Meet the ETM faculty

AndyBuck

Andy is the co-creator and current director of the ETM Course. Andy currently works as an Emergency Physician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Andy developed his interest in trauma during his early emergency training at the Alfred Hospital, one of Australasia’s busiest major trauma centres. Andy is also the co-creator of the ED Procedures Courses.

KeithAmarakone

Keith has a keen interest in Trauma and works as the Paediatric Trauma Education Consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he is responsible for developing the Trauma Team Training Program for hospital staff, as well as designing and delivering paediatric trauma education courses state-wide, and internationally. He is interested in education, human factors, simulation and ethics.

TimLeeuwenburg

ETM Course Director

Chair of Sandpiper Australia, a charity equipping rural clinicians with a standardised prehospital pack to perform early meaningful interventions prior to retrieval.

Senior Specialist in Retrieval with the Central Australian Retrieval Service, NT

Rural Generalist with emphasis on anaesthesia & EM

AmandaConnors

Amanda has over 25 years of clinical nursing practice specialising in Emergency Nursing and Critical Care Nursing.

Amanda has worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at major trauma centres in Australia and New Zealand. She also has experience of working in rural and remote hospitals and health care facilities in Australia.

GarethRichards

Gareth is an Australian based pre-hospital and retrieval physician. He works with Australia’s rotary wing and jet air ambulance services in Queensland and beyond on their government, oil and gas industry, and insurance contracts. Regular monthly work with the Auckland Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in New Zealand is on hold due to COVID-19 pandemic mandated travel restrictions.

Gareth previously flew with, and coordinated for the Victorian State Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, now PIPER. Gareth also consults for First Assistance, an international medical assistance company, advising on managing a range of conditions from nasty sniffles to evacuating critically ill patients from remote third-world locations.

Gareth is an ETM course director and Education Committee member and a Clinical Senior Lecturer with the University of Otago Occupational and Aviation Medicine Unit.

NicolaWalsham

Nicola is an Emergency Physician, Trauma Lead and Deputy Director at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, one of Australasia’s busiest major trauma centres.

Nicola has special interests in infectious and tropical diseases and toxicology, but is really most interested in hiking in exotic locations.

MarcSchnekenburger

From paramedic to Emergency Specialist. A journey over 20 years from Munich in Germany to Melbourne! Marked started his career as a Paramedic and then a prehospital doctor. Mark later became an Emergency Physician with a passion for trauma and retrieval from.

SuziHamilton

Suzi is an Emergency Fellow in Christchurch ED, when she’s not working on boats / ski fields / polar ice caps! Her clinical interests include simulation and teaching, whilst the human factors and personality management in a resus room continue to fascinate her.

AndyTagg

Having come to Australia the long way round as a ships doctor, Andy decided that the NHS was not for him. Settling in Melbourne’s western suburbs he enjoys looking after the wide variety of patients that Footscray has to offer.

During his tenure as a retrieval registrar, Andy got involved with the ETM course, acting in the very first scenario video and writing the textbook chapter on intra-hospital transfer. He has since gone on to be involved in creating the communication module for Trauma Victoria.

In his spare time (!) Andy writes for www.dontforgetthebubbles.com, a world renowned paediatric blog that he co-founded along with Tessa Davis, Henry Goldstein and Ben Lawton.

JohnRoe

John is a Pommie lost in the most amazing Australian adventure which started with his family in 2004. His heroes include Dr Peter Archer, Dr Simon Young and a certain young Dr AB; and anti-heroes are the MASH mob! John also covers the Hottest 7s Rugby Comp and V8s in Darwin to mix things up.

AliciaTucker

Alicia is an ED Physician who has returned to her home town of Hobart. She has had an interest in Trauma since being a Surgical Trainee, before seeing the light and turning to the dark side (ED)!

Alicia has been Chair of the RHH Trauma Committee and has also been on the AUSTQIP Steering Committee.

Alicia is a Wilderness Medicine Fellow who has worked with the RFDS as a Ships Physician in Antarctica. She is now exploring one of the last frontiers, the challenges of human spaceflight. Alicia has two boys with her non-medical husband, Greg and loves living the Tassie life.

TrevorBurchall

Born in Victoria, Trevor spent 80% of his life in SA but still calls himself a Victorian..and Melbourne is still one of his favourite cities that he’s visited across the world. Trevor is a rural generalist, having spent 22 years in rural procedural (anaesthetics, obstetrics) general practice from solo to group practices and always maintains an interest in emergency medicine, especially trauma.

