Who’s in our rooms?

Originally from New Zealand, Dr Sonia Van Gessel has been a GP for over 20 years & is known for her warm, approachable nature & whole person approach to healthcare. She has a special interest in perimenopause & menopause, PMDD, PCOS, lifestyle & metabolic health & is continuing further training in gut health & nutrigenomics. Dr Sonia enjoys working with patients to understand the bigger picture of their health & develop practical, personalised care plans to support long-term wellbeing.
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Dr Paul O’Neill is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), a prestigious achievement, from UQ. He has gained broad experience working across hospitals & clinics in both urban & rural communities. This diverse background has equipped him with a well-rounded approach to patient care & a strong foundation across all areas of medicine & surgery. He has particular interests in skin cancer medicine, chronic disease management, obesity management, men’s health & longevity ...

Dr Jacintha is an experienced GP with advanced training in skin cancer medicine, surgery & conditions. She'll be in the practice every Monday & Wednesday, supporting our GC community with skin checks, early detection & ongoing skin health care. Dr Jacintha also has a keen interest in dermatology, so if you've got a spot, lump, bump, rash or skin concern that's got you scratching your head (or literally scratching!), she's here to help.
Dr Jacintha speaks English, Malay & Tamil, allowing ...

Dr Penina Pereira graduated from the University of Otago, NZ & has extensive experience in General Practice. She is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centred care for individuals & families. Dr Penina has particular interests in Women’s & Children’s Health, Antenatal Care, & Preventative Medicine. As a mother of three, she understands the importance of family-focused healthcare & enjoys supporting patients through every stage of life.
Dr Penina speaks both English & S...

Dr Freya Paton is passionate about helping people feel their best! She studied science at ANU before completing her medical degree at UQ, then working in hospitals across Brisbane & Nth Queensland.
Now in General Practice, she focuses on women’s health, digestive & dietary issues, whilst supporting women through all stages - from trying to conceive to raising a family. A mum herself, she also has plenty of experience! Dr Freya also enjoys workplace health & medicals.

With a wealth of knowledge & extensive background in Adult ADHD, Dr Carmel blends holistic & psychological medicine with evidence-based expertise. Guiding patients through life’s most important transitions with clarity, compassion & confidence.
When Dr Carmel’s not helping patients, she’s the biggest Hawks fan you’ll ever meet... plus a self-confessed murder mystery addict
We can’t wait for you to meet her!

Dr Rachel Marr graduated from Monash University. She brings a wealth of experience from working across a wide range of medical & surgical specialties in Melbourne. She later moved to the GC to undertake further specialist training in Forensic Medicine, adding a valuable & unique perspective to her work as a GP. Rachel genuinely enjoys all areas of General Practice & is well known for her warm, empathetic & patient-focused approach, taking the time to understand & support each patient’s indivi...

Dr Carly sees Paediatrics for circumcision & tongue ties. Please contact Administration for bookings & information.

Dr Paolo Morisco is a GP with a background in both modern & traditional medicine. Originally from Italy, he’s worked around the world, from hospitals in Bhutan to clinics in QLD. He spent 16 years in Bhutan helping modernise its traditional medical system, then moved to Australia in 2000, where he practiced in Townsville for two decades & co-ran a holistic health clinic with his wife. Dr Paolo is trained in Tropical Medicine, Herbal Medicine & is currently completing advanced studies in Nutri...

Dr Sharon Arellano a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners & has worked on the Gold Coast for the past 20 years. Dr Sharon enjoys all aspects of General Practice, working with patients from the birth to passing. Outside of work you will find Dr Sharon creating beautiful grazing tables & baking. As a Filipino, she definitely sings her way to our hearts.

Dr David is a caring & empathetic GP with a love for all aspects of medicine. He completed his Undergrad at Monash University & has worked in multiple Victorian based hospitals since 2015. He has a particular interest in emergency medicine, chronic disease, & skin cancer management. He has furthered his education to include a Master of Surgery from Sydney University. David enjoys fitness, health & spending time with his family & friends.

