Dedicated Experts to Support Your Care

Dr Ronak Patel is an experienced and highly respected consultant neurologist with over 20 years of experience as a medical practitioner and a Neurologist since 2016. He completed his medical degree at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), India, and holds Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in Neurology. He has Associate Fellowship of Royal Australasian College od Medical Administrators (AFRACMA).

Dr Patel has undertaken subspecialty fellowship training in Neurovascular Neurology and Stroke. He gain valuable experience in Mutiple Sclerosis when he worked in John Hunter Hospital, NSW.

Director and Principal Neurologist at ACT Neurology Centre, a multidisciplinary comprehensive Neurology practice in ACT.

Dr Patel also serves as the Director of Neurology and Stroke at North Canberra Hospital (formerly Calvary Public Hospital), and is the Cross-Territory Director of Neurology for Canberra Health Services, overseeing integrated neurology services across ACT.

In addition to his clinical leadership in neurology, Dr Patel is the Clinical Director for the Division of Medicine at North Canberra Hospital, where he leads clinical strategy and multidisciplinary service delivery across medical specialties.

Dr Patel manages a wide range of neurological conditions, with a special interest in:

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Headaches and migraines (including Botox therapy for neurological indications)
• Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Peripheral nerve disorders

He is also skilled in performing neurophysiological investigations, including nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG), and electroencephalography (EEG).

Dr Patel holds key leadership roles, including:

Chair, Medical Staff Council

Chair, Drugs and Therapeutics Committee

Chair, Cross-Territory Neurology Consultants Meeting

He is also the Past Chair of the General Clinical Training Committee (GCTC) and the Neurology Research Group.

He contributes to national neurology governance and medical education through committee involvement with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), including:

ANZAN Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Committee

ANZAN NSW/ACT Interview Panel

ANZAN Regional Neurology Committee

He also serves on multiple clinical governance and hospital committees.

Dr Patel is deeply committed to medical education and mentoring. He is a Primary Supervisor for Neurology Advanced Trainees and Fellows, a Clinical Lecturer at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Medicine and Psychology, and an Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

Outside of medicine, Dr Patel is passionate about maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He enjoys travelling, has a deep love for cricket, and values time spent exploring new experiences with family and friends.

Dr Jozwik completed her medical degree (MBBS) at The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle in 2010. Most of her training was completed through ACT Health at both Canberra and Calvary Hospitals. She spent a year of her neurology training at Liverpool Hospital, one of Sydney’s major stroke centres, before returning to Canberra to undertake a Stroke Fellowship. She received her fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2020.

Dr Jozwik currently works at Calvary Public Hospital as a neurology staff specialist, where she is actively involved in the stroke service and contributes to the teaching of ANU medical students, junior doctors, and trainee physicians. She provides general neurology services with particular interest in headache, epilepsy, and functional neurological disorders, offering both public and private care to her patients.

She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), the Epilepsy Society of Australia (ESA), the Australia and New Zealand Headache Society (ANZHS), and the Stroke Society of Australia (SSA). Dr Jozwik regularly attends conferences to stay current with the latest evidence and provide high-quality, informed care to her patients.

She is passionate about delivering good quality patient care with a strong focus on the individual.

After graduating from Sydney University in 1988, Dr Hughes trained in Neurology at the Prince of Wales and Westmead Hospitals with a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology.

Having worked at Canberra Hospital for 17 years, Dr Hughes has now moved to a part-time public appointment at North Canberra Hospital.

Dr Hughes is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

Having been a past member of the National Examination Panel for the RACP, he remains interested in post graduate education and mentoring.

Dr Hughes is a Neurologist with an interest in headache and nerve conduction studies. He is offering adult neurological consultations, nerve conduction studies and botulinum toxin injections for the dystonias and migraine.

Dr Stephen Evans is a consultant neurologist with a fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN). He completed his medical degree at the University of Queensland and undertook specialty neurology training in Canberra and Sydney.

He specialises in all areas of neurology including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and headache. He has an additional fellowship and special interest in vascular neurology and stroke. Dr Evans is committed to ongoing professional development, and staying up-to-date with the latest research and evidence to benefit his patients.