Trevor’s interests outside of work include collecting guitars (and playing them badly), attending concerts and listening to music. He has a certain amount of passion for AFL, especially his beloved Port Adelaide.

CynthiaPapendick

Cynthia is originally from Philadelphia but is now a proud Australian citizen. She considers herself very lucky to be practicing emergency medicine in Australia. In addition to her interest in resus and trauma team management, Cynthia is interested in acute cardiac issues, sepsis and palliative care.

Cynthia lives in the Adelaide Hills with lots of animals including goats, cows, alpacas and some rambunctious rescue dogs.

DavidCamilleri

David is a Maltese doctor who moved to Australia for ‘a year’ in 2008. David has since gone on to do Emergency Training between Cairns and Melbourne and has settled into part-time trauma centre work and part-time retrieval work.

NicolaAllison

Nicola is a “Yorkshire Lass” who came to Australia for a year in 2004 and never went home. She lives in Darwin with her paramedic husband and her two young sons who are true Territorians.

Nicola enjoys the challenge of working with the indigenous population. Her current interests include end of life care in the ED.

FranWilliamson

Fran is an Emergency Physician who splits her time between the prehospital environment, the emergency department and on the wards caring for trauma patients. She has a particular interest in trauma education and improving systems to streamline care.

VekramSambasivam

Vekram has recently completed  his emergency medicine training in Sydney and is now working with NSW Aeromedical Retrieval.

His special interests include trauma, public health and fact trolling health wellness bloggers.

MaryIbrahim

Mary completed her medical degree at UWA in 2002 then completed a fellowship in emergency medicine and paediatric emergency medicine in 2015.

Mary has a keen interest in education which includes emergency fellowship and emergency and paediatric education and training. Mary also teaches on a number of courses including APLS and EMST.

DonnaO’Kane

Donna has been living and working in remote communities for the past 10 years, surviving cyclones, crocodiles, sharks, lock downs, and the wet season!

Donna is passionate about providing the best medical care to people living in remote communities, especially in disadvantaged and under-resourced regions.

Donna has twin boys and her hobbies include swimming, yoga and travelling.

GlynLackie

Glyn is an ED Physician who did most of his training in Gold Coast and Northern NSW, including a retrieval stint with Careflight.

Between work, 4 year old twins, a 3 year old, and a bit of footy and basketball, Glyn doesn’t have a great deal of free time!

MatthewOliver

Originally from the UK, Mat spent a year at Los Angeles County Hospital working with the Trauma team before settling in Sydney, Australia.

Matt works at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and has a keen interest in trauma, research and all things resuscitation, as well as surfing!

AndyPotter

Originally from the UK, Andy found himself in the Tropical North of Australia and never looked back.  His training in Anaesthesia across Northern Australia took in retrieval medicine based out of Darwin and Anaesthesia in the NT and Far North Queensland.  

Andy’s main work interests are in education in the OT, regional anaesthesia & ultrasound, and of course Trauma.  He is involved in the training of ANZCA trainees and is the Rotational Supervisor for the Northern Rotation of the QLD Anaesthetic Rotational Training Scheme.

His mid-life crisis lead to putting on the Lycra & taking up distance running.  He is a Liverpool Football Club tragic and ever optimistic that this year glory will come to Anfield.

KevinLai

Kevin is an Emergency Physician with special interest in Trauma and Simulation training. He also works as a Trauma Physician in an unique Tertiary Multi-disciplinary Trauma Department, caring for trauma patients from admission to discharge.

Kevin is also the past chair of the ACEM Trauma Sub-committee and runs a simulation based multi-disciplinary Trauma Team Training course.  

BelindaHibble

Belinda is an Emergency Physician hailing from the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, with an interest in Medical Education, Trauma and Women’s & Children’s Health.

Belinda has been involved in many aspects of postgraduate medical education through her work with ACEM’s curriculum and training program development projects and Regional Workplace Based Assessment Panels.

DaveTingey

Dave Tingey ASM, is a Retrieval Paramedic Practitioner with SAAS MedSTAR. He dislikes dogma and negativity and has a passion for life long education and sharing his learning experiences with others.

BenStanton

Ben is a Nurse Practitioner who works as a Retrieval Practitioner at SAAS MedSTAR. When Ben is not packaging up a patient for transfer, he’s usually speaking at a conference around Australia. His interests include education and best patient care.

