Dr Elisabeth Banks
M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P., M.P.H., F.A.F.P.H., (R.A.C.P.), D.Obst., R.C.O.G.

Interests:     Weight control, nutrition, men’s and women’s health.
Dr Banks has two grown up children.  She loves walking (especially with her dogs) and reading and gardening.  She has been working at Blackburn Clinic since 1986, when she was also the Victorian Director of General Practice Training.   Dr Banks is a former President and current member of the Board of Victorian Cervical Cytology in Carlton (and was also Chairperson of the Pap. Registry).  She works as an Accreditation Surveyor for other clinics (with Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited) and is a Panel Member of Professional Services Review.  Her medical interests include Women’s and Men’s Health, Cancer and Weight Management/Nutrition.

Dr Grant Connoley
M.B., B.S., B.A., D.Obst., R.A.C.O.G., F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Allergies and Asthma
Grant graduated from Melbourne University in 1984.  He has been at Blackburn Clinic since 1989.  His previous experience includes time at the Austin Hospital, Monash Medical Centre, Moorabbin Hospital and Bendigo Hospital.  He has also worked at Monash University and at the RACGP as a medical educator.  His medical interests include allergies, asthma, TB, medical education and medical informatics.  He holds positions on the Whitehorse Division of General Practice Chronic Diseases Reference Group, The Lung Health Promotion Unit at the Alfred and the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance General Practice Training Program.  He is an examiner for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and is involved in the training of medical students and doctors.

Dr Kathryn Cunneen
M.B., B.S.,  F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests: Women’s Sexual Health, Paediatrics and Adolescent Health
Dr Katie Cunneen started at Blackburn Clinic in 2007 as a GP Registrar.  She returned in 2008 after completing her general practice training and now works full time at the clinic.  She has particular interests in paediatrics and young people’s health, but enjoys all aspects of general practice.

Dr Robert Dunn
M.B., B.S., D.C.H. (Lond.)

Interests:     Diabetes & Men’s Health
Dr Rob Dunn commenced work at Blackburn Clinic in January 1982 after four years post-graduate training in Paediatrics in London.  He retains an interest in children’s health as well as diabetes and men’s health.  Rob was part of the team that completely rebuilt the Blackburn Clinic complex from 1989-1992.  He then became the foundation president of the Whitehorse Division of General Practice for four years in the mid 1990s.  Then followed ten years as managing partner of Blackburn Clinic, overseeing rapid growth and computerisation.

Dr Peter Elliott
M.B., B.S., Dip RACOG

Interests:  Paediatrics, geriatric medicine
Dr Elliott has four children and is a keen golfer when family and work commitments allow the time.  He joined the Blackburn team in 1999 and has a total of twenty years in General Practice.  Dr Elliott has been active on the Medical Boards of Mitcham Private Hospital (Chairman until 2003) and is currently Chairman of Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital.  He attends Blackburn Clinic patients requiring rehabilitation care at Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital.  Dr Elliott is Managing Partner at Blackburn Clinic.  His medical interests include all aspects of family practice, particularly paediatrics, and geriatric medicine.

Dr Scott Gardiner
M.B., B.S., D.Obst., R.A.C.O.G., D.A (U.K.),  F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Sports medicine.
Having graduated from Monash University, Dr. Scott Gardiner planned to work as a country doctor.  So he studied obstetrics at the Mercy Hospital and anaesthetics in England, and was awarded his Fellowship in the R.A.C.G.P.

However, he came to Blackburn Clinic in 1994 and has never left!  He still enjoys the breadth of general practice, caring for patients of all ages.  He sees expectant mothers, new born babies (having a large paediatric practice), adults (including Men’s & Women’s Health Checks) and enjoys caring for the older members of the practice. Minor surgery allows an opportunity to maintain procedural skills.   His love of sport has led to an interest in sports medicine and he has previously worked in a sports medicine clinic. Another interest is flying and he practices Aviation Medicine, performing medicals for air crew.  Scott is married with a son and a daughter, and enjoys playing hockey, running, travel and adventurous pursuits. 

Dr Patricia Garlick
M.B., B.S.,  D.Obst., R.C.O.G.

Interests:     Family planning, Women’s Health, Shared Ante-Natal Care and Mental Health Counselling.
Dr Garlick was born and educated in England.  She qualified as a doctor from University College Hospital, London.  She started at Blackburn Clinic shortly after her third child was born in 1985.  Initially she worked part time juggling the duties of being a mother with work.  She joined as a partner in 1994 and has been full time since.  When possible she enjoys walking, playing golf and tennis.

