Our Staff

Graduated MBBS from the University of Sydney in 1979. She received the Robin May Prize for Leadership and Good Fellowship throughout Undergraduate Years in 1978 and was the President of the Sydney University Medical Society, 1979. She was awarded the MRCOG 1986 (Glasgow), FRACOG 1991 (Sydney) and her MD was awarded in 1994 at the University of Liverpool, UK. In 1994 she became a Certified Urogynaecologist of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

After training as an Intern and surgical RMO at Sydney Hospital and Crown Street Hospital for Women, Sydney from 1979-82, she trained as Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Newcastle, Australia, then Cardiff, Wales, Dundee, Scotland, and Hull, Yorkshire from 1983-88.

In 1989 she was Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Hospital and Liverpool Maternity Hospital and was Hon Senior Registrar at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, Merseyside, UK where she performed research into the aetiology of detrusor overactivity / urge incontinence, for which her MD was awarded.

In July 1991 she returned to Australia and established the Pelvic Floor Unit, St George Hospital.

In August 2000 she was promoted to Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

In November 2011 she was promoted to Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, UNSW.

On 26 January 2019, Professor Moore was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia ( AO) for distinguished service to medicine, and to medical research, in the field of urogynaecology, and to professional groups

She is a member of:

• the International Continence Society
• the Interstitial Cystitis Association of USA
• Erie (the Enuresis Resource Information Centre ), United Kingdom
• the International Urogynaecology Assocation
• the Continence Foundation of Australia
  Urogynaecological Society of Australasia
• National/International Commitments.

BSC (MED) MBBS 1994 (HONS), FRANZCOG (2003), PHD (2005), CU (2006)

Specialist   – OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNAECOLOGIST and subspecialist in UROGYNAECOLOGY

Consultant – The Pelvic Floor Unit, St George Hospital

After training as an Intern and RMO at St George Hospital Sydney from 1994-6, he stayed on at St George Hospital to train as Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where he also trained at Sutherland, Wollongong and Lismore Hospitals. He then trained at St George’s Hospital London UK from 2001-2. While training in London, he performed research into the pathophysiology and measurement of severity of stress incontinence towards his PhD. In 2003 after returning from the UK he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

From 2003-5 he undertook 3 further years of subspecialty Urogynaecology Training Scheme at St George and St Vincent’s Hospitals Sydney while continuing research. In December 2005 he was awarded his PhD from the University of New South Wales. In March 2006 he received certification in the subspecialty of Urogynaecology, when he was appointed Staff Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George Hospital, contributing to the Department of Womens and Childrens Health and the Pelvic Floor Unit.

Dr Karantanis works closely with the Colorectal team at St George Hospital, and has established a specialised clinic for women with Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASIS) since 2006. The OASIS team has achieved National prominence for their regular hands-on OASIS Workshops, designed to teach gynaecologists and midwives about this important but neglected subject.

In 2016 Dr Karantanis was elevated to Conjoint Associate Professor 

He is a member of:

• the International Continence Society
• the International Urogynaecology Association
• the Continence Foundation of Australia
• Urogynaecological Society of Australasia.

National/International Commitments

• Deputy Chairman of the Urogynaecology Training Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Member of the Steering Committee for the Australian Pelvic Floor Procedures Registry
• Member of the Urogenital Prosthesis List Committee for the Australian Health Department
• Member of the International Fellows and Program Directors Committee of the International Urogynaecology Association
• Member of the Topic Working Group for the development of the ACSQHC Clinical Care Standard for 3rd and 4th degree tears
• Reviewing of research manuscripts for the Journal of Urogynaecology, the Neurourology and Urodynamics Journal, and the RANZCOG Journal
• Regular participation to Conferences of the International Continence Society, International Urogynaecology Association and Continence Foundation of Australia.

Awards

• Dean’s Scholarship 2002-2003, Faculty of Medicine UNSW, $AU18,000
• Prize for best clinical research paper 2009, the Continence Foundation of Australia.

Dr Nèvine te West is a consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and has worked at the Pelvic Floor Unit since 2014.

She is an accredited Subspecialist in Urogynaecology, having trained under Prof Kate Moore and Dr Emmanuel Karantanis in Sydney, as well as at various units across the UK (ie. Birmingham) and the Netherlands (ie. Nijmegen Zwolle).

