of two!) allow her to offer a calm, centred, empathic approach to treatment that looks at the root cause(s) of ill health, honouring the individuality and unique needs of each patient.