Doctors consulting from Jewells Medical Centre

Dr Michael Swanson     MBBS (Hons), Diploma of Obstetrics

A country boy, Michael went to Sydney University to study medicine before finding Newcastle to be a perfect balance between city and rural life. Michael continued his medical training in London before returning to Newcastle to take up General Practice, marry and raise three children. He has held numerous positions with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Hunter Urban Division of General Practice and the General Practice Valley to Coast Training Organisation. Michael believes General Practice is vital to community holistic medical care and that it is important for patients to develop a long-standing relationship with a family practice. He considers it a great privilege to care for four generations of many families and enjoys all aspects of General Practice, taking particular interest in men’s health, women’s health, children’s health, antenatal care, mental health, worker’s compensation and travel medicine. Michael has a passion for native bush regeneration, bush walking, tennis, cycling, travel and the arts.

Dr Trif Tzaros     B.Phys(Hons), B.Med(Hons), FRACGP

Trif grew up south of Bendigo in central Victoria before moving to Newcastle to complete his medical degree and postgraduate training in General Practice. He came to enjoy the blend of larger city convenience and access to the great outdoors that Newcastle offers. Trif enjoys the variety of medicine in general practice, and the ability to provide continuing care. He offers the full spectrum of general practice care, including worker’s compensation patients. Prior to medicine he worked as a physiotherapist which fostered his ongoing interest in musculoskeletal medicine. Trif’s other interests include dermatology and skin cancer management, antenatal care and travel medicine. He is actively involved in the training of medical students and general practice registrars. Outside of medicine he enjoys soccer, farming, fly-fishing for trout, and recreational hunting. He is married with three children.

Dr Damien Whittaker     BSc(med), MBBS (Hons), FRACGP

Upon completing his medical degree at UNSW in 2003, Damien moved to Newcastle and has felt at home ever since. Damien has a keen interest in teaching and training both Medical Students and General Practice Registrars. Damien has a broad interest in all facets of General Practice. He particularly enjoys caring for people and families over the whole spectrum of life. Damien’s interests include general medicine, diabetes, skin cancer management, minor surgery, mental health, sports medicine and musculoskeletal medicine including work injuries. When away from work he enjoys family life, and may often be spotted cycling and running around Glenrock reserve and the Fernleigh track. 

Dr Heidi Reichler     B.Med, B.A (Hons), FRACGP  

Heidi came to Newcastle in 1996, having already completed an Honours degree in psychology in Melbourne, where she then worked for several years doing research in adolescent sexual health.  She went on to study medicine at the University of Newcastle, graduating in 2002. During her studies she developed an interest in rural health and spent 2 years working at Tamworth Base Hospital before returning to Newcastle in 2005 and commencing General Practice. The variety of medicine that general practice offers and the pleasure of getting to know and treat families across their life-cycle provides ongoing interest. In particular, she enjoys women's health, paediatrics, sexual health, mental health and skin diseases, including minor surgeries. Heidi is married with 2 children with whom she enjoys the outdoors, travelling, bush-walking, camping and hockey. At home, she relaxes gardening or cooking.

Dr Gillian Hynd     MBBS, B.Sc(Med), FRACGP

Gillian graduated in 1996 from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Science ( medical). After 3 years of hospital based training on the Central Coast, she commenced her career in general practice, completing her GP training at Jewells Medical Centre in 2001. With several short breaks away for maternity leave and her husband's surgical career she has continued  as a part-time GP at Jewells Medical Centre now for over 13 years. Her main general practice interests are in Women's Health, Paediatrics and Mental Health, but she enjoys the full range of general practice that is offered at Jewells Medical Centre. Personal interests include activities such as running (especially after her 4 boys) and swimming and the occasional (and rare) quiet spot with a book.

