Neurologists
Associate Professor Ernie Butler
ButlerMBBS, BMedSci, PhD, FRACP
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Professor Butler is a consultant neurologist who works at Frankston neurology. He is the founder of Frankston Neurology Group. He is a specialist in all areas of neurology [except headache].
His major clinical expertise is in the management of multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s disease. He has appointments as the head of neurology at Peninsula Health.
His clinical research interests are in MS and stroke. He also teaches medical students and does post-graduate medical teaching.
Professor Butler originally established Frankston Neurology and was instrumental in single-handedly setting up both a highly renowned general neurology service as well as the area’s only specialised Multiple Sclerosis Clinic. He has mentored and taught several of the doctors in our clinic during their training years, and continues to be an invaluable member of Frankston Neurology.
Dr Deepa Rajendran
MBBS, MD, FRACP
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Dr. Deepa Rajendran is the director of this specialist neurology practice. She is a specialist neurologist and a clinical neurophysiologist with special interest in the diagnosis and management of neuroimmunological disorders, particularly Multiple Sclerosis.
She also reviews general neurology patients with headache, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, stroke, dementia, dizziness and peripheral neuropathies. Dr. Rajendran has expertise in both simple and complex nerve conduction studies and EMG that she performs in her private rooms.
Dr Rajendran graduated (with honors) in Medicine and Surgery in India in 2003. She then undertook three years of Specialist Medicine training to complete her M.D. in Internal Medicine with Honors (Gold Medalist). She moved to Australia in 2006 for further training in Neurology, completing three years of Basic Physician training at Frankston Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, passing in 2009 with distinction.
Next came three years of specialist neurology training at the Austin Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, followed by a neuroimmunology and neurophysiology fellowship (also at Monash). Her research has been presented at major neurology meetings and published in international neurology journals.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her young family, traveling and reading.
Dr Jayantha Rupasinghe
MBBS, MD, FRACP
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Dr Rupasinghe is a consultant neurologist amongst primary interest of stroke and headache, his other general interests include Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disorders, neuromuscular disorders, neuropathy and epilepsy.
Dr Rupasinghe completed his medical specialist training in Sri Lanka and Australia. He’s currently the head of the stroke unit based at Frankston Hospital.
Dr Rupasinghe also acts as a clinical supervisor to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students at Frankston Hospital. He assists in the training of basic and advanced physician trainees, along with being a regional examiner for FRACP. His involvement in research includes, acute stroke management at a national and international level.
We are pleased and proud to have Dr Rupasinghe join us at Frankston neurology.
Dr Wajih Bukhari
MBBS, FRACP, PhD
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Dr Wajih Bukhari has been extensively trained in Internal Medicine and especially in the field of Neurology. He has worked in various hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. His areas of interest initially included neurological disorders caused by the dysfunction of immune system, for example, multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica etcetera. He now considers himself a general neurologist who takes pride in helping the patients with complex set of problems. He gives particular importance to listening to his patients because he believes that the diagnosis, in most cases, lies in the description of the symptoms volunteered by the patients. He tries his utmost to give ample time to patients to unhurriedly describe their complicated neurological symptoms.
He strives to combine the science of Neurology with the art of healing in his clinical practice. By using simple jargon-free language and examples from everyday life, he makes sure that the diagnosis and the plan of management are understood by his patients.
He has been working in a public hospital and in private clinics. He routinely looks after patients with epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, headache, stroke and nerve diseases. He has been actively participating in teaching at the under and post graduate levels. His most prized achievements are the notes of appreciation which his patients continue to express for him.
Dr Mahi Jasinarachchi
MBBS, FRACP, Grad Dip (Public Health)
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Specialities
Neurology – Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular disorders.Dr Mahi Jasinarachchi is a neurologist with a sub-specialty interest in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular disorders.
Dr Jasinarachchi did her fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular disorders at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, with comprehensive training in large/small/autonomic nerve fibre testing, EMG sampling, single fibre EMG and tilt table testing.
She will see patients for neurophysiological testing (EMG/NCS) at Frankston Neurology.