After graduating top in school, Griffith University offered Dr Roxana an Academic Scholarship! She discovered her passion for medicine & completed her MBBS at the Gold Coast campus in 2012. She further trained at GCUH & Robina Hospital in many different fields, to gain more excellent experience. Dr Roxana’s special interests are Generalist Medicine, Women’s Health, Chronic Disease Management & Paediatrics.
In her spare time, Roxana enjoys Latin dancing, stand up paddleboarding & spendi...

Dr Leigh-Anne Bingham completed her medical degree in Cape Town, South Africa in 2006. Dr Leigh-Anne worked in emergency medicine in Newcastle & Melbourne, & Dr Leigh-Anne as a GP in Port Stephens, NSW. Dr Leigh has also completed her Diploma in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. When she is away from work, Dr Leigh-Anne enjoys dancing, music, nature & spending time with her family & friends.

Dr Ingrid Francis is a well-established Gold Coast GP, who loves providing comprehensive family health care for all ages & backgrounds.
Dr Ingrid provides share care antenatal services, aligned to the GCUH for many years. Her special interests include children’s health, women’s health, Mirena, Copper IUD & Implanon insertion, chronic disease management & travel medicine.

Dr Ingrid is also an accredited Yellow Fever vaccine provider.

Dr John Buckley is a highly experienced GP, bringing close to 50 years of experience in general practice. Throughout his long career, he has developed a tremendous breadth of knowledge & remains passionate about providing thoughtful, patient-centred care. While no longer working full time, Dr John  continues to share his extensive experience with patients & colleagues while enjoying a more balanced pace of practice. 
Outside the clinic, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, a ...

Dr Tash loves the “general” in General Practice.
She sees patients of all ages & stages of life, "from womb to tomb!"
She is a life-long learner, & passionate educator, currently undertaking a PhD in medical education.
Dr Tash has four children & refuses to let them be the only ones having fun, insisting on playing touch football, doing pilates & snowboarding.
Her favourite pastime is reading & drinking good coffee (preferably both together!)

Dr Kaarin Smyth’s early years in medicine were spent in Canberra, where she obtained an MBBS & completed her internship. After 5 years in the ACT, she fancied a change & moved up to the Gold Coast in 2011 & completed her second year at the Gold Coast Hospital. Her training then took her to several beautiful locations in northern NSW, with RACGP fellowship conferred in 2015. Since this time,
Dr Kaarin has worked in SEQ. She has experience looking after patients at all stages of life & enjo...

Dr Leesa Paki is a warm and light-spirited doctor.
Always calm and extremely clever, Dr Leesa has enjoyed the warm shores of the Gold Coast for many years, making it her home with her family. She shreds on the snowboarding slopes of Japan and NZ as well!

As Medical Director for Medical on Robina, Dr Jane is proud to welcome you!
Dr Jane is a kind-hearted, straight-forward, empathetic doctor, has enjoyed the warm shores of the Gold Coast for many years, making it her home with her family.
As a GP, Jane enjoys the wide range of services to offer her patients.

"I feel so blessed to be part of all aspects of my patients’ lives...from managing pregnancies, baby checks, immunisations, kids cuddles (that one is easy), injuries, sexual health, illness, mental health and aging (and all that means)...
My goal is to communicate clearly and work with you to make shared decisions about your health. Understanding your health is integral to living a quality life. I want you to be as passionate about it as me!"

Originally from NZ, Dr Ben is a Specialist GP who grew up surrounded by a family of medical professionals. Dr Ben has extensive knowledge in GP, Emergency Medicine, & Sports Medicine. He has a vast experience with Professional & Olympic athletics of NZ & Australia. Ben has 3 fellowships and multiple professional qualifications: FRACGP FRNZCUCP FRNZCGP MBChB BHB PGDCEmergencyMed PGDSportsMed PGCMaoriHealth Recently he has been involved with lecturing & product development in the Medicinal C...

Calling the Gold Coast his wonderful home, Dr John Salkeld has a proud history of Skin Cancer diagnosis & management for over 30 years.
Dr John does not see patients for General Practice purposes.

Practicing in Burleigh since 1997 Dr Mark Spanner is a Fellow of the RACGP. Dr Mark plays an active role in educating medical students and doctors specialising in family medicine.
Dr Mark has great interest in all aspects of family medicine including Adult Healthcare, Paediatrics and Obstetrics.
An avid fisherman, Dr Mark runs with the Canadian salmon each year.