Team

Dr Craig J Taylor

Dr Craig Taylor

MBBS(Hons) FRACS

Laparoscopic &
Obesity Surgeon

Dr Taylor is an Australian surgeon who specialises in advanced laparoscopic surgery. He has personally performed over 3,000 laparoscopic abdominal procedures. In more recent years he has focused his practice on weight loss surgery, known as Bariatric surgery, which now makes up 80% of his weekly practice. Over the past 5 years he has developed a vast experience with both the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band and the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy procedures, and regularly performs surgery on patients with extreme obesity (weighing over 180kg), many of whom have extensive medical risks. He also regularly performs corrective surgery, and conversions from one type of weight loss operation to another.

Dr Taylor chose to become an obesity specialist after witnessing the profound positive impact weight loss surgery can have on a patient's health and quality of life. Where as conventional medical care tends to focus on treating the consequences of obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint degeneration, bariatric surgery treats the cause of these and many other common medical problems in a powerful and effecient way. Weight loss surgery is the only treatment that can put type 2 diabetes into remission. It can cure hypertension. It can alleviate sleep apnoea. It can overcome polycystic ovarian syndrome and improve fertility. It also has the power to transform a person's everyday quality of life. It is wonderful to assist patients toward a happier, healthier and brighter future.

Dr Taylor is the primary author of a number of scientific and research papers that have been presented at leading international congresses and published in respected medical journals, and is an active member of the Obesity Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand, the International Federation of Surgery for Obesity, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

He attended the University of Sydney and graduated with honours and was awarded the Robert Craig prize in Surgery.

He completed his training in General Surgery at the Royal North Shore hospital before electing to undertake a further 3 years of full-time subspecialist training in Bariatric (obesity) and Upper Gastrointestinal surgery at renowned surgical units in Queensland and in the United States. His training in obesity surgery has covered all of the major operation types including complex revisional procedures, and has focused strongly on providing holistic multi-disclipinary patient aftercare support in order to achieve maximum results.

He also performs complex upper gastrointestinal surgery including surgery on the liver, stomach, gallstones, adrenal glands, anti-reflux surgery, and abdominal hernia surgery with a particular focus on  using the laparoscopic (keyhole) approach. Click here to visit Dr Taylor's website on Laparoscopic General Surgery.

Click Here for a list of scientific publications and presentations by Dr Taylor  

Dr Tony Robinson

PhD

Psychologist

Tony completed his Doctor of Philosophy at Loyola College, Maryland, USA in 1995.  He is a clinical psychologist.  He has worked in mental health in America and Australia for over 20 years.  Recently, he completed a six-month consultancy in Manchester, UK.   For over 11 years, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Australasia. He has published professional articles as well as presenting papers at a variety of national and international conferences. He is an experienced workshop presenter.
Tony works with adult women and men in a supportive approach to therapy. Tony realises that our patients are making an important commitment to themselves, their loved ones and to life in general when they consider banding.  This decision taken at the right time in a person’s life leads to rich psychological rewards.  As a member of our team of psychologists, he supports the patient celebrate their successes. 
Unhealthy eating for most people has a long history so establishing a healthy vital relationship with eating takes time and has some challenges.  These challenges can be faced with good support.  Along with Taryn, Tony takes the role of ‘band coach’, helping our patients feel confident, supported and good about themselves and their achievements.

Sonia Haggman

B.Psych, PhD

Psychologist

Sonia is a clinical psychologist who completed her clinical doctorate and PhD at the University of Sydney. Her research focused on the psychological factors that contribute to developing chronic pain. She previously worked as a physiotherapist where she investigated the co-existence of depression and lower back pain. Sonia has a long standing interest in health and has presented her work at national and international conferences over the last 10 years. As a psychologist she has worked in both the private and public sectors and her particular expertise lies in providing evidence based psychological treatment for adult clients.

Sonia works with OClinic patients to help them identify where they are ‘stuck’ and discover the entrenched patterns of thinking and behaving that often contribute to difficulties losing weight. By developing healthier belief systems and using new strategies to do things differently, problems such as emotional eating, stress management, habit breaking, and low self confidence can be worked through to allow patients to achieve the best possible result following weightloss surgery.

Caroline Shannon

BSc Nutr & Dietetics

(New Zealand)

DAA & APD

Dietitan & Nutritionist

Caroline is a keen and experienced dietitian. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSC) and a Post Graduate Diploma of Dietetics (DipDiet) in New Zealand.

