Meet Our Team

John Blakey - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Associate Professor John Blakey

John Blakey is a general respiratory physician with a special interest into managing severe asthma. He has extensive experience of developing and managing asthma services in the UK. He has a strong record of activities relating to clinical quality improvement, and continues to be actively engaged in clinical research.

Associate Professor John Blakey

A/Prof John Blakey is is a Consultant Respiratory Physician who moved to SCGH in late 2018, bringing extensive experience of developing and managing asthma services in the UK.

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He has a strong record of activities relating to quality improvement, and continues to be actively engaged in clinical research and supervision of postgraduate studies relating to asthma, newer information technologies, and modelling future risk.

John is on the Raine Study Scientific Committee and Respiratory/Immunology Special Interest Group, advisory board to Asthma WA and Quality Improvement Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians.

Fraser Brims - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Professor Fraser Brims

Fraser Brims is a respiratory physician with special interests in work-related lung disease, particularly asbestos, and the early detection of lung cancer. He is Head of Department for Respiratory Medicine, he leads the WA Asbestos Review Program and is principle investigator for the LUCAP project.

Professor Fraser Brims

Prof Fraser Brims is a Consultant Respiratory Physician, Head of Department for Respiratory Medicine at SCGH and Director of Clinical Skills at Curtin Medical School.

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Fraser has special clinical and research interest in occupational lung diseases, particularly asbestos-related and silicosis, and the early detection of lung cancer.

He is chair of the WA Mesothelioma Registry and is Deputy Director of the Institute for Respiratory Health where he heads the Occupational and Respiratory Health research group. He leads the WA Asbestos Review Program, the largest lung cancer early detection program in Australia, and he is a member of the Australian National Dust Diseases Task Force.

Weng Chin - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Weng Chin

Weng Chin is a Consultant Respiratory Physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of all respiratory problems in adults, with a particular interest in diseases involving both the heart and lungs. He is an as Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians since 2000.

Dr Weng Chin

Dr Weng Chin is a Consultant Respiratory Physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of all respiratory problems in adults, with a strong clinical interest and expertise in cardio-respiratory disorders and lung transplantation.

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He has particular interest in diagnosis and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary vascular Disorders.

Dr Chin was Head of Department of Respiratory Medicine from 2003 – 2014.  He was closely involved in the establishment of the WA Lung Transplant program, and also in the development of lung volume reduction surgery as an alternative to transplantation. He has also had a significant involvement in Medical Education, as the Director of Physician Training at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and as an Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians since 2000.

Chris Kosky - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Chris Kosky

Chris Kosky is a general respiratory physician with particular expertise in severe emphysema / bronchitis and in patients needing oxygen or other support for their breathing. Chris is also a Consultant in the Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine Department – with expertise in measuring lung function and sleep disorders.

Dr Chris Kosky

Chris Kosky is a general respiratory physician with a strong clinical interest in pulmonary physiology and non-invasive ventilation. He is lead for the WA long term home ventilation program.

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Chris leads the COPD speciality service and is clinical lead for the Respiratory High Care unit for our inpatients.

He is an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia.

Gary Lee - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Professor Gary Lee

Gary Lee is a Respiratory Consultant who specialises in diseases of the lining of the lung. He is an expert in lung ultrasound and runs one of the largest specialist clinics in the world. His clinical and research interests include improving the treatment for and quality of life for people with fluid build up around the lungs and treatment of mesothelioma.

Professor Gary Lee

Gary Lee is a Respiratory physician and professor with over 15 years’ experience in researching pleural diseases, especially pleural malignancies and infection.

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His research program is patient focussed and combines both clinical and laboratory research as well as incorporating a tertiary pleural service.

Prof Lee runs the Pleura Medicine Unit based at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the Institute for Respiratory Health. His research incorporates state-of-the-art imaging facilities, clinical trials and biobank networks an focusses on the areas of pleural effusion and Mesothelioma.

His work has been translated into clinical practice on many occasions, in particular the use of indwelling pleural catheters for malignant pleural effusions and novel agents and mechanisms for pleurodesis.

Siobhain Mulrennan - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Clinical Professor Siobhain Mulrennan

Siobhain Mulrennan is a general respiratory physician with special interests in cystic fibrosis and lung cancer & bronchoscopy (camera tests). She works closely with the University of Western Australia Medical School and Institute for Respiratory Health. Her research interests include cystic fibrosis studies and lung health in the Busselton Health Study.

Clinical Professor Siobhain Mulrennan

Siobhain Mulrennan is a respiratory physician skilled in general respiratory medicine with special interests in cystic fibrosis, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer and endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy.

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She is Lead for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis service and this role involves collaboration with the adult CF multidisciplinary team, the paediatric CF team at Perth Children’s Hospital, KEMH Obstetrics department and the Lung Transplant team at Fiona Stanley hospital.

