Bariatric Physician | Surgical Assistant

Qualifications: B BioMed Sci, B Pharmacy, MBBS, FRACGP

Dr Catherine Quirk is a highly experienced bariatric physician and surgical assistant with a strong background in medicine, pharmacy, and biomedical science. She graduated from Bond University in 2016 and has since worked in rural, remote, and metropolitan hospitals across Queensland, gaining extensive clinical experience.

Experience & Expertise

✔ Surgical Assistance – With over four years of experience, Dr Catherine assists in orthopaedic, general, and bariatric surgeries, including:

Sleeve gastrectomy

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

One anastomosis (Omega loop) gastric bypass

✔ Pre- & Post-Operative Bariatric Care – She plays a crucial role in supporting patients throughout their weight loss journey, ensuring optimal pre- and post-surgical care.

✔ Medical Education & Training – Dr Catherine is a teaching adjunct and OSCE examiner at Bond University and regularly trains Griffith University medical students in both theatre and clinic settings.

Special Interests

🔹 Weight management & bariatric medicine
🔹 Chronic disease management
🔹 Diabetes optimisation

Dr Catherine is a proud member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and leading Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery Societies, including ANZMOSS and IFSO.

Principal Dietitian

B Sc Nutrition & Dietetics​

Carly is a highly experienced Accredited Practising Dietitian who takes a holistic, non-judgemental approach to nutrition and lifestyle changes. She helps individuals understand the connection between food, health, and energy, empowering them to make sustainable choices.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Weight Management & Bariatric Surgery Nutrition – Specialising in pre- and post-surgical nutrition for bariatric patients.
✔ Gut Health & Digestive Disorders – Additional training in FODMAPs, gut health, and behaviour change.
✔ Eating Disorders & Emotional Eating – Supporting clients with a compassionate, science-based approach.

Professional Experience

🔹 Clinical Dietitian – Working in a hospital setting, providing expert dietary advice for a range of health conditions.
🔹 Media & Publications – Regularly featured as an expert dietitian on Channel 9’s ‘Living Proof’ TV show and published in Flannerys magazine.
🔹 Wellness & Retreat Nutrition – Former Nutritionist at Gwinganna Health Retreat, specialising in whole-food nutrition and lifestyle balance.

Professional Memberships & Leadership

📌 Vice Convenor – Dietitians Australia Bariatric Surgery Interest Group
📌 Member – Australian & New Zealand Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS)

Carly is passionate about helping individuals achieve sustainable health through nutrition and is committed to evidence-based dietary support for bariatric patients.

Bariatric, General & Upper GI Surgeon

B Sc Med, MBBS, FRACS

Associate Professor Philip Townend

Specialist Upper Gastrointestinal & General Surgeon

Qualifications: MBBS, FRACS

Associate Professor Philip Townend is a highly experienced Upper Gastrointestinal and General Surgeon. He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2007 and completed his internship and residency in Newcastle, NSW.

Following his FRACS in General Surgery (2017), he pursued specialised training in:
✔ Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) Surgery – Royal North Shore Hospital
✔ Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery – Canberra Hospital (UGI Fellow)
✔ ANZGOSA Fellowship – Specialising in Oesophagogastric & HPB Surgery at Bankstown/Liverpool Hospital

Current Practice & Expertise

📍 Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast Private Hospital & Pindara Private Hospital
📍 Expert in robotic & laparoscopic bariatric surgery
📍 Actively involved in national & international committees to improve patient care and surgical research

In 2021, he was appointed Associate Professor at Griffith University School of Medicine and Dentistry for his contributions to research and teaching.

Bariatric, General & Upper GI Surgeon

M.D, FRACS

Bariatric, General & Upper GI Surgeon

Qualifications: M.D, FRACS

Dr Mikhail Mastakov is a highly skilled bariatric and general surgeon with over 28 years of surgical experience, including:
✔ 17+ years in Queensland hospitals (Princess Alexandra, Logan, Redland, Rockhampton, and more)
✔ Extensive expertise in bariatric surgery, anti-reflux surgery, hernia repair, and gallbladder surgery
✔ Completed bariatric surgery preceptorships with leading Australian specialists in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth & Adelaide

Current Practice & Specialties

📍 Gold Coast Private Hospital, Sunnybank Private Hospital & St Stephen’s Hospital Hervey Bay
📍 Specialises in gastric sleeve, gastric bypass & revisional bariatric surgery
📍 Member of RACS, General Surgeons Australia (GSA), and ANZMOSS

Dr Mastakov is passionate about helping patients achieve long-term weight loss and improving obesity-related health conditions.

Accredited Practising Dietitian

B AppSci + M DietPractice + Hons HumNut

Zoe Cooke

Accredited Practising Dietitian

Qualifications: B AppSci, M DietPractice, Hons HumNut

Zoe Cooke is a Gold Coast-based Accredited Practising Dietitian who helps patients optimise their health through evidence-based nutrition. She takes a personalised, client-focused approach, ensuring each patient’s diet aligns with their lifestyle, medical history, and goals.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Weight management & bariatric nutrition – Supporting patients pre- and post-surgery
✔ Gut health & digestive disorders – Specialising in IBS, FODMAPs, and functional gut disorders
✔ Chronic disease management – Helping patients with diabetes, cardiovascular conditions & metabolic disorders

Zoe has also conducted research in functional dyspepsia and diet’s role in digestive health. She is committed to delivering tailored, practical nutrition advice to help patients achieve long-term success.