Before joining OClinic in 2010, Caroline had been working as a senior bariatric surgery dietitian at London’s leading bariatric surgery centre, the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She has extensive experience in Lap Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass and Intragastric Balloon procedures and their nutritional issues. She has contributed to a research paper that has been presented at international conferences. Prior to working in the UK, Caroline was actively involved in bariatric surgery in her native New Zealand.

Caroline also has experience and a keen interest in cardiac disease, woman’s health, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. She also has expertise in a wide range of acute dietetics.

Caroline is passionate about educating, motivating and inspiring you achieve your weight loss goals with simple and practical nutritional advice.
 

Andrea Powell

(APD)
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics

Dietitan & Nutritionist

Andrea is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with extensive experience in the clinical area, and is a member of both the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA). She has broad knowledge in a range of medical areas including Cardiac Disease, Diabetes, Weight Management and Gastrointestinal Disease. More recently, her focus has been on nutrition following gastrointestinal surgery, including bariatric (obesity) surgery.

Other interests include Sports Nutrition and Exercise and Andrea has also completed her Sports Dietitian qualification at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Andrea is passionate about nutrition and the implications of diet and exercise on health. Her aim is to communicate this information to clients in a motivating and interesting way to assist clients in achieving their weight loss goals.
 

Dr Anthony Edwards

BSc (Hons) MBBS

Clinic doctor

Dr Edwards graduated from University of Sydney 1999 with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and a full Bachelor of Science (Hons) including a year of medical research at Sydney Eye Hospital.

He has extensive experience in the areas  of Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine.

He has worked with Dr Taylor for the past 3 years as both Assistant in Surgery, and in the post-operative clinical management of patients with gastric bands or sleeves.
He is currently undertaking a research project with Dr Taylor in an aim to reduce post-operative discomfort after gastric band surgery.

Dr Paloma Van Zyl

B. Med, FANZCA

Anaesthetist

Dr Paloma Van Zyl is a specialist anaesthetist with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes.
Paloma graduated from the University of Newcastle. She trained at a number of leading institutions including Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and helicopter retrieval medicine with Careflight.  Her key interest areas include anaesthesia for weight loss surgery, pain management, and trainee mentorship.

Dr Adam Osomanski

MBBS, FANZCA

Anaesthetist

Dr Adam Osomanski graduated from the University of Sydney and trained at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Concord Hospitals before undertaking further post-Fellowship training in cardiac anaesthesia, and Trauma/Retrieval Medicine in Lausanne Switzerland. His clinical interests include Obesity Anaesthesia and Retrieval Medicine with NRMA CareFlight. He is the Director of Anaesthesia at Surgery Centres of Australia and Mona Vale Hospital. His professional interests include Quality and Safety in Anaesthesia, Rescue and Retrieval Medicine, Systems and Human Factors in Medicine, Education, Medical Informatics.

Dr Ajay Kumar

MBBS FANZCA

Anaesthetist

Dr Ajay Kumar is a graduate of the University of New South Wales and completed his anaesthetic training at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital. He undertook a fellowship in Cardiac Anaesthesia and echocardiography and is now a Specialist Cardiothoracic and Obesity anaesthetist.  He has a special interest in Cardiac anaesthesia, management of high-risk patients, and Obesity Anaesthesia. He has convened and presented on these topics at several national and international meetings on behalf of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the Australian and New Zealand college of Anaesthetists, and the European Congress of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists. His other professional interest is travelling to developing countries with the Cardiac Outreach Program.

Dr James Prescott

MBBS FANZCA

Anaesthetist

Dr James Prescott completed his medical degrees at the University of Sydney in 1983 and his specialist anaesthetic training in 1990. After several years as a staff specialist at Repatriation General Hospital Concord, he entered private practice with an emphasis on surgery on the upper gastrointestinal tract and major urological surgery. This has led naturally to involvement in bariatric surgery. He maintains a strong commitment to the training of junior anaesthetists at the teaching hospitals Concord and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, as well as being accredited at numerous private hospitals.

Michelle

Practice Manager 

Michelle is our OClinic Practice Manager. Michelle has always been interested in health, fitness and patient care- she is a fully trained ambulance paramedic, Bootcamp instructor, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and dietetics! Michelle has extensive experience in medical practice management and will ensure that your experience is as smooth as possible. Don't hesitate to contact Michelle if you have any questions or are unsure about anything. 

Keran

Receptionist

Along with Michelle, Keran is the other person you are likely to speak with when you call our clinic.

Keran's lovely and warm manner will make you instantly feel at ease.

Keran has been interested in health and wellbeing for many years, and very much enjoys seeing our patients regain control of their lives and achieve better health.