Consultant Paediatrician

MBBS, DCH, MD, FRACP

Dr Subo is a highly qualified and compassionate General Paediatrician who has an extensive experience in managing different Neonatal and Paediatric medical  and developmental issues. Her patient care centres around building strong relationships with patients and their families to ensure a comfortable and supportive environment.Dr. Kulathunga’s commitment to ongoing learning and professional development ensures that patients receive the most up-to-date and evidence-based care. She has a special i interest in infant medicine, Paediatric Endocrinology, developmental and Behavioural Paediatrics.

Consultant Paediatrician

MBBS, FRACP

Tanya is a general pardiatrician, seeing children from the newborn period to aged 16 years. She was awarded her medical degree with first class honors and a university medal from University of Queensland.

She completed her paediatric training at the Royal Children's Hospital Brisbane and spent a year training in Newcastle, United Kingdom. She has been providing services to Mackay children and families for last 25 years, but she is no longer taking any new patients as her appointment books are closed, preparing to slowly wind back to retirement after the next 5 years.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist 

MBBS, MRCPsych (UK), CST (UK), FRANZCP 

Dr. Meetiksha Malhotra is an experienced psychiatrist specializing in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She was awarded MRCPsych (Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK) in 2008. Following that, she completed her specialist training in Child Psychiatry at the St Mary's Higher Training Scheme in London, which she finished in 2013.

Throughout her career, Dr. Malhotra has worked at prestigious institutions, including University College London and St Mary’s Hospital, alongside various tertiary care hospitals and community mental health services across London and the Midlands in the UK.

In 2020, Dr. Malhotra moved to Australia, where she worked with Queensland Health. Subsequently, she obtained FRANZCP (Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists) in 2021.  

Dr. Malhotra is passionate about helping children and young people with complex mental health disorders. including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and psychosis. She has a special interest in neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities, focusing on the assessment and management of ADHD, ASD, and Tourette's disorders. Her practice includes comprehensive assessments and personalized treatment plans that incorporate medication and therapeutic options, as well as parenting and behavior management interventions.

Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist 

MBBS, MD, FRACP, FCSANZ.

We welcome Dr Mangesh Jadhav to our practice.

Dr Jadhav is an experienced Paediatric Cardiologist with extensive experience in diagnosis and management of a wide range of congenital and acquired cardiac problems in neonates, children and adolescents.

Mangesh’s clinical interest and expertise

· Congenital and acquired cardiac defects both suspected and repaired

· Palpitation, Arrhythmias

· Chest pain

· Syncope (Faint)/dizziness,

· POTS

· Family history of sudden cardiac death

Mangesh’s Background:

Mangesh is a Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at the Townsville University Hospital. After completing his basic cardiology training in India. He had an additional training at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children, London. He completed his FRACP and did additional training in Paediatric Electrophysiology (Arrhythmias), Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac MRI, Echocardiography) and Cardiac Intensive Care at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. He worked as a Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Monash Heart, Melbourne before moving to Townsville.

Mangesh believes in a holistic approach towards patient care. To best understand the heart condition of your child during a consultation, Mangesh himself performs and interprets the investigations (ECG and Echocardiogram) along with a thorough clinical assessment to devise a management plan.

Consultant Psychiatrist 

MBBS, MRCPsych (UK), DCP, FRANZCP 

Dr. Swapnil Palod has been working in the field of psychiatry for over 21 years. After completing his MBBS in India, he moved to the UK to undergo training in Psychiatry. He became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) in 2008. He then specialized at St. George's University of London, earning his Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Intellectual Disabilities in 2012.

Dr. Palod has a particular interest in Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry, which includes Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Adult ADHD. He has worked in various Neurodevelopmental Services, including the Adult ADHD Service and the ASD Diagnostic Service, in the UK before relocating to Australia in 2020.

He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences. Additionally, he is passionate about teaching and currently serves as a senior lecturer at James Cook University.

In his leisure time, Dr. Palod enjoys cycling and has raised funds for various charities through cycling events. Notably, he has participated in the London to Paris ride (supporting the National Autistic Society), the London to Amsterdam ride (supporting Cancer Research), and the Cycle Bhopal Ride in India (supporting the Bhopal Medical Appeal). He is also an active member of Rotary and supports various philanthropic projects.

MBBS (Col), MD (Col), FRACP (AUS), MACP(USA), MRCP(Acute Medicine)

Staff Specialist in General Medicine

Dr Charuka Dharmaratne is a Staff Specialist in Acute and General Medicine at Mackay Base Hospital, with extensive experience in the assessment and management of complex adult medical conditions. He graduated with an MBBS from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, and completed his MD in Medicine in 2017. He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in 2024 and has been practising as a Staff Specialist at Mackay Base Hospital for the past two and a half years.

In addition, he serves as a Visiting Medical Officer at North Mackay Rehabilitation Hospital.

Dr Dharmaratne is an active member of several professional bodies, including the American College of Physicians (ACP), the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (IMSANZ), the Ceylon College of Physicians (CCP), and the Sri Lankan College of Internal Medicine (SLCIM).

He is strongly committed to medical education and serves as a supervisor for Basic Physician Trainees and International Medical Graduates, as well as a Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) supervisor. He also holds an appointment as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at James Cook University. He contributes actively to quality improvement initiatives and clinical governance activities.

Dr Dharmaratne has been involved in multiple academic publications, including research studies, clinical audits, and case reports, and serves as a peer reviewer for the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

He provides comprehensive, patient-centred care with a strong emphasis on diagnostic accuracy, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuity of care.

His clinical interests and accepting patients including:

• Diagnostic uncertainty and undifferentiated presentations

• Geriatric medicine, particularly dementia and frailty, with a focus on comprehensive assessment and management plans

• Management of complex multimorbidity

• Polypharmacy review and medication optimisation

• General Internal Medicine

• Chronic disease management, including heart failure, COPD, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and advanced liver disease