She specialises in pelvic floor medicine and reconstructive surgery and offers a wide range of investigations and treatment of pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, prolapse and childbirth injuries.

She also has expertise in laparoscopic urogynae surgery, general Gynaecological problems.

She is currently completing a PhD with the University of New South Wales focusing on the role of oestrogen in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence.

The Pelvic Floor Unit is staffed by 1 or 2 Research Fellows who work closely with Professor Moore, A/Prof Karantanis and Dr Te West in the day-to-day running of the Unit. Typically, our Research Fellows have already gained several years of clinical experience in obstetrics and gynaecology and obtained their post-graduate qualifications in the specialty. Over a period of 3 years, fellows are exposed to all elements involved in running a busy, tertiary urogynaecological unit. These include performing and interpreting urodynamic studies, planning and performing urogynaecological operative cases, supervision of junior registrars and medical students and close interaction with nursing, physiotherapy and administrative staff. Research Fellows are actively involved in formal teaching of students and local general practitioners.

Fellows gain experience in all aspects of the research process, including study design, submission for ethical approval, patient recruitment and manuscript submission. In general, Fellows complete several research projects during their tenure. Many have also undertaken post-graduate research doctorates in conjunction with the University of New South Wales. Previous Research Fellows in the Pelvic Floor Unit have hailed from Sydney, Dublin, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Cape Town, Israel, Malayasia, Auckland and Amsterdam.

The Pelvic Floor Unit is staffed by one Gynaecology Registrar who works closely with Professor Moore, A/Prof Karantanis and Dr Te West to help care for patients in the Pelvic Floor Unit. When patients are admitted to the hospital, the Registrar helps to provide continuity of care, in that he or she helps the Urogynaecologists to conduct surgical procedures and daily ward rounds of postoperative patients, as well as helping with postoperative follow-up back in the Pelvic Floor Unit.

Typically our Gynaecology Registrar has already completed 6 years of undergraduate medical training, followed by internship and 1-2 years as a resident medical officer, before becoming an accredited Registrar of the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology training scheme. Our Registrar has already achieved competence in caring for women throughout pregnancy and labour and basic gynaecology and is currently developing their urogynaecology sub-speciality skills. The Registrar assists Professor Moore, Dr Karantanis and Dr Te West in conducting research projects and teaching medical students and liaising with our nursing, physiotherapy and administrative staff to ensure the smooth running of the Unit.

There are 2 Research Nurses working within the Pelvic Floor Unit whose roles include:-

• Co-ordinating, recruiting and undertaking various research projects for the treatment of urinary incontinence. These include multicentre site projects involving other hospitals around Australia and Overseas including pharmaceutical trials
• Managing and implementing care of patients attending the PFU
• Assisting in co-ordinating the running of the various outpatient clinics in the Unit
• Performing urodynamic diagnostic testing with medical staff
• Performing urethral pressure profile testing with medical staff
• Performing uroflowmetry
• Assessing, fitting and education of devices for the treatment of urinary incontinence and prolapse for patients and other staff
• Planning, co-ordinating, supervising workshops and education sessions for GP’s, Nurses and Medical Students and other healthcare professionals.
• Administering treatments for bladders, including instilling DSMO & peripherial tibial nerve stimulation.

STAFF:-

Wendy Allen, CNS is a Urodynamics and Research Nurse who has been in the Pelvic Floor Unit since 1999. Wendy has worked at St George Hospital for 20 years in a variety of areas including Infection Control, data collection and surgical nursing involving the following areas; Head & Neck, Plastics, ENT, Urology and Neurosurgery. Prior to that Wendy has worked as a Receptionist/Secretary for International Banking and a Civil Engineering firm.

Katrina Parkin, RN is a Urodynamics and Research Nurse who joined the PFU in 2006. Katrina has worked in Women’s and Children’s Health for 30 years, her background includes midwifery and 14 years’ experience in the Gynaecology Unit at St George Hospital. She has also worked in the Radiotherapy Department and assisted in the Gynaeoncology Outpatients Clinic at the St George Cancer Care Centre. Prior to that Katrina worked at St Vincent’s Hospital in the Vascular and Renal Ward. Her special interest is working with Professor Emmanuel Karantanis in the Post Natal 3rd & 4th degree tear clinic.