Dr Evans is a staff specialist in neurology at Canberra Hospital and also runs the stroke clinic at that hospital. He teaches medical students and trainee physicians, and is involved in neurology research. He is currently undertaking a study on the factors contributing to stroke in the ACT population.

As part of his commitment to excellent clinical care, Dr Evans prioritises clear communication, and treating patients with kindness and understanding. He believes this contributes to better outcomes for his patients.

Outside of neurology he is an amateur cyclist and servant to two unruly dogs.

Dr Carmela Sales is a consultant neurologist at Calvary Public Hospital. She completed her medical degree at the University of the Philippines in 2012 and later pursued specialization in neurology in Australia. In 2022, she received her fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She completed her clinical and research fellowships in multiple sclerosis and neuro-oncology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in February 2023. In addition, she underwent stroke training at The Canberra and Calvary Hospitals in 2021 and served as a neurology registrar at Western Health in Melbourne.

Dr Sales is an active member of several neurology organizations, including the Stroke Society of Australia, Epilepsy Society of Australia, American Academy of Neurology, and the Philippine Neurological Association. At Calvary Public Hospital, she is dedicated to delivering optimal care to patients with conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and neurological complications resulting from cancer and its therapies. She also manages patients with headache and epilepsy.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr Sales is a committed medical researcher with several publications in the fields of stroke, general neurology, and neuro-oncology. She also contributes to medical education by teaching medical students and junior doctors. She regularly attends professional development activities to remain updated with the latest advancements in neurology.

Dr Derrick Soh is a highly qualified Australian neurologist with a special interest in Movement Disorders, Neurophysiology and Headache. Dr Soh has completed a two year Fellowship at the prestigious Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease at Toronto, Canada and a 1 year Fellowship in neurophysiology at St George Hospital before being admitted as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Physicians in 2016. Dr Soh received his medical degree from Southampton University, United Kingdom and completed his specialist training at St George Hospital and Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. He currently works as a Staff Specialist neurologist at Wollongong Hospital and Sutherland Hospital, NSW.

Dr Soh has published numerous scientific papers in high-quality peer-reviewed medical journals and has given presentations (including posters) at a local, national and international level. He has won the Dr George Wilson Memorial Prize in 2014. He is also an invited Reviewer for the Journal of the Neurological Sciences, The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences and Journal of Neurology.

Dr Soh has a keen interest in education and has been appointed as an Associate Lecturer of the University of New South Wales and Senior Clinical Lecturer (honorary) of University of Wollongong.

He is currently a member of the American Academy of Neurology, International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Society, International Headache Society, Australia New Zealand Headache Society and Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand

Dr Peter Park is a Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Researcher at the North Canberra Hospital, previously known as Calvary Public Hospital Bruce. He completed his medical training in Neurology at multiple tertiary teaching hospitals including Royal Melbourne Hospital, Liverpool Hospital and The Canberra Hospital.

Having trained at major stroke centres under the leadership of Prof Helen Dewey, Prof Bruce Campbell and Prof Mark Parsons, Dr Park has a particular interest in both haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke diagnosis, management and prevention. Apart from stroke, Dr Park has broad interest in other areas of neurology including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neuro-otology and headaches.

He is an active member of various organisations including Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), Neuromuscular Society of Australia and New Zealand (MNSANZ), and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). He is a Fellow at Australasian Stroke Academy (ASA).

Dr Park is passionate about clinical research to develop and provide best patient care. He has built track records of research publications in high impact journals such as Neurology and Stroke, with nominations for RACP Trainee Research and ANZAN Young Investigator Awards in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Dr Park is equally passionate about teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate settings. He has served as a conjoint associate lecturer at University of New South Wales and assists in teaching RACP physician trainees.

Dr Varnika Sharma is a neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist. She has a broad interest across all neurological conditions, with subspeciality expertise in nerve and muscle disorders. She completed her neurology training at the Canberra Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, followed by a dedicated fellowship in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine at Concord Hospital, Syd. During her fellowship, she gained extensive hands-on experience in nerve conduction studies and EMG (including single-fibre techniques).