Dr. Nevin John
MBBS, FRACP
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Dr. Nevin John is a consultant neurologist and specialises in multiple sclerosis. He has appointments as a consultant at Monash Health and Frankston Neurology.
His clinical research interests are in MS and white matter disorders.
Dr. Nevin trained at the Royal Melbourne and at Monash Health before completing a fellowship in neurological disorders at a world leading centre in London (The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery). He returns to Australia having completed his PhD and fellowship in neuroinflammatory disorders in London.
Dr. WenWen Zhang
MD, PhD, FRACP
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Dr Zhang is a consultant neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist with subspecialty interest in neurophysiology and neuromuscular diseases.
After completing neurology training and a PhD in stroke medicine in Melbourne, she undertook two further neurology fellowships, one in Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular diseases at St Vincent’s hospital, Melbourne; and one in Stroke at Alfred Hospital, Melbourne.
Dr Zhang will see patients for neurophysiological testing (NCS/EMG) at Frankston Neurology.
Dr. Alana Eastaugh
MBBS, FRACP
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Dr Alana Eastaugh is a general neurologist and will see patients with a variety of neurological disorders including headache, epilepsy, stroke, neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders and neuropathies. She studied medicine at the University of Tasmania in 2012. She has subsequently completed her neurology training across several hospitals in Victoria including the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash Health, Peninsula Health and the Alfred Hospital.
She endeavours to spend time with each patient, appreciating that no one condition affects any two people in the same way. She ensures that care and management is tailored towards a patient’s individual situation and needs.
When she is not at work, Alana enjoys spending time with her family, photography, cooking and spending time outdoors including long distance running and hiking.
Dr Joshua Laing
BBiomedsSci (Hons), MBBS, FRACP, PhD
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Dr Joshua Laing is a neurologist and epileptologist specializing in Seizures and Epilepsy.
Dr Laing is head of Epilepsy and EEG services at Peninsula Health, with a key role in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Service at the Alfred Hospital. His specific interests are in advanced epilepsy therapies including curative epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy, as well as first seizures and adolescents transitioning to adult care. Following completion of a PhD in clinical epilepsy, Dr Laing is a research fellow at Monash University Department of Neurosciences with research in clinical epilepsy, epilepsy surgery and neurophysiology techniques.
Dr Antonio Da Costa
MBBS, DPM, MRCPSYCH, MAcadMEd, CCT-UK, FRANZCP
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Dr Da Costa is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist working with the Peninsula Health and Frankston Hospital. He has previously worked and trained in the UK where he was also involved in developing the National Neuropsychiatry service in Liverpool England.
Neuropsychiatry is a subspecialty of Medicine dealing with disorders in the interface between Neurology and Psychiatry. Dr Da Costa has extensive training and experience in this field and is ardent about advancing medical training and treatment in this subgroup of illness. He is passionate about better mental health and wellbeing particular in patients with Neurological disabilities. He is an excellent mentor to his students and would frequently bring the skills in his clinic room. He believe half the battle is won when you have the simplified knowledge of these complex conditions.
Dr Da Costa has research interest in Brain/Mind mapping, Neuromodulation, Movement and Impulse-control disorders. Dr Da Costa is enthusiastic about mental and physical fitness, personally engaging in such in his leisure time.
Dr Xiuxian Pham
MBBS (Hons) BMedSci (Hons) FRACP, FRANZCP
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Dr Xiuxian Pham is a neurologist with subspecialty training in clinical neurophysiology (electromyography/nerve conduction studies) and neuromuscular disorders.
She completed her training at Alfred Health and Peninsula Health. She undertook a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular Disorders at Alfred Health, Melbourne, and attained Level 3 EMG accreditation. She has also completed an additional UltraEMG neurophysiology course with the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). In addition, Dr Pham is currently completing a PhD in Neurocritical Care through the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University.
Dr Pham is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN), American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) and World Muscle Society (WMS). She currently holds a position at the Alfred Hospital as a neurologist.
Dr Pham sees patients for neurophysiological testing (NCS/EMG) at Frankston Neurology.