Our Doctors

Dr Ian Matthews completed his medical degree at the University of Queensland in 2008 after completing an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science. After completing his internship at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in 2009 he moved back to Melbourne and completed his residence and registrar years at St Vincent’s Hospital. He completed his cardiology training at Monash Medical Centre, St Vincent’s Hospital and Ballarat Base Hospital before commencing a two-year fellowship in cardiac implantable electronic devices at St Vincent’s in 2017 and 2018, implanting pacemakers, defibrillators, and loop recorders as well as performing cardiac resynchronization therapy procedures

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Cardiac Device Implantation and Management

Consulting at
• Bentleigh
• Sandringham
• Melton

Private Appointments
• Holmesglen Private Hospital
• St Vincent’s Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Public Hospital

Associate Professor Sandeep Prabhu (Sunny) is a cardiologist and interventional electrophysiologist specialising in the management of cardiac rhythm disorders. Sunny is an expert in the treatment of rhythm disorders with catheter ablation, including atrial fibrillation, SVT and ventricular tachycardia ablation. He also implants and manages cardiac devices including pacemakers, defibrillators and implantable loop recorders.

He has a particular interest in the ablation of complex arrhythmia, the use of advanced 3D mapping systems and minimal or radiation-free EP procedures and the role of catheter ablation in patients with heart failure. Sunny is a staff cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Alfred and Sandringham Hospitals and also works privately at several locations

Sunny is an internationally renowned clinical researcher with over 70 peer reviewed publications and is principle investigator for a number of ongoing clinical trials. His research is supported by the National Heart and Medical Research Council, the National Heart Foundation and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute – the results of which have been incorporated into Australian and International clinical guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation.

Areas of Interest
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation
• Cardiac Device Implantation and Management

Consulting at
• Bentleigh
• Mulgrave
• East Melbourne

Private Appointments
⦁ Mulgrave Private Hospital
⦁ Epworth Richmond
⦁ Peninsula Private Hospital
⦁ Melbourne Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• The Alfred Hospital
• Sandringham Hospital

Personal Website
→ www.drsandeepprabhu.com

Andrew is an Interventional and Echo Cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne. He has ongoing research interest in Coronary Physiology, Valvular Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension.  Having completed a Bachelor of Medical Science while studying in Oxford, UK, Andrew graduated with Honours from his medical degree. He went on to complete Advanced Training in Cardiology, a Doctor of Medicine and an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship. His current clinical commitments include cardiac catheterisation and percutaneous coronary intervention, stress and transoesophageal echocardiography at St Vincent’s Public and Private Hospitals as well as consulting in East Melbourne and Melton.

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Interventional Cardiology

Consulting at
• East Melbourne

Private Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Public Hospital

Ben (A/Prof. Costello) studied chemical engineering at Melbourne University before transferring into Medicine in 2003. He graduated from Melbourne University in 2007 and was a resident at St Vincent’s Hospital. He trained as a Cardiologist at the Royal Hobart Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, and Western Hospital, before completing a fellowship in Non-Invasive cardiac imaging at The Alfred in 2014. This fellowship involved training in echo and stress echocardiography, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI. Ben is currently engaged in research at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, investigating the role of Cardiac MRI in assessing the relationship between fibrosis (scarring) of the heart muscle and blood flow, with a particular focus on the effect of cancer therapies on the heart. Ben is a Visiting Cardiologist at the Alfred Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital.

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging

Consulting at
• East Melbourne
• Bentleigh
• Melton

Private Appointments at
• St Vincent Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• The Western Hospital

Dr Srinidhi Rao is an internationally trained paediatric and fetal cardiologist. Sri’s main areas of expertise are general paediatric cardiology, fetal cardiology, advanced echocardiography imaging and paediatric pulmonary hypertension.

Sri has particular interest in complex congenital heart disease and exercise testing. Furthermore, Sri has interest in pre-participation cardiac screening and consults in all aspects of paediatric cardiology.

Sri trained extensively in paediatric cardiology along with general paediatrics, neonatology and paediatric weight management in the UK and Australia. He attended medical school in Bengaluru, India and obtained his MBBS degree.

He started his paediatric cardiology training with a fellowship at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney. He then moved to the UK for a fellowship in paediatric pulmonary hypertension at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London followed by cardiology fellowships at Southampton General Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Dr Rao then worked as a consultant paediatric cardiologist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK prior to moving back to Australia.

Areas of Interest
• Paediatric Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Paediatric Cardiac Imaging

Consulting at
• Bentleigh

Public Appointments
• Monash Children’s Hospital

A/Prof. Hitesh Patel is a dually certified cardiologist and general physician, with expertise in the Heart Failure, Transplant and Pacing service at the Alfred in Melbourne.  

