Doctors and Nurses
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Meet The Dedicated Doctors at Nelson Plaza Clinic
The highly qualified, dedicated and caring doctors and nurses at Nelson Plaza Clinic are committed to caring for our community.
It is advisable to find one or two doctors you feel most comfortable with so they can get to know you and your medical history. This helps the doctors to work with you better to make the best possible decisions about your health. We encourage you to request the doctor of your choice when making a booking.
Dr Joel Wenitong
Dr Joel is a GP with a lot of life experience. He is warm, approachable, and easy to talk to. He is a family man. Furthermore, he completed his medical degree at the University of Newcastle and has worked in several of the area’s major hospitals before joining Nelson Plaza Clinic in 2018.
Joel has special interests in Men’s health, Children & Adolescent health and empowering patients to take control of their own health. He is an asset to Nelson Plaza Clinic and has what is commonly agreed to as the best smile in the practice!
APPOINTMENTS: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Dr Kira Stapleton
Dr Kira is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She graduated in Medicine from the University of Adelaide. Prior to moving to Port Stephens Kira has years of clinical experience having worked in Darwin, Adelaide and remote South Australia. She holds a certificate of women’s health and has experience in pregnancy care.
Kira has also completed a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Areas of interest: women’s health, pregnancy care, child health and Aboriginal health
Outside of work Kira enjoys spending time with her family camping, travelling and at the beach
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Dr Natalia Lacerda
Dr Natalia has been a doctor for 13 years. In 2010 she qualified as a paediatrician in Brazil, obtaining membership in the Brazilian Paediatric Society. She specialized in paediatric cardiology and worked as a paediatric consultant in Brazil. She moved to Australia 5 years ago, and moved to Newcastle to get closer to a growing Brazilian community there. On her days off she enjoys exploring the country and going for road trips, beach or bushwalking.
Interests: child and women’s health.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Dr Alex Richardson
Dr Alex Richardson started in Nelson Plaza Clinic in 2018 when he moved to Port Stephens from Ireland via Sydney with his family. He has experience working in emergency and critical care medicine, several surgical specialities and women’s health. He has completed post graduate training in surgery, child health and critical care.
Areas of interest: Family health, Chronic disease management, Skin cancer, Child health.
Speciality consultations: Mirena insertion/removal, Implanon insertion/removal, Skin cancer management.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Dr Mike Gear
Mike graduated in Medicine from The University of Sydney and completed his hospital training at St George and Sutherland Hospitals. He is a fellow of the RACGP and has completed the Diploma of Child Health. Prior to studying Medicine, Mike completed a PhD in Molecular Biology.
Mike has recently relocated his family to Port Stephens and is excited to resume his favourite hobbies of cycling, bush walking and scuba diving.
Areas of interest: Paediatrics, Mental health, Travel medicine, Preventative health.
APPOINTMENTS: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Dr Rebecca Don
Having completed her hospital years at Westmead and Westmead children’s, Rebecca worked as a GP in Sydney for more than ten years before moving to Port Stephens with her young family. Her special interests include women’s health, children’s health and prevention and management of chronic disease. When she is not at work, Rebecca enjoys bushwalking, kayaking, and exploring Port Stephens and surrounds with her family.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
Dr Angelo Fortune
Dr Angelo has been a doctor since 1991. Dr Angelo qualified as a
paediatrician in 1997 in the UK and worked in paediatrics in both the UK and West Indies until 2004 when he retrained as a GP.
He migrated to Australia and joined Nelson Plaza Clinic in 2011.
Dr Angelo enjoys all aspects of general practice, with special
interest in paediatrics and dermatology. He does regular “skin
check” clinics and surgery.
Skin Checks: Dr Fortune provides 20 minute skin clinic
consultations.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
Dr Dhei Abbod
Dr Dhei has relocated from the Gold Coast to work in Nelson Bay. He has a Diploma in Skin Cancer medicine along with his excellent experience as a GP with interest in Mental health, Paediatrics & Men/Women’s Health.
Skin Checks: Dr Abbod provides 20 minute skin clinic consultations.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Dr Jo Amos
Dr Jo Amos is originally from central western NSW. Jo graduated from the University of Newcastle and has a passion for rural generalism. She holds a certificate in Emergency Medicine and continues to work in both the Emergency and General practice settings.
Despite the continued call to return to country, she has found her ‘happy place’ in Port Stephens.
Special interests include emergency and procedural medicine .
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Dr Megan Keatley
Dr Megan grew up in South East Queensland. She has a background in criminology prior to studying medicine at the Sydney University, spending time at Dubbo School of Rural Health. She trained at Wollongong Hospital prior to relocating to Nelson Bay with her young family.
Dr Megan has interests in preventative medicine and women’s health.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Dr Robert Bender
Dr Rob Bender completed his medical degree in Western Australia and started his training at Royal Perth Hospital. He worked in multiple hospitals in Western Australia and Tasmania then started his career in rural medicine in 2019 in Northern New South Wales. He works in both General Practice and Emergency Medicine.
Rob also currently works at Tomaree and John Hunter Paediatric Emergency Departments.
He has recently moved to Port Stephens with his young family and enjoys running, cycling and spending time at the park with his son.
His special interests are geriatric medicine, cardiovascular health, chronic disease management and emergency medicine.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Dr Ben McMahon
Dr Ben McMahon is originally from the Blue Mountains of NSW. He has a background in both nursing and diagnostic radiography. He studied medicine at the University of Newcastle and spent time at the Manning Rural Medical School. He is passionate about preventative health and health education, working directly with patients or utilising allied health resources in supporting patients to be knowledgeable and active in their own health management.
Areas of Interest: Preventative Health, Prediabetes / Diabetes Management, Minor Skin Procedures, Mental Health and Sports Medicine.
Dr Ben has appointments Monday to Thursday.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Dr Astrid Dias
Dr Astrid Dias has trained in hospitals across Wollongong, Perth and Sydney, and now enjoys working in General Practice in Nelson Bay.
She has special interests in women’s health, child health, and preventative health, and has a certificate in child health with the Sydney Child Health Program.
Outside of work, Astrid enjoys going on walks, listening to history podcasts and trying new foods.
APPOINTMENTS: Tuesday, Wednesday
Dr Kate Wardell
Dr Kate is originally from Canada and studied at the University of Sydney. She has spent the last 5 year in the wonderful Northern Rivers region. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her family and dog. When at work she likes showing pictures of her dog to co-workers and patients if they ask.
Areas of Interest: Women’s health and paediatrics.
APPOINTMENTS: Monday, Tuesday
Dr George Manoliadis
Dr George is back every Wednesday.
APPOINTMENTS: Wednesday
Our Nurses
Our Nursing team consists of 5 Registered Nurses including a dual qualified midwife.