She also developed strong skills in diagnosing and managing a wide range of neuromuscular disorders, such as peripheral neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, myopathies, muscular dystrophies and motor neuron disease. Her training additionally included exposure to neuroimmunology and the use of botulinum toxin for migraine.

Dr Sharma is a Consultant Neurologist at North Canberra Hospital and is committed to medical education, teaching and trainee supervision. She is an active member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), the Neuromuscular Society of Australia and New Zealand (NMSANZ), and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

Her practice includes general neurology, neuromuscular medicine and comprehensive neurophysiology testing. She brings a compassionate, patient-centred approach and prioritises clear, thoughtful communication to support the best patient outcomes. Outside of her clinical work, she enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr James Heffernan is a consultant neurologist with a subspecialty interest in Parkinson’s
disease and related disorders.

Dr Heffernan was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2026 following general neurology training in Canberra and Sydney. He completed subspecialty training at the Parkinson’s Disease Research Clinic at Macquarie Health in Sydney. During this time, he gained in-depth knowledge and clinical exposure to advanced
therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders and also contributed to national and international clinical trials. He has developed expertise in the assessment and management of movement disorders with a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease, including personalised treatment planning and optimisation of therapy over time.

Dr Heffernan is an active member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS).

Dr Heffernan works as a Consultant Neurologist at North Canberra Hospital and is committed to
providing high-quality, up-to-date care. He values careful listening and clear communication, with a focus on understanding each individual and their needs. His approach is centred on delivering thoughtful, personalised care to a consistently high standard.

Duncan is a UK and Australian trained Neurologist who works in all areas of neurology, with a particular interest in stroke, traumatic brain injury and cognitive disorders. He has trained at The Canberra Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and The Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, and was previously a consultant neurologist at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Dr Erin Xiao is a consultant neurologist with a subspecialty interest in epilepsy.

She obtained her medical degree from the University of Queensland and completed
specialist neurology training at Canberra Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital, followed
by an epilepsy fellowship at the Westmead Comprehensive Epilepsy Centre.

Dr Xiao is committed to patient-centred care and is actively involved in medical education as
a tutor at the University of Melbourne Medical School.

She is one of the neurologists in ACT Neurology Centre who will be leading our ambulatory
home based video EEG service and will be seeing patients with Epilepsy via Tele health.

Dr Hayley Engel is an experienced General Practitioner who completed her medical degree at the Australian National University and attained Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2014.

She works alongside consultant neurologist Dr Ronak Patel in a dedicated headache clinic that offers team-based, personalised care. Dr Engel’s extensive background in women’s health is particularly beneficial for headache management.

Conditions such as menstrual migraines, perimenopause and the use of hormonal contraception can all influence headache patterns.

She ensures these considerations are incorporated into each patient’s treatment plan. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr Engel is actively involved in medical education, supervising both medical students and GPs-in-training.

Dr Hugo Sampaio is a paediatric neurologist at Sydney Children’s and Canberra Hospitals. His clinical practice is broad, encompassing all areas of paediatric neurology, and his research focuses on translating laboratory findings into clinically meaningful outcomes.

He is the head of the department of neurology at Sydney Children’s Hospital and leads the neuromuscular diseases clinic there.

Dr Sampaio completed his medical degree in South Africa and later obtained his specialty qualification at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Westmead. He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

His training has included a fellowship in epilepsy, with a particular focus on the interpretation and reporting of paediatric EEGs.

Dr Beth Cole grew up in Canberra before commencing her medical degree at Monash University, Melbourne in 2011. She has completed comprehensive and varied training in paediatric neurology through The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Her experience has included subspecialty training in epilepsy, neuromuscular medicine and immune-mediated neurologic syndromes.

Dr Cole has a special interest in neuroimmunology. She currently works at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne while she completes a clinical and research fellowship in multiple sclerosis and CAR-T cell therapies across both child and adult cohorts.

Dr Cole is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a member of the Australia and New Zealand Child Neurology Society.

Dr Pal is an Australasian trained neurosurgeon, he completed his BSc(Med) with 1st class honors and MBBS at UNSW, a graduate diploma in applied anatomy by dissection at UNE, and then FRACS in neurosurgery.