Hitesh specialises in adult cardiology, with particular expertise in the management of patients with cardiomyopathies (including hypertrophic, post-partum and following chemotherapy) and those needing complex rhythm management devices (including pacemakers, defibrillators and resynchronisation devices).

He graduated from Imperial College, London, UK with distinction. His training across five prestigious tertiary centres (across London and Melbourne) has made him a versatile clinician.

He has a strong academic background. He was awarded a PhD and a prize from the National Heart and Lung Institute, London for his work investigating the role of renal denervation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He has authored over 50 publications and has presented at both national and international scientific conferences. He is currently supervising several research projects.

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant
• Cardiac Device Implantation Management

Consulting at
• Bentleigh

Private Appointments
• Melbourne Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• The Alfred Hospital

Dr. Nay Htun is a general and interventional cardiologist with extensive experience in structural heart and coronary interventions. His cardiology training was at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, after which he spent two dedicated years at St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada which is a premiere centre for complex coronary and structural heart interventions under the mentorship of Professor John Webb, one of the world leaders in structural heart interventions including transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

His PhD was awarded by Monash University for his research focusing on detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques which were at high risk of progression to heart attacks and strokes. His research was presented in the Ralph Reader Prize Section at the Annual Scientific Meeting of Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand as a finalist. His work was published in multiple peer-reviewed cardiology and science journals. He is also a senior lecturer at Monash University.

Since his return to Melbourne, Dr. Htun has been practising as a structural heart and coronary interventional cardiologist in both public and private settings. He sees adult patients with all aspects of cardiology issues and performs the following procedures (Coronary angiogram and Stenting, PFO/ASD closure, Transcatheter aortic valve implantation [TAVI], Percutaneous mitral valve interventions, LAA occlusion, Alcohol septal ablation, Right heart catheterisation, etc).

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Structural Interventional Cardiology

Consulting at
• Bentleigh

Private Appointments at
• Cabrini Malvern
• Peninsula Private

Public Appointments
• The Alfred Hospital
• Frankston Hospital

Dr Lisa Lefkovits is a clinical cardiologist who specialises in non-Invasive imaging and general cardiology. Lisa trained in internal medicine and subsequently cardiology at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. She went on to complete a Fellowship in non-invasive imaging at the Alfred Hospital gaining her qualifications in echocardiography (trans-thoracic and trans-oesophageal), stress echo, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI. During her Fellowship, she was involved in a number of research projects associated with cardiac MRI and has presented her research both nationally and at international meetings.

She is committed to public and private cardiology and provides care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has been on staff at Alfred Hospital and Frankston Hospital since 2010 as a clinical cardiologist and echocardiographer. Her private practice is based at Cabrini Health.

Lisa is readily available for GP and specialist referrals related to all aspects of cardiology and manages patients with an extensive range of cardiac problems, including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, hyperlipidaemia and preventative cardiology.

Lisa conducts herself in a warm, personable and caring manner, works well with her patients and referring doctors and strives to provide personalised and appropriate care of the highest quality.

Areas of Interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging

Private Appointments
• Cabrini Malvern

Public Appointments
• The Alfred Hospital

Dr Rebecca Reed is a clinical cardiologist who specialises in non-invasive cardiac imaging and general cardiology. After completing basic physician training at St Vincent’s Hospital, she undertook cardiology training at Monash Medical Centre. This was followed by a fellowship in cardiac imaging at the Austin Hospital and then an international fellowship in CT coronary angiography at Institut Cardiovasculaire Paris Sud, France. On completion of her training she worked at Frankston Hospital for 5 years where she established the cardiac CT service in conjunction with radiology before moving into private practice.

Areas of interest
• Cardiac Imaging

Amera Halabi studied medical science at LaTrobe University before moving to Flinders University to study medicine in 2008. She undertook residency and training in cardiology at Flinders Medical Centre which included rotations at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Royal Darwin Hospital. She then completed her doctoral thesis at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in 2023 and began an imaging fellowship at Western Health. This fellowship involved training in echocardiography, stress echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac CT. She continues to do research with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute on early heart failure in type 2 diabetes.

Areas of interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Heart Failure

Consulting at
• Melton

Private Appointments
• Sunshine Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• Western Health

David is a comprehensive general cardiologist who feels strongly about patient-focused care. He is particularly committed to ensuring that patients are equipped with the information they require to fully understand the reasons behind the assessment and treatment of their cardiovascular condition.

Following the completion of his undergraduate training at Monash University in 1999, David has worked at Geelong Hospital and The Alfred Hospital and completed his cardiology training at Monash Medical Centre.  As an undergraduate, David undertook a clinical research project examining the effects of strength training on blood pressure and other aspects of the human arterial system, leading to him being awarded the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science in 1996.  His professional interest in exercise and sports cardiology has also seen him recently work with the Carlton and North Melbourne football clubs and Melbourne Victory Football Club.