She is a Clinical Professor at the University of Western Australia Medical School, affiliated with the Institute of Respiratory Health and the Busselton Population Medical Research Institute and currently a member of the WA Respiratory Health Network Executive Advisory Group. Current research interests include cystic fibrosis studies and clinical trials, endobronchial ultrasound and respiratory aspects of the Busselton Health Study.

Bruce Robinson - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Professor Bruce Robinson

Bruce Robinson is a general pulmonary physician with a special interest in occupational lung cancers, particularly mesothelioma. He collaborates closely with other pulmonary clinicians in the department and elsewhere. Bruce is a renowned clinician-scientist at the University of Western Australia and founded the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, based in Perth.

Professor Bruce Robinson

Bruce Robinson is a general pulmonary physician with special interests in the immunology of lung malignancies, particularly mesothelioma and lung cancer. He collaborates closely with other pulmonary clinicians in the department and elsewhere.

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Professor Robinson is a clinician-scientist, completed a doctorate in lung immunology and founded the world-leading NHMRC-funded National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, studying cancer immunology, genomics, biomarkers, novel therapies and other approaches to asbestos diseases. The team members are experienced in many areas ranging from cancer gene sequencing to novel immunotherapy approaches that have led to ten world first clinical trials. He has published >230 scientific papers, >50 invited book chapters, numerous key invited reviews in top journals, 2 scientific books and has received numerous awards, including the international Wagner and Selikoff medals. In 2013 he was named Western Australian of the Year.

Rajesh Thomas - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Rajesh Thomas

Rajesh Thomas is a respiratory medicine specialist with expertise in lung cancer, interventional bronchoscopy and pleural diseases. He is a clinical lead for the Lung Cancer, Interventional Bronchoscopy, and Pleural services at SCGH and chair of the Lung Cancer multi-disciplinary meeting. His research interests include novel bronchoscopic interventions to diagnose/treat lung cancer and complex airways diseases and indwelling pleural catheter treatment in pleural cancers.

Dr Rajesh Thomas

Rajesh Thomas is a respiratory medicine specialist with expertise in lung cancer, interventional bronchoscopy, and pleural disease. He is a clinical lead for the Lung Cancer, Interventional Bronchoscopy, and Pleural services at SCGH and chair of the Lung Cancer multi-disciplinary meeting. He runs the specialised Lung Cancer fast-track clinics for rapid diagnosis-staging and management of thoracic cancers.

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He is an expert in endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscopy, advanced interventional bronchoscopy (including rigid bronchoscopy, laser, cryotherapy, and tracheo-bronchial stents) for management of complex airways obstruction, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (including endobronchial valves and bronchial vapour thermal ablation) for severe emphysema, and bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma. He is also an expert in advanced pleural medicine including interventions such as pleuroscopy, indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) management, and intra-pleural fibrinolytic therapy for pleural infection.

Rajesh is a clinical researcher with interests in novel bronchoscopic interventions to diagnose/treat lung cancer and indwelling pleural catheter treatment in pleural cancers. His PhD research studied ‘optimising the role of IPC in the management of malignant pleural effusions’. He is an Early Career Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council and Cancer Council WA. He is passionate about the training and safety of bronchoscopy and pleural practice and has convened/facilitated several international and national workshops in the field.

He directs the SCGH Interventional Pulmonology fellowship program on advanced bronchoscopy and pleuroscopy training for post-FRACP respiratory specialists.

Fiona Lake - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Clinical Professor Fiona Lake

Fiona Lake is a Consultant Respiratory Physician with an interest in general lung conditions and in particular conditions that cause scarring in the lung. Fiona is a renowned teacher of medical students and trainee doctors. Her research and clinical interests include providing complete care for patients, linking hospital with community, and developing training programs for doctors.

Clinical Professor Fiona Lake

Fiona Lake is a Consultant Respiratory Physician with an interest in interstitial lung disease and medical education. Her clinical work is based around inpatient and outpatient care, in particularly Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) and works with colleagues to provide a multidisciplinary service providing diagnosis and comprehensive management, linking with community based services to provide ongoing care.

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In her academic practice, she has had extensive involvement in medical education, both in training health professionals through curriculum development, implementation and accreditation, and in training the supervisors. With a small number of colleagues she established the Teaching on the Run program in 2000 and subsequently the TELL Centre.

With trained collaborators they continue to run up to 40 workshops a month around Australia and New Zealand, training clinicians to be better teachers and supervisors. The program has been implemented an a variety of countries including Vietnam, Burma, Taiwan, Ireland and Saudi Arabia.

Her passions remains the combination of providing holistic care and teaching in the clinical setting, with finding ways to continue to optimise clinical care and clinical learning in a hospital workplace which has become busier and more challenging.