Endocrinologist & General Physician

MBBS, FRCP (London), FRACP

Dr Louise Ciin is an experienced Endocrinologist & General Physician, specialising in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disorders. She trained in the UK, where she practiced as a Specialist Consultant before moving to Australia.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Comprehensive weight management – Treating obesity both non-surgically and surgically
✔ Diabetes & metabolic health – Leading research on diabetes & obesity at Griffith University
✔ Bariatric surgery optimisation – Supporting patients pre- and post-weight loss surgery

Current Practice

📍 Private practice at Gold Coast Private Hospital
📍 Staff Specialist at Gold Coast University Hospital
📍 Works with surgeons, GPs, dietitians & exercise physiologists to improve bariatric patient outcomes

Dr Ciin is also a Senior Lecturer at Griffith University and has been involved in teaching medical students at both Griffith and Bond University.

Paediatrician & Emergency Medicine Specialist

MBBS, MPH, FRACP, FACEM

Dr Victoria Matheson is a dual-qualified General Paediatrician & Emergency Medicine Specialist. She provides comprehensive care for children, from newborns to adolescents, including those with urgent or complex medical conditions.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ General & developmental paediatrics – Specialising in childhood obesity & weight management
✔ Emergency paediatrics – Expert in treating children with urgent medical conditions
✔ Obesity research & management – Holds a Master of Public Health and has trained at Harvard University in obesity management

Dr Matheson offers multi-disciplinary weight management programs for children and families, understanding the unique challenges of paediatric weight loss. She consults from Gold Coast Private Hospital.

Cardiologist

MBBS, FRACP

Dr Kang Teng Lim is a highly experienced cardiologist, specialising in electrophysiology, arrhythmia treatment, and cardiac device implantation. Since graduating from Melbourne University in 1997, he has completed extensive advanced training in cardiology and electrophysiology.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Catheter Ablation Therapy – Treating atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias.
✔ Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implantation – Expert in implanting pacemakers, defibrillators, and loop recorders.
✔ Obesity & Cardiovascular Risk Management – Working alongside bariatric specialists to help reduce heart disease risk in patients with obesity.
✔ Hypertension & Heart Rhythm Disorders – Providing comprehensive care for patients with high blood pressure and arrhythmias.

A Collaborative Approach to Heart Health & Weight Management

Dr Lim understands the strong link between weight loss and cardiovascular health. He believes that integrated care between cardiology and bariatrics plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes.

Consulting Locations

📍 Gold Coast Heart Centre
📍 Gold Coast Private Hospital
📍 Pindara Private Hospital
📍 John Flynn Hospital

Dr Lim is committed to providing expert, patient-focused cardiac care for individuals with ongoing heart conditions, hypertension, and arrhythmias.

Registered Psychologist

BA Psych (Hons), M Org Psych

Registered Psychologist

Qualifications: BA Psych (Hons), M Org Psych

Rachel Williams is an experienced Registered Psychologist who provides support for weight-related concerns, emotional eating, and mental health conditions.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Bariatric psychology & eating behaviour – Special interest in disordered eating and weight loss surgery support
✔ Evidence-based therapy – Uses CBT, Schema Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy & ACT
✔ Mental health support – Helping patients with stress, anxiety, depression & grief

Rachel is a Gold-Level Approved Practitioner with the Australian Centre for Eating Behaviour (ACFEB) and a member of ANZMOSS & AAPi. She offers empathetic, supportive counselling tailored to each patient’s needs.

Accredited Practising Dietitian

Masters Nutrition & Dietetics

Jen Hoult is a highly experienced Accredited Practising Dietitian with over 20 years of expertise in weight management, bariatric nutrition, and complex dietary care. She specialises in individualised, evidence-based nutrition plans for adults, teens, and children, supporting a wide range of health concerns.

Areas of Expertise

✔ Bariatric Nutrition & Weight Management – Providing pre- and post-surgery dietary support for sustainable weight loss.
✔ Paediatric & Adolescent Nutrition – Assisting families with fussy eating, food intolerances, and growth-related concerns.
✔ Clinical Dietetics & Complex Cases – Specialising in sensory feeding challenges, enteral nutrition, and tube weaning.

Compassionate, Science-Based Approach

Jen is committed to helping patients achieve their health goals through tailored, sustainable nutrition strategies. She blends medical expertise with a compassionate approach, ensuring each patient receives personalised, practical advice that fits their lifestyle.

Her passion for scientifically supported dietary interventions enables her to empower individuals and families on their journey to better health.

Senior Exercise Physiologist

B Exercise Physiology

Megan Campbell is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with over 11 years of experience helping patients achieve long-term, sustainable weight loss through targeted exercise programs. She specialises in weight management, obesity treatment, and lifestyle modification, working closely with bariatric surgery patients before and after their procedures.

Expertise & Specialties

✔ Bariatric Exercise Therapy – Supporting pre- and post-operative weight loss surgery patients through safe, structured programs.
✔ Obesity & Lifestyle Interventions – Helping patients develop long-term healthy habits for sustained weight loss.
✔ Behavioural Change Coaching – Using evidence-based strategies to empower patients in achieving their fitness and health goals.

A Personalised & Compassionate Approach

Megan combines clinical expertise with a supportive, non-judgmental environment, ensuring patients feel confident and motivated throughout their journey. Her customised exercise plans are designed to be safe, effective, and tailored to each individual's lifestyle.

Since graduating from the University of New South Wales in 2011, she has worked across public hospitals and private clinics, helping patients adopt healthier habits and achieve lasting progress. Now based on the Gold Coast, she is proud to be part of a team dedicated to transforming lives through holistic weight management.