Staff
Sally Johnston - Accredited Practising Dietitian.
 Sally graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement) from the
University of South Australia in 2000 and a Master of Nutrition and
Dietetics from Flinders University in 2002. She has worked in the private
sector since 2003.
 Sally has extensive experience in individual counseling, with specialised
dietetic counseling skills in disordered eating and in the dietary
management of those undergoing bariatric surgery. Sally has provided
dietetic consultations to individuals at Adelaide Obesity surgery since 2005.
As part of the multidisciplinary team at Adelaide Obesity Surgery Sally’s
role is to tailor dietary advice to an individual’s needs. This may be
traditional dietary modification, meal replacement programs or dietary
counseling regarding bariatric surgery.
Sally is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and Accredited
Nutritionist (AN) of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). She
maintains this qualification by taking part in the annual DAA professional
development program.
Simon Andrews - Psychologist (Optimistic Kids, North East Psychological Services).
Simon Andrews holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and is a
Registered Psychologist and Supervisor with the South Australian
Psychological Board. He is also a member of the Institute of Private
Practicing Psychologists and the South Australian Society of
Hypnotherapists. Simon has been in private practice for 10 years and
consults at Tea Tree Gully as well as Wakefield Clinic.
Dr. Helen Patroney - MBBS, Bariatric Physician/General Practitioner
"Doctor who is ideally placed to play a key role in evaluation and ongoing
care of medically or surgically managed patients with obesity"
Dr Helen Patroney BMBS graduated from the Flinders University of South
Australia in 1979 and completed her Internship and General Residency
training at Flinders Medical Centre and the Repatriation General Hospital.
She has worked in General Medical family practice since 1983 in Adelaide
and Melbourne. Management of obesity related medical problems has been a
fundamental part of her general practice. Since her involvement with
Adelaide Obesity Surgery commencing 2003, and now with Innovations
Healthcare, Dr Patroney is pleased to be a part of this complete
integrated management team for individuals with obesity and related
medical complications.
Her role at Adelaide Obesity Surgery consists of an initial appointment
with every client to assess the general medical and social issues relating
to their weight problems. After clients have seen the entire AOS team, a
second appointment with Dr Bessell will integrate the input from the whole
team and he will prescribe recommendations for progression to surgery for
weight loss and maintenance. Ongoing reviews are arranged as necessary to
ensure success.
Dr. Cathy Dillon BA, BMBS, DCH, FRACGP
Dr Dillon joined Adelaide Obesity Surgery (AOS) in February 2009. She was drawn to this practice because of its holistic team approach to sustainable good health. Weight loss is only a part of this approach. Anyone who has tried to lose weight – and those people who came to AOS have demonstrated their commitment to loosing weight by trying many methods, often a great expense, over many years – realise that there is no quick fix to long term weight loss and good health. She is happy to be part of a team which includes bariatric and general physicians, surgeons, dietician, exercise physiologist and psychologist.
Her background is of undergraduate and post graduate studies at Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre. She has experience in most aspects of internal medicine and also in the subspecialty areas of renal medicine and cardiology. She has seen the long term consequences of chronic disease in vulnerable populations in her work in Darwin and at Aboriginal clinics in far North South Australia. Rural and remote locums have consolidated her hospital-based experience and have included locums in Pt Augusta, Kangaroo Island, and with the Royal Flying Doctor Service based in Alice Springs. She undertook formal General Practice training in Port Augusta and Pt Broughton in country South Australia. She completed a Diploma in Child Health whilst attached to the Northern regional Paediatrics Unit based in Pt Augusta. She
has also been involved in the teaching of medical students in Pt Augusta as a Clinical Lecturer for the University of Adelaide. Returning to Adelaide in 2005, she has worked on private emergency departments and urban general practice. Her main interests are child health and health promotion and illness prevention – particularly in the setting of preventing chronic disease.
Dr. Michael Waters - BMBS (Hons) FRACP - Internal Medicine Specialist
"Doctor in general internal medicine, with broad knowledge and experience in disease-management initiatives"
Dr Waters participates in the evaluation and management of medical complications of obesity and, in those patients progressing to bariatric surgery, is involved in assessing fitness for surgery and providing inpatient care and support.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), currently employed as Staff Specialist in the department of General Medicine at the Lyell McEwin Health Service, and is a Clinical Lecturer with the University of Adelaide. He also provides inpatient services to a number of Adelaideâ?Ts prominent private hospitals.
Areas of expertise include management of cardiovascular, endocrine and renal disease with an emphasis on inpatient and peri-operative medicine.
Dr Waters graduated with honours from Flinders University of South Australia in 1993 and subsequently undertook his internship and basic physician training at Flinders Medical Centre, completing examination requirements in 1998. He then entered advanced training in General Medicine, working in a broad range of subspecialty areas including renal medicine, cardiology, respiratory, endocrinology, infectious diseases and intensive care. Significant experience was gained in rural and indigenous medicine through Royal Darwin and Cairns Base hospitals, and while at the latter in 2002 was involved in an outreach service to the remote communities of the Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait regions. He then attended the Gorgas Course in Tropical Medicine (Lima, Peru 2003), being awarded a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and returned to Adelaide in 2004 to complete advanced training in General Medicine while Chief Resident at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. In 2005 he took up a position as Staff Specialist in General Medicine at this institution.
His broad training and expertise has been applied to the management of obesity and its medical complications, through involvement in Adelaide Obesity Surgery (AOS) and now with Innovations Healthcare.
Jenny Putna RN, Bariatric Nurse
Jenny is a Registered Nurse, Trained Midwife and holds a B.A. in Psychology and Welfare. She has worked in both the public and private health systems in S.A. and
interstate. Her main hospital experience has been in gastrointestinal surgical areas.
Over the years Jenny has studied several Communication Courses,Group Work practices and relaxation/meditation techniques as well as regularly updating her clinical nursing skills.
Jenny will be working both on the ward and in the rooms at AOS which will allow maximum contact with patients.
In this role she will be involved in providing optimum patient support, education and clinical care. She has a keen interest in research in this area and in being involved in developing the most comprehensive holistic approach to Lap Band Surgery.
Dr Teresa Girolamo MBBS FRACGP
Dr Teresa Girolamo graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1994 with a degree of Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). She has been working in private general practice in Adelaide, rural South Australia and Ireland since 1998, and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 1999.
Dr Girolamo has an interest in preventative medicine and lifestyle modification, which has lead to her involvement with the Adelaide Obesity Surgery team. As part of the initial consultation with a new client, her role involves assessing the individual from a both a medical and psychosocial perspective, as well as imparting knowledge to the client on weight loss strategies. Subsequent follow up appointments are arranged on a regular basis to ensure weight loss success and maintenance. |