Clinical Nurse Consultant, this position is currently in the recruitment phase. The Clinical Nurse Consultant provides the lead role in the Nursing Continence Service. The Nurse Continence Advisor contributes significantly to the resolution of incontinence, by providing assessment and treatment of patients suffering urinary and faecal incontinence

Margaret Louey, CNS Urology is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Continence and Urology, as well as Nurse Continence Advisor. Margaret has been with the PFU almost since its inception in 1992. She has a longstanding interest in all aspects of continence management and urology issues across the life span, and liaises with general practitioners/paediatricians in the treatment of child bed-wetting. She is also heavily involved in providing the Nursing Continence Service to the wards of the main hospital.

Hayley Leek, CNS Continence & Urology/Continence Nurse Advisor joined the PFU team in 2004 as a Urodynamics and Research Nurse and has worked in St George Hospital since 1998. Hayley has been part of the continence service team since 2008 focusing on all aspects of continence with a special interest in paediatrics. She liaises with practitioners/paediatricians in the treatment of childhood urinary and faecal incontinence. She has been a major contributor to various research projects within the unit and completed a research project involving self-catheterisation and infection risk.

Vicki Patton is our Anorectal Physiologist who conducts investigations of patients with various types of bowel and evacuatory disorders. As many people suffer from both, urinary and faecal incontinence together, we are fortunate to have Vicki as part of the Pelvic Floor Unit team.

Vicki has 14 years experience as a Clinical Nurse Consultant. She has completed her Masters Degree in the field of colorectal dysfunction. Vicki works closely with A/Professor David Lubowski. Vicki sees patients referred from Colorectal, Gastroenterologists, Urologists & Gynaecologists for evaluation of their anorectal function. She is currently conducting research for her PhD thesis.

Vicki conducts a Biofeedback Clinic for those people who require treatment for their defaecatory disorders. This includes incontinence, constipation and obstructed emptying.

Pelvic Floor and Women’s Health Physiotherapists specialise in the treatment of pelvic floor problems using specific exercises in combination with other treatments. Common treatments are:

• Incontinence (leakage of urine)
• Urgency (rushing to the toilet) and frequency (going to the toilet very frequently)
• Prolapse
• Pain in the pelvic region
• Some bowel problems including incontinence, constipation, prolapse, difficulty emptying the bowel.

Treatments may include:

• Pelvic floor muscle training. Research shows that many women are not able to contract their muscles correctly or effectively. Physiotherapy includes specific instruction to teach women how to do the exercises effectively as well as how to incorporate these in your daily life, for example while lifting children or at the gym.
• Bladder training
• Advice on managing various bowel problems
• Treatment for pelvic pain (as appropriate).

Wendy Hayes has worked across different areas of physiotherapy but has since specialised in treating people with pelvic floor problems. She works closely with the Pelvic Floor Unit, treating pelvic floor problems in both men and women. She has been involved in research since commencing work at the unit 15 years ago.

Wendy is also involved in teaching and lecturing both undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapists as well as medical students, general practitioners and specialists.

For patients arriving to clinics, we are the first point of contact. We take patients’ details, and organise new and return appointments. In addition, we initially answer all incoming phone calls and deal with patient enquiries, liaising with doctors, nursing staff and medical records.

Shelley Ramsay is an Administrative Assistant who joined the PFU team in December 2005. She has over 28 years administrative experience in the health field. Shelley has worked as a PA to the General Manager of the Shoalhaven Hospital Group for 11 years; PA to the DCEO and CEO of The Sutherland Hospital for 5 years and prior to that began her career as a Legal Secretary with Solicitors and then Barristers-at-Law.

Nicole Ryan is PA to Professor Moore in the Academic Office. She has over 23 years Hospital/University administrative experience. Nicole joined the NSW Public Health System in 1977 as administrative staff member working in various Departments. She has seen the amalgamation of South Eastern Sydney and Southern Sydney Area Health Services (1987-2006).

She was the Administrative Officer for the Director of Division of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals and Head, School of Psychiatry University of New South Wales. She was then Administrative Manager for Area Executive and Senior Management at Primrose House, Dolls Point.

Amanda Burger is an Administrative Assistant who joined the PFU team in April 2018. She has previously worked as a secretary at a law firm for 3 years and an admin officer in the Mental Health Unit St Geroge.