TimCowan

Originally from NZ, Tim moved to Australia after med school in search of warmer weather. Tim has worked in ED’s in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle, with a smattering of rural GP, retrieval, military medicine and neurosurgery experience. Tim is married to an obstetrician which is good for a reality check whenever he thinks working in a ED job is stressful l!

Tim loves the dynamic and the teamwork of the ED environment and his interests include education, sim and resus room management.

LynPugh

Lyn transferred from Scotland to New Zealand 12 years ago to work in ED. Lyn currently works as a consultant in Christchurch Hospital ED and as a senior clinical lecturer for the University of Otago.

Lyn has a keen interest in medical education and instructs on a number of courses including CORE (ALS) and PROMPT (obstetric emergencies).

SunethJayasekara

Suneth is an emergency physician with a special interest in healthcare simulation and pre-hospital and retrieval medicine.

JustinYeung

Following medical school in Tasmania, Justin moved to Western Australian in the mid 90s. He spent nearly 10 years as a staff specialist at Royal Perth Hospital, before deciding on a sea change, moving to Albany on the south coast of WA in 2010.

Whilst still living in this gorgeous part of the country, Justin’s main focus now is as part of the team leading the way with amazing innovation in acute Telehealth and remote medical service delivery for country WA, based … back at RPH.

MerweHartslief

Merwe was born and qualified as a surgeon in South Africa and has a special interest in Trauma. He served as a trauma surgeon at a busy trauma centre at a university hospital before going into private practice for 6 years.

Merwe relocated to Australia in 2011 and started working as a general surgeon in a regional centre with a large catchment area. With the nearest sub-specialist support 400km away, Merwe became a true generalist managing most general surgical problems, including many trauma situations.

Merwe also serves as a military surgeon and a major in the Australian Army Reserves

HayleyFrieslich

Hayley was born and studied in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to Australia in 2006 for a ‘year’. She now lives on the Gold Coast with her partner and son. Life is never dull!

AndrewHooper

Andy is the Head of Medical Services at RFDS Western Operations. He trained in Emergency Medicine in Perth, Western Australia, before discovering the wonders and challenges of remote and retrieval critical care.

Andy is passionate about trauma management outside of major centres, and allowing clinicians to deliver first-class care to patients regardless of location.

Andy is also an enthusiastic but frustrated cray fisherman.

JohnBonning

John is the immediate past President and current Board member of ACEM. He is also a practicing Emergency Physician at Waikato Hospital’s Emergency Department and the current Chair of the Council of Medical Colleges in New Zealand.

A doctor for 29 years, John is the immediate past Clinical Director of Waikato Hospital ED. He is currently a NZ Rugby Union Match Doctor and Police Medical Officer and is also very active in clinical practice.

John is an ETM, APLS and ACME course instructor and an expert advisor to the HDC and the Coroner. He is a passionate advocate for a strong public health system, equitable access to emergency care, and the rational use of health resources.

KaiHsiao

Originally from New Zealand, Kai completed his Emergency Medicine training in Sydney. He is now based part of the time overseas, but when in Australia, works as an Emergency Physician in regional NSW.

Kai has a special interest in global emergency care and in disaster response. Outside of work, he enjoys laid-back travel and good food!

DaveLawless

Dave is an Emergency Doctor living and working in the beautiful Gold Coast.

EvePurdy

Eve is a Canadian Emergency physician and anthropologist with a specific interest in how teams and organisations do work, together. She spends time in the resus room caring for patients but also thinking about how we communicate with our colleagues and how we can align goals, knowledge, and respect to get the best outcomes for our patients.

Eve has done a fellowship in simulation and is involved in using simulation to improve team performance and organisational culture.

TariqNehvi

I was a surgeon in my previous life before training to be a FACEM in Australia. Since 2011, I’ve been working as a consultant emergency physician. I’m passionate about teaching and regularly teach trainees, RMOs, rural doctors and nurses and paramedics. I especially love reaching out to the rural and remote medical communities in SA and sharing their experiences with mine. I believe teaching and learning go together for the teachers as well as the taught!

I’m actively involved with ACEM CoE activities and in addition to being an ACEM examiner, I’m an active member of various exam committees.

I have a special interest in trauma, airways and especially critical procedures!

PatGillespie

I was inspired to do Emergency Medicine after training under some really impressive ED docs in far north QLD. I’m really lucky to currently split my work time between the hospital and helicopter retrievals. I split my home time wrangling a 4 month old and two dogs.