He has experience working in both spinal units in Sydney (Prince of Wales Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital). After completing his FRACS examination he worked as a consultant neurosurgeon (VMO) in Sydney, and then completed a postgraduate spine fellowship.

Dr Pal is passionate about spine and complex brain tumours, balancing evidence-based conservative care with surgery.

Dr Pal is a staff specialist neurosurgeon at The Canberra Hospital and is passionate about teaching our future doctors. He has been a clinical lecturer with University of Sydney and has commenced tutorials for ANU medical school this year.

Dr Krish Santhirakanthan is a Consultant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine based in Canberra. He completed his medical degree at James Cook University, where he spent six years training in rural and remote regions, gaining a deep understanding of healthcare delivery in diverse settings. He completed his specialist training in Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Canberra Hospital, where he currently serves as a Staff Specialist.

Dr Santhirakanthan is passionate about neurological rehabilitation, with a focus on stroke, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disorders, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. He is proficient in spasticity management, including ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections, and delivers care across both inpatient and outpatient settings.

He also serves as a VMO Staff Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine at The National Capital Private Hospital and Calvary John James Hospital, where he holds admitting rights. His areas of expertise include:

• Neurological rehabilitation, including post-stroke care, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodegenerative disorders

• Spinal cord injury medicine

• Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation

• Orthopaedic and trauma rehabilitation

• Reconditioning post-surgery and medical illnesses

• Amputee rehabilitation and prosthetic prescription

• Management of musculoskeletal conditions

In addition to his clinical roles, Dr  Santhirakanthan is an Associate Lecturer at the ANU Medical School and has completed an Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA). He is committed to mentoring the next generation of doctors while integrating cutting-edge research into his practice to optimize patient outcomes.

Rachael graduated from La Trobe University with a Master of Speech Pathology in 2011. She is a certified practising speech pathologist with 11 years experience. She is skilled in the diagnosis and management of communication difficulties and dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) in adults with neurogenic disease. Rachael also has a special interest in treating swallowing and communication difficulties in the setting of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Rachael is a knowledgeable and compassionate therapist with a patient-centred, quality-of-life focus.

Holly is a registered psychologist and clinical neuropsychology registrar with over 6 years of
experience working with people with cognitive concerns.
She completed her double degree in Bachelor of Development Studies and Bachelor of
Science (Psych) with 1st class honours at the Australian National University and Masters of
Clinical Neuropsychology at Macquarie University in Sydney. Her research thesis was in
cognitive markers of Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic encephalopathy syndrome/chronic
traumatic encephalopathy.
She has completed further training at the University of Canberra Hospital and Canberra
Hospital and has experience across acute and rehabilitation settings in both public hospitals
and private clinics. She is a member of the Australian Clinical Neuropsychology Association
(ACNpA) and the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN).
She is currently accepting new referrals for neuropsychological assessments. Common
conditions seen by Holly include:

• Dementia diagnosis (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia)
• Traumatic brain injury and post concussive symptoms
• Acquired brain injury (stroke, hypoxic brain injury, tumour)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Epilepsy
• Intellectual disability
• Capacity assessments
• Cognitive rehabilitation, including positive behaviour support
• Adult ADHD on a case by case basis

Megan moved to Canberra in 2011 to complete her degree at the University of Canberra. Following her completion, Megan worked within ACT Health as a Physiotherapy Assistant before transitioning over to the role of Physiotherapist.

Megan has a passion for working predominantly in the neurological rehabilitation aspect of physiotherapy and her interests in rehabilitation includes traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Megan also has experience working with lower limb amputees.

Megan has specific qualifications in being able to run programs such as LSVT BIG, GLA😀 and MS Get a Head Start Programs. She holds a level 1 Dry Needling qualification and is proficient in needling neurological populations for a variety of impairments.

Megan’s current working days are Monday at ACT Neurology Centre in Deakin and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at the Bruce Momentum clinic.

Brian is a senior physiotherapist with 15 years of experience working across acute and rehab settings in both public hospitals and private clinics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (first-class honors) in Hong Kong in 2008. He pursued his master’s degree specialized in Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2013 and he was in-charge of a physiotherapy team at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong from 2018-2022.