Dr Melanie Hattotuwa
B.M., B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Family medicine, paediatrics, women’s health.
Dr Melanie Hattotuwa jointed the Blackburn Clinic in 2006 and is currently working full time at the practice.  She has a special interest in women’s health and paediatrics, although enjoys all aspects of medicine.

Dr Janice Kreltszheim
M.B., B.S., Dip.R.A.C.G.O.G., F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Family Planning, Menopause, Shared Antenatal Care
Dr. Janice Kreltszheim had a rich and diverse childhood, growing up on the tea plantations of Sri Lanka and Indonesia.  She migrated to Australia as an eleven year old, and graduated with honours from Monash University in 1987. She has always loved the diversity and continuity of care that General Practice brings, though briefly was tempted by a specialist career in Gynaecology and Obstetrics.  Her special interests, not surprisingly, are in the areas of Antenatal Care, Family Planning and Menopause management, but she loves Paediatrics and Geriatric Medicine as well.  Janice worked in the United Kingdom for a couple of years, after which she joined the Blackburn Clinic in 1999.  She is married to Mr. Andrew Smith, a specialist General Surgeon, and they have three fabulous children, who have made it difficult for Janice to work more than part-time.  Janice loves to keep fit and enjoys playing tennis, running, walking the dog and going to the gym.  She also enjoys camping, skiing, bush-walking and her involvement at her local church.

Dr Peter Lovass
M.B., B.S. (Hons), F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Family medicine, paediatrics, minor surgery.
Dr Lovass started at Blackburn Clinic in 1999 as a GP Registrar, and has remained since returning in 2000.  He enjoys the full range of general practice and particularly likes seeing multiple generations of the same family.  Dr Lovass has a special place in his heart for seeing young children, particularly as this reminds him of his own family.

Dr John O’Sullivan
M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Headache, migraine, hypertension, stroke prevention.
John O’Sullivan joined the Blackburn Clinic in 1971.  He has special interest in migraine, cardiology and stroke prevention.  He is married with three grown up children, is a keen fly fisherman, and enjoys classic car rallying and travel.

Dr Prabaharan Ratnarajah
M.B., B.S.,  F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Men’s Health and Paediatrics.
Praba’s initial interest in paediatrics led to training at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, before focusing on general practice.  He started at Blackburn Clinic in 2005 and is a partner of the practice.  Praba has also been caring for in-patients at Donvale Rehabilitation Hospital since 2006.  He is married with two children, enjoys playing cricket, and is an avid follower of sports in general.

Dr David Rogers
M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P., Post. Grad. Dip. Palliative Medicine.

Interests:     Palliative Care and Sports Medicine.
David Rogers worked at the Alfred Hospital before joining Blackburn Clinic in 1973.  David has worked continuously at Blackburn Clinic since that time, apart from six months working as a GP in England in 1990.  In 1997, when the last of the three children left home, the Rogers moved to the peaceful environment of Healesville.  David has a particular interest in Palliative Care, and works part-time with Eastern Palliative Care (a provider of community palliative care services to support patients in their homes), and also provides inpatient care at Ringwood Private Hospital.

Dr Claire St John
M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P., D.R.A.N.Z.C.O.G.

Interests:     Antenatal and shared antenatal care, women’s health.
Claire has worked at Blackburn Clinic on a part-time basis since 1999.  She has a diploma of obstetrics and enjoys all aspects of general practice, with special interests in women’s health, paediatrics and shared antenatal care.  She is a full-time mother of three children.

Dr Adrian Tang
M.B., B.S.,  F.R.A.C.G.P.

Interests:     Family medicine, Travel health, Minor surgery.
Dr Adrian Tang graduated at Monash University in 1995 and has been practicing medicine in a wide variety of disciplines since.  His initial interest was in surgery and he was a Director of Emergency at Werribee Hospital for several years before pursuing his passion in general practice.  Adrian first joined Blackburn Clinic in 2002 and is a partner of the practice.  His love for travel has spurred him on to specialise in travel medicine.  Adrian’s other interest is music, and he is an accomplished player of the piano and violin.  He has been blessed with a fun loving toddler who, like her dad, is an avid supporter of the St.Kilda Football club.