TimStewart

Tim has been working as an Emergency Physician since 2015, having spent 10 years training at St Vincent’s in Sydney. He has extensive experience in trauma, having worked in pre-hospital and retrieval medicine as an Emergency Physician for the Greater Sydney Area, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), Careflight, Critical Care Aeromedical Retrieval Service (Brisbane), and the Hunter Retrieval Service.

Dr Tim is passionate about teaching, with a specialist interest in Simulation having completed the world-renowned Simulation Instructor Training at the Centre for Medical Simulation, Harvard Boston. Dr Tim held the position of Simulation Lead in his most recent public position and actively participated in Health Network training in Simulation.

KhanhNguyen

Khanh is a FACEM from Sydney with a keen interest in teaching,  especially workshops and simulations!

ScottFlannagan

With the looks of Doug Ross and the enthusiastic spirit of John Carter, Dr. Scott Flannagan became an ACEM fellowship-trained emergency physician in 2013.

Starting out in Jasper Indiana, a city of gold and wonderment, he went on to Indiana University to improve his social interacting skills. After graduation, he left the American shores for sun-kissed Australia, completing medical school at the University of Sydney and the majority of his emergency medical training within the Hunter New England Network of NSW, centered in Newcastle, NSW.

Scott is currently the Director of Emergency Services at Maitland Hospital, NSW. His clinical interests revolve around regional Trauma and critical care management in ED, workforce planning and Point of Care Ultrasound use.

ElliotLong

Elliot works with children and acts like one occasionally. He is interested in applying the principles of adult trauma to children.

KateCush

Kate has been interested in trauma since working as an ED registrar in an inner city ED. The philosophy of trauma management changes rapidly. She loves the general chaos of ED and the team mentality it fosters. Living in the Blue Mountains has meant she has taken up ultramarathons

AdamBrand

Adam’s career in medicine started in the UK with a keen interest in wilderness medicine, leading the medical team on a research expedition to the Peruvian Amazon.

After moving to Southeast Queensland, this interest was transferred to aeromedical retrievals. While working with Lifeflight Queensland, Adam completed his Masters in Public Health and aeromedical retrieval.

When he’s not mountain biking, Adam works as an Emergency Physician at Gold Coast University Hospital. Adam is also the Medical Director of Digital Services for Gold Coast Health.

LauraSutherland

Laura is Scottish-born and trained, now also a proud Aussie who calls Adelaide home. FACEM hubby and three gorgeous and cheeky kids, who are the lights of her life.

Laura loves emergency medicine, trauma and education and trained in paediatrics, so she never has to grow up! She’s enthusiastic about optimising individual and departmental well-being and culture change.

StephSchlueter

Dr Steph (her last name is German and unpronounceable) is a rural Emergency Physician based in Albany, WA, and a clinician with the Emergency Telehealth Service. After graduating medical school in Berlin in 2007, she moved to WA, became a real Aussie and completed EM training. Her passion is interprofessional rural and remote critical care education, delivered to the most remote clinicians in person and via telehealth enabling them to “do the basics well and deliver crit care – out there”. When not in the hospital, Steph enjoys “helping” her husband on their cattle farm and trail running with her dogs.

OliWelfare

Originally British, though trained in Dublin, New Zealand, the UK and Australia. Passionate about improving patient safety through communication and teamwork. Happiest either running in the hills or at home with my family.

KateTaliana

An Emergency Physician with special interest in trauma, paediatrics, geriatrics.

BobWorswick

Started life in the Army as an infantry officer. Subsequently became an Army doctor and trained as a Rural Generalist. After leaving the Army I now do rural locum/casual ED work in QLD and ACT.

MichelleWithers

Zimbabwean-born, trained in the UK (NHS) and NSW, now based in the NT. Came to Alice Springs in 2008 and the red dust got into my blood! I have always been interested in Trauma and Prehospital Care, especially in resource-limited settings. I have dealt with trauma patients in large city hospitals (St Mary’s Paddington, Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, Liverpool in Sydney) – but also at roadsides and on red sand dunes in the NT, and in a tiny hospital in rural Zimbabwe. The principles are the same – do simple things well, and what you do matters (thanks, Mel Herbert).

BethanJervis

Originally from Wales but have called Australia home since 2015 (…sorry mum). I spent my training split between Townsville and Sydney and am imminently moving north of the border again to Brisbane.