Brian is skilled in managing various musculoskeletal and neurological pain conditions using manual therapy, dry needling, and therapeutic exercises. Additionally, he treats individuals with vestibular dysfunction, addressing issues such as spinning, dizziness, headaches, and balance problems. Brian helps patients with BPPV and other inner ear disorders through manual repositioning techniques and targeted exercise programs.

Conditions commonly seen by Brian include:

• Acute/chronic pain management and rehab

• Cervicogenic dizziness/headache

• Migraine

• BPPV

• Vestibular dysfunction/vestibular migraine

• Strength and balance training

• Dry needling

Laura is a Senior Speech Pathologist with over 12 years experience working with adults with communication and swallowing difficulties. Her specific areas of expertise and interest include neurological diagnosis, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and age related conditions.

Laura graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology in 2010 and has worked in public and private hospitals, outpatient clinics and hospices both in Australia and Colorado, USA. She has a strong commitment to professional development within the profession and sharing her knowledge with colleagues and students. In recent years she has also guest lectured in Dysphagia at the University of Canberra.

Laura is passionate about the provision of holistic and individualised services and ensuring transfer of skills within everyday life. She values creative, person centred practice and loves engaging with adults across the lifespan from evaluation to discharge.

With over a decade of dedicated stroke nursing experience, Kristine is a highly
specialised nurse whose career reflects a deep and unwavering commitment to
improving outcomes for stroke patients across the care continuum.

Kristine has held pivotal roles, including Stroke Liaison Nurse at North Canberra
Hospital and Stroke Clinical Nurse Consultant for Southern NSW Local Health
District — positions that have given her extensive expertise in acute stroke care,
rehabilitation coordination, and cross-disciplinary

Kristine holds dual board certifications from the Association of Neurovascular
Clinicians as both an Advanced Stroke Coordinator and a Neurovascular Registered
Nurse — distinctions that reflect the highest standards in stroke nursing practice.

Holding post-graduate qualifications specialising in Neurology, Kristine has recently
completed a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) at Monash University, equipping
her with the advanced clinical knowledge and autonomous practice skills to lead
stroke care at the highest level.

In her current role as a Transitional Stroke Nurse Practitioner, Kristine bridges the
gap between hospital and community, ensuring stroke survivors receive seamless,
expert-led support through every stage of their recovery journey.

Along with the Neurologists in ACT Neurology Centre, Kristine will be doing urgent
neurological assessments and running a rapid access TIA and Stroke clinics.

As a specialist palliative care Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years’ experience working with the ACT and surrounding region communities, Kate brings to ACT Neurology expert clinical care and experience to help patients and their families, navigate and manage the complexities of pain and symptoms due to a life limiting or a life changing diagnosis. Kate has recently completed a Master of Laws, focusing on international health law, end of life law and human rights. Alongside her clinical work, she is an authorised voluntary assisted dying practitioner in the ACT, supporting patients with compassionate, patient-centred end-of-life care.

Kate’s approach is grounded in her passion to improve access to sustainable and equitable expert palliative care, with a particular focus on strengthening services across Australia and the Pacific — including leading and co-designing work in the Solomon Islands building palliative care capacity and capability.

Emma Cook  is an Ahpra-registered Occupational Therapist who completed her Bachelor of Occupational Therapy in 2008 and a Master of Research in 2025. With over 17 years of clinical experience, she has worked across specialist hospital and community neurorehabilitation services in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Emma Cook  has extensive clinical experience and a special interest in the assessment and rehabilitation of adults with moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, hypoxic brain injury, and prolonged disorders of consciousness. Emma also works with adults living with a range of neurological conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Spinal Cord Injury and Dementia.

Clinical Services

• Upper limb rehabilitation, including post-spasticity management
• Complex wheelchair and seating assessment and prescription
• Cognitive rehabilitation
• Functional skill retraining and community reintegration
• Home assessments for minor home modifications, including written recommendations and diagrams
• Powered mobility assessment
• Equipment prescription and assistive technology recommendations
• NDIS-specific assessments and reports, including Functional Capacity Assessments and Home & Living reports
• Graded return-to-work planning