Dr Phillipa J Malouf  BSc(med) MBBS (Hons), FRACGP

Pip graduated in 1994 from the University of NSW. After several years of training at St George Hospital, Pip started her training as a Sexual Health Physician at Sydney Hospital. After completing a Diploma of Sexual Health, Pip lived in London for a year with her husband and spent the year working in Mental Health at a Unit specialising in Eating Disorders and general Psychiatry. On their return, Pip and her husband moved to Newcastle and Pip started her training in Psychiatry at James Fletcher Hospital Newcastle. She then transferred her training to General Practice, and has been there ever since. General Practice enables her to use the knowledge and skills she has gained from her previous training. Pip continues to enjoy General Practice, in particular Women’s Health, Paediatrics and Mental health as well as general Medicine. Pip is married with 3 children. Her other interests include, cooking, reading and running.

Dr Phoebe Hindley     B.Med, DCH, FRACGP   - NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Phoebe has grown up locally. After completing her schooling, she went on to study Medicine at the University of Newcastle. Since graduating she has continued to enjoy the coastal lifestyle, working for a number of years within the Hunter New England Public Hospitals with a particular interest in paediatrics. Phoebe has completed a Diploma in Child Health through the Westmead Children’s Hospital and received Fellowship to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2014.

Dr Craig Roberts-Thomson     B.Comp.Sci., MBA, B.Med, FRACGP   - NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Craig is a local who attended Newcastle University and did internship and residency with Hunter New England Local Health District prior to becoming a GP. He completed his Fellowship to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2015. Before coming to medicine he worked in the IT industry in Sydney for a number of years after doing a Computer Science degree and still dabbles a bit in technology, although these days it is just for fun. He also runs a bit in his spare time and wishes he had taken it up earlier in life.

Dr Jane Bear   B. Med, FRACGP

Jane graduated from the University of New England in 2012 and went on to complete her residency at Royal North Shore Hospital. She then pursued her interest in children’s health, working as a Paediatric Registrar at Hornsby and John Hunter Children’s Hospitals. Over this time, she also completed the Diploma of Child Health through the Westmead Children’s Hospital. Jane entered General Practice in 2017 and completed her training in 2021. She has also completed the Family Planning National Certificate in Reproductive and Sexual Health and is a registered provider of MS2 step (medical termination of pregnancy). When not at work, you will find Jane camping and bushwalking with her husband and three young boys.

Dr David Hogbin   FRACGP  - NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

David graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2014 after a career in real estate and nuclear medicine. He completed his residency years at John Hunter Hospital, followed by additional training in anaesthetics and emergency medicine. He entered general practice in 2018 and completed his training in 2021. During this time, he also completed Advanced and Professional Certificates in Skin Cancer Medicine and the Diploma of Child Health. David enjoys all aspects of general practice but is particularly interested in paediatrics, dermatology and acute care. In his spare time, Dave enjoys four-wheel driving and camping with his wife and three boys.

Dr Thuy Pham  GP Registrar, MChD, BMedSci   - NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Thuy grew up locally in Newcastle. She studied at the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University where she graduated from her medical degree in 2019. She completed her junior doctor training in tertiary hospitals in Sydney and Canberra, before moving back to Newcastle to start GP training with the RACGP. Thuy is interested in all aspects of general practice care. Outside of work she enjoys going to the beach, gardening and pottery.

Dr Chris Hindley     MBBS, Dip RACOG 

As you may well know, Chris has retired from General Practice and is now enjoying the extra time he has to spend with his family, currently in expansion with beautiful grandchildren! He's been pretty busy from all accounts. If you are one of Chris' regular patients, we understand the close ties you will have had to him possibly for many years, and warmly encourage you to get to know one of us, his colleagues, to continue your connection with Jewells Medical Centre into the future. Chris' brief bio remains below, he knows he may not be here as often anymore, but he certainly won't be forgotten. His bio remains below for your interest.

Chris is a local lad who attended Gateshead High School and then enjoyed undertaking his medical degree at the University of Sydney. After graduation Chris worked in many Newcastle hospitals and completed an obstetrics diploma before commencing in General Practice at Jewells in 1982. Over the years Chris has taken great pleasure from seeing the practice grow into the highly professional yet always friendly and caring Jewells Medical Centre. Chris has felt privileged to treat many generations of neighbourhood families. When at the surgery Chris also enjoys teaching Medical Students and General Practice Registrars. Away from work Chris loves to travel, sail, watch rugby, dabble in contemporary art and most importantly be with his growing family.