Anna Tai - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Anna Tai

Anna Tai is a general respiratory physician with a special interest in treating cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Anna is also actively involved in clinical trials and research projects in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis with a view to improving outcomes in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

Dr Anna Tai

Dr Anna Tai is a respiratory physician with subspecialty interest in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. She underwent specialty training in respiratory medicine in Auckland followed by further subspecialty in cystic fibrosis in the adult cystic fibrosis unit at The Prince Charles Hospital (Brisbane, Australia).

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During her fellowship, she was awarded the NHMRC medical and dental postgraduate scholarship and completed her PhD thesis on the microevolution of antimicrobial resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in adults with Cystic Fibrosis.

Dr Tai has an active interest in clinical research. Her clinical research focuses on antimicrobial resistant bacteria which commonly causes lung and gut infection in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Dr Tai is also actively involved in clinical trials and research projects conducted by the SCGH multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis team with a view to improving treatment for patients with CF and bronchiectasis.

Vidya Navaratnam - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Clinical Associate Professor Vidya Navaratnam

Vidya Navaratnam is a general respiratory physician with an interest in interstitial lung disease/pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and lung transplantation. Her research background includes large epidemiological studies, health services research and clinical trials. She has extensive lung fibrosis clinical and research experience in the UK and Australia and works closely with other researchers in the Centre for Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis (CRE-PF).

Clinical Associate Professor Vidya Navaratnam

Vidya Navaratnam is a general respiratory physician with an interest in interstitial lung disease/pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and lung transplantation. Her research background includes large epidemiological studies, health services research and clinical trials. She has extensive lung fibrosis clinical and research experience in the UK and Australia and works closely with other researchers in the Centre for Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis (CRE-PF).

Doug Forrester - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Clinical Associate Professor Doug Forrester

Doug Forrester is a respiratory physician scientist with international and interstate experience in research units, public hospitals and rural communities. His main interests are in cystic fibrosis, lung infection biomarkers and addressing healthcare inequities.

Clinical Associate Professor Doug Forrester

Doug Forrester is a respiratory physician scientist with international and interstate experience in research units, public hospitals and rural communities. His main interests are in cystic fibrosis, lung infection biomarkers and addressing healthcare inequities.

Sanjay Ramakrishnan - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan

Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan is an academic respiratory physician, with a sub specialist focus on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
He trained as a respiratory and sleep medicine specialist in Perth, WA. He then completed a PhD with Prof Mona Bafadhel in Oxford, working to improve the care of patients with COPD exacerbations. His work has been published in highly respected journals including The Lancet, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, The American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine and the European Respiratory Journal. He has received fellowship funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Charlie’s Research Foundation. In addition to his research and clinical work, Sanjay also acts as the COPD Associate Editor for the journals BMJ Open Respiratory Research and Chest.

Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan

Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan is an academic respiratory physician, with a sub specialist focus on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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He trained as a respiratory and sleep medicine specialist in Perth, WA. He then completed a PhD with Prof Mona Bafadhel in Oxford, working to improve the care of patients with COPD exacerbations.

His work has been published in highly respected journals including The Lancet, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, The American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine and the European Respiratory Journal.

He has received fellowship funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Charlie’s Research Foundation. In addition to his research and clinical work, Sanjay also acts as the COPD Associate Editor for the journals BMJ Open Respiratory Research and Chest.

Dhaval Thakkar - Respiratory Medicine - Sir Charles Gairdner

Dr Dhaval Thakkar

Dhaval Thakkar is a respiratory consultant with advanced training in interventional bronchoscopy and pleural disease management. He uses minimally invasive techniques in diagnosing and treating different diseases in the chest, offering a variety of different procedures using the latest technologies. His clinical focus is in lung cancer and co-chairs the weekly Lung Cancer multi-disciplinary meeting. Besides managing lung cancer he is passionate about managing complex benign airways and pleural diseases.
He has international experience having completed his medical training in the US and is board certified in practicing internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and interventional pulmonology. His academic pursuits include trainee education and mentorship, including fellowship training. His clinical interests are in utilizing technology to improve healthcare and is fascinated by the intersection of medicine and biotechnology.
He values the importance of being able to communicate complex medical information and takes great pride in having his patients leave his clinic visit with a better and deeper understanding of their disease process.

Dr Dhaval Thakkar

Dhaval Thakkar is a respiratory consultant with advanced training in interventional bronchoscopy and pleural disease management. He uses minimally invasive techniques in diagnosing and treating different diseases in the chest, offering a variety of different procedures using the latest technologies. 

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His clinical focus is in lung cancer and co-chairs the weekly Lung Cancer multi-disciplinary meeting. Besides managing lung cancer he is passionate about managing complex benign airways and pleural diseases.

He has international experience having completed his medical training in the US and is board certified in practicing internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and interventional pulmonology. His academic pursuits include trainee education and mentorship, including fellowship training. His clinical interests are in utilizing technology to improve healthcare and is fascinated by the intersection of medicine and biotechnology.

He values the importance of being able to communicate complex medical information and takes great pride in having his patients leave his clinic visit with a better and deeper understanding of their disease process.