David has acted as a medical supervisor for a number of clinical research studies at The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, taught undergraduate students of the Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and written teaching modules for the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians.
In addition to his clinical consulting with Wattletree Cardiology, David has appointments at The Alfred Hospital and Bairnsdale Regional Health Services, as well as providing a consulting service to a number of Aboriginal Health clinics throughout rural Victoria.

Areas of interest
• General Cardiology
• Primary prevention and heart health screening

Consulting at
• Bentleigh

Private Appointments
• Cabrini Malvern
• Cabrini Brighton

Public Appointments
• Sandringham Hospital

Elizabeth is an academic cardiologist. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Melbourne with honours (2010) and qualified as a cardiologist (FRACP) in 2017. She is also a Designated Aviation Cardiologist.

Alongside her cardiology training she undertook additional studies at Imperial College London (2007-08, laboratory-based research in pulmonary hypertension) and Harvard University (2015-16, biostatistics and epidemiology). Her PhD focussed on young cardiac arrest and received the Paul Korner PhD Medal and was a finalist for the Premier’s Award for Clinical Research. She is the Wilma Beswick Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, has >75 peer-reviewed publications and has delivered many presentations at national and international conferences.

She is Deputy Medical Director of the East Timor Hearts Fund, travelling to Timor-Leste regularly to provide volunteer cardiac services.

Areas of interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Aviation Cardiology (Designated Aviation Cardiologist)
• Cardiac Arrest / Sudden Cardiac Death

Consulting at
• East Melbourne

Private Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Public Hospital

BSc (Hons), MBBS, MSc, FRACP

Dr. James Theuerle is a consultant cardiologist, specialising in advanced heart failure, cardiac transplantation, and multimodal cardiac imaging (echocardiography, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI).  He is the current Director of Heart Failure Services at Austin Health and holds additional appointments at Western Health, Alfred Health and Warringal Private Hospital.

Having earned his medical degree (MBBS) from The University of Sydney, Dr. Theuerle completed his Physician and Cardiology Advanced Training at Austin Health, Alfred Health and Bendigo Health.  Following the attainment of his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), he pursued further fellowships in Cardiac Imaging, Heart Failure, and Cardiac Transplantation at Alfred Health, solidifying his expertise in these critical fields.

Dr. Theuerle is an accomplished researcher with a multitude of peer-reviewed articles in esteemed cardiovascular journals. He is currently completing his PhD through The University of Melbourne, focusing on retinal microvascular dysfunction as a predictor of coronary and systemic disease.

Dr. Theuerle’s academic journey traces back to the Niagara Region of Canada, where he pursued Biochemistry at Queen’s University.  There, he excelled, attaining an Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (MSc).  Notably, his Master’s thesis delved into the metabolism of lipoprotein(a), a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

At the core of Dr. Theuerle’s practice lies a patient-centred approach to cardiology.  He places paramount importance on the individual needs and preferences of each patient, ensuring their concerns are thoroughly heard, understood, and addressed.  Through fostering collaborative relationships based on open communication and mutual respect, Dr. Theuerle ensures that each patient receives comprehensive and personalised care that resonates with their overall wellbeing.

Areas of interest
• General Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging

Consulting at
• Melton

Private Appointments
• Warringal Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• Austin Health
• Alfred Health
• The Western Hospital

Dr. Sandeep Arunothayaraj completed his medical degree at the University of Melbourne under a full National Medicine Scholarship, graduating equal first in his class.

He won both the prestigious 2009 Geoffrey Royal and 2010 Evelyn Coy Prizes for clinical surgery. He undertook Cardiology training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, specialising in the implantation of stents and heart valves under the mentorship of Prof Robert Whitbourn.

Sandeep followed this with a clinical and research postgraduate fellowship in Structural Cardiology with Prof David Hildick-Smith, President of the British Interventional Society. During this fellowship he gained extensive experience in structural heart intervention and authored numerous publications. He concurrently undertook a Doctorate of Medical Science through the University of Melbourne. Sandeep then completed a final fellowship in Dublin with internationally renowned complex stenting expert Dr Colm Hanratty, specialising in chronic total occlusion revascularisation.

Through his training Sandeep has acquired expertise in advanced techniques to achieve optimal long-term results for patients. He returns to Australia having performed over 300 TAVIs and 1000 stents. He is known for his outstanding clinical skills and an attentive and respectful manner and looks forward to providing the best possible care for patients.

Areas of interest
• General Cardiology
• Structural Cardiology (TAVI, mitral intervention, atrial appendage occlusion, percutaneous coronary intervention)

Consulting at
• Bentleigh

Private Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Private Hospital
• Peninsula Private Hospital

Public Appointments
• St. Vincent’s Public Hospital