DOCTORS
Dr Jim Lannigan
B.Med (Hons), B. Pharm(Syd), FRACGP, MCPCA, Dip Paed
Dr Lannigan has been a Partner at the Bay Medical Group since 2002. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of General Practitioners, has a special interest in cosmetic medicine and holds a Diploma in Paediatrics
Prior to completing his medical degree at the University of Newcastle in 1997 he worked as a paediatric pharmacist at the Camperdown Children’s Hospital Sydney.
He has a wide range of medical experience including general medicine, child health and geriatric/palliative medicine. Since 2003 Dr Lannigan has been the medical officer looking after the intellectually disabled residents at Tomaree Lodge.
Dr Lannigan has over 12 years experience in cosmetic medicine having regular clinics at the Bay Cosmetic Centre (Ph: 4919 1842). He performs muscle relaxing and dermal filler injections and works closely with the clinic nurse who performs a range of laser/IPL/dermabrasion procedures. Dr Lannigan has been involved in medical education for over 10 years, regularly supervising doctors in training to be GPs and medical students.
Jim works at our Salamander rooms on Tuesday and Thursday and our Nelson Bay rooms on Wednesday and Friday.
Dr Tony Plummer
MBBS Syd UNI
Dr Plummer is a Partner at the Bay Medical Group, having worked at the practice since 1982. He enjoys all aspects of general practice, especially diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, chronic illness, and skin cancer medicine.
Tony works at our Salamander rooms on Monday, Wednesday morning, and Friday and at our Nelson Bay rooms on Tuesday and Thursday.
He is a keen golfer and also enjoys gardening.
Dr Jim Papadopoulos
MBBS FRACGP Dip Child Health Dip Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Dr Papadopoulos is a Partner at the Bay Medical Group, joining the practice in 1997.
He has post graduate certificates in skin cancer medicine and dermoscopy.
Dr Papadopoulos works at our Soldiers Point rooms on Monday and Wednesday and at our Salamander rooms on Tuesday and Thursday.
Jim is particularly interested in skin cancer medicine, minor surgical procedures, and general internal medicine. When not working he enjoys fishing, cooking, and outrigging.
Dr Emery Kertesz
MBBS Dip Obst RACOG FRACGP FACRRM
Dr Emery Kertesz has 35 years experience as a GP and joined the Bay Medical Group in 2002.
Emery works at our Nelson Bay rooms on Friday and our Salamander rooms on Tuesday and Thursday. His interests include aged care, opiate treatment, medicolegal, and medical education.
Emery holds a conjoint lecturer position with the University of Newcastle and University of New England for medical and education. He is an External Clinical teaching visitor for GP Synergy in the Registrar Training Program in NSW. He has been a senior examiner for the Royal Australian College of GP with the FRACGP for more than 25 years and is a member of the academy of Clinical Educators.
When Emery isn’t working he enjoys fishing, mineral fossicking, wilderness camping, travel, and snow skiing.
Dr Barry Clark
MBBS MSc
Dr Barry Clark trained in the first intake in Medicine at University of NSW and then at the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry Hospitals. He worked for 30 years in Sydney’s northern beaches before moving to Nelson Bay 20 years ago. Finding retirement unsatisfactory he has returned to part time work where he sees the overflow clients who need something fixed when they can’t get in to see their regular GP.
Outside interests include wine, photography and Astronomy.
Dr Joris Beks
Msc, MD, FRACGP
Dr Joris Beks joined the Bay Medical Group in 2005 after moving to Australia from Amsterdam.
Joris works at our Salamander Bay rooms on Monday, our Nelson Bay rooms on Thursday and our Soldiers Point rooms on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.
Dr Wolfram Jatsch
FRACGP MRCGP DTM&H, Dip Public Health, Dip Family Planning
Dr Wolfram Jatsch has 19 years of GP experience. He joined the Bay Medical Group in 2008 after moving from Germany with his wife. Together they have had 2 sons since living in Australia.
Dr Jatsch works at our Soldiers Point rooms on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, our Salamander Rooms on Tuesday & Thursday. His interests include aged care and musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr Christine Henry-Watt
MD FRACGP
Dr Christine Henry-Watt has returned from 12 months in Mauritius.
Dr Henry-Watt has been with the Bay Medical Group since 2010. She has lived and worked in France, Reunion, and Mauritius prior to moving to Australia with her family.
She has completed her Dipolma in Primary Care Dermatology.
Dr Laetitia Pienaar
MBChB FRACGP
Dr Laetitia Pienaar has been practicing as a GP for 27 years. She joined the Bay Medical Group in