Dr Sandra Brown
Divisional Director, Sub Acute Services
Dr. Sandra Brown has worked for Northern Health since 2009 and was appointed Divisional Director, Sub Acute Services in 2017.
Sandra manages the delivery of geriatric medicine, palliative care and rehabilitation services across all Northern Health campuses, working closely with relevant site managers.
She has trained as a geriatrician and nephrologist, and has a passion for the delivery of excellent sub-acute and general medical care. Her work is inspired by a vision of safe and excellent patient care in an inclusive team, working closely with nurses, allied health and other ancillary staff.
Professor William van Gaal
Divisional Director, Emergency Services; Director, Cardiology
MD, MSc, MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ, FESC
Professor William van Gaal is a Cardiologist and Nuclear Physician who joined Northern Health in 2007. As the inaugural Director of Cardiology, William was instrumental in establishing Northern Health’s Cardiology Unit, providing a new and more local service to cardiac patients within the northern community.
William is motivated by achieving better access, service, outcomes and experience for patients by introducing evidence-based change into workplace practice. He is skilled in the areas of Interventional Cardiology, non-invasive imaging and cardiovascular research, having trained at both The University of Melbourne and Oxford University in England, where he received his Masters in Evidence Based Medicine.
William has also spent time as a Lecturer with the University of Melbourne and continues to foster the growth and development of junior doctors and cardiovascular research in Melbourne’s north.
Dr David Tran
Divisional Director, Women’s and Children’s Services
Dr Tran is a Paediatrician who completed his specialist training in Melbourne in 2013. He was appointed as Clinical Director of Paediatrics at Northern Health in 2016 having previously worked here as an intern, registrar and consultant.
David has a strong interest in the supervision and training of the future generation of doctors, and continues to mentor interns, GP trainees and physician trainees as well as being a Senior Clinical Lecturer through the University of Melbourne. He hopes to continue to elevate Northern Health as a highly sought-after training site for the junior medical staff.
As Divisional Director of Women & Children’s services, David is responsible for the Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Paediatric and Neonatal service at Northern Health. He is committed to delivering the best possible care to the Women and Children of Melbourne and is a staunch advocate for health equality – particularly to the families of our northern community.
Dr Yana Sunderland
Divisional Director, Medicine
MBBS FRACP
Dr. Yana Sunderland completed her basic Physician training in Western Australia at Fremantle Hospital and then went on to do advanced training in General Medicine at The Royal Darwin Hospital. She completed her Geriatric training at Northern and Austin Health and has worked as a consultant in both Geriatrics and General Medicine at Northern Heath since 2010.
Yana is engaged in perioperative medicine and was responsible for establishing the PRIME service for perioperative assessment of patients requiring joint replacement at Northern Health. Yana has a strong interest in medical education and was the supervisor of HMO 2’s from 2010 – 2013. Her passion for education and training ensures our medical staff are well supported in providing outstanding health care and continuously improving their knowledge and skills.
Yana has also worked as the regional examiner for the FRACP clinical exam at Northern Health from 2012 – 2014 and has been extensively involved in physician training with the central North West Consortium of basic physician training. She was appointed Director of the Consortium in 2013 and continues in the role.
Yana is dedicated to ensuring that the medicine service at Northern Health provides high quality and timely patient centred care to our community. She will work closely with general medical and speciality staff to constantly look at improving the quality of care provided at Northern Health.
Professor Don Campbell
Divisional Director, Hospital Without Walls Program
Professor Don Campbell is Medical Director Hospital Without Walls and Staying Well Program, Northern Health, Adjunct Professor of Medicine and Professor (Research) in the Faculty of Art Design and Architecture at Monash University and President of the Adult Medicine Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is also a member of the Clinical Expert Advisory Group (COVID-19 Response) for the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
Professor Campbell’s clinical and research interests are focussed on creating the hospital without walls, and devoted to furthering the role of design and systems thinking in innovation in healthcare delivery. He has previously acted as Medical Counsel assisting Hazelwood Coalmine Fire Board of Inquiry where he made two formal submissions to the Inquiry, one on the health ill effects of smoke exposure and the second advising on improvements to health systems of care in the LaTrobe Valley.
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A/Prof Wanda S Stelmach, FRACS, MBBS, BSc, Assoc. Fellow ACHSM
Divisional Director, Cancer Services
Ms Wanda Stelmach is a general and breast surgeon, who commenced as a VMO surgeon at Preston and Northcote Community Hospital (PANCH) in 1993, and at the Northern Hospital in 1998. She was appointed to the position of inaugural Head of Acute General Surgery Unit in 2009, a service which she helped to create, and was made Divisional Director, Surgery in 2014.
Wanda has been a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons since 1995. She is also involved in the College’s anti-bullying and bad behaviour campaign.
Wanda was recognised for her work, since 1998, as a teacher and examiner of medical students at the Northern Health University of Melbourne Medical School and granted a Clinical appointment as Associate Professor in April 2021.
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Mr Dennis Gyomber, FRACS, MBBS
Divisional Director, Surgery
Dennis Gyomber’s journey at Northern Hospital began over 25 years ago as an intern working at the Emergency Department. Dennis worked as a Consultant Urologist at Northern Hospital and Austin Health prior to taking on the role of Divisional Director of Surgery at Northern Health. He holds an MBBS from the University of Melbourne with a Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy and a FRACS in Urology from the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Dennis is the Chair of the Selection Committee, Board of Urology, the former Chair of the Victorian Regional Training Committee (Urology), the former Deputy Chair of the Victorian Regional Training Committee and has served on the Medical Advisory Committee as a Urology Representative at John Fawkner Hospital. In addition, he is the Chair of the Surgical Services Committee at Northpark Hospital and was a reviewer for the World Journal of Urology 2020.
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A/Prof. Vinay Lakra
Divisional Director, Mental Health
Vinay Lakra joined as the inaugural Divisional Director of Mental Health in 2022 after the transition of mental health services from the Royal Melbourne Hospital to Northern Health. Prior to this for over 10 years, he was a Clinical Director at North Western Mental Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Vinay was the President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) from May 2021 to May 2023. He was a member of the Victorian Board of the Medical Board of Australia during 2021-2024 and previously served as the Deputy Chief Psychiatrist of Victoria (2016-2019). He is also a Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, holds a Masters in Health Management from University of New South Wales and is a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
His interest and expertise include issues of access and equity; leadership and management; clinical governance systems; patient safety and quality; assessment and training standards for doctors; and supervision and mentoring of junior doctors and early career psychiatrists. He also continues to be involved in clinical practice in general psychiatry. His research interests are improving access to treatment for people with severe mental illnesses including improving their physical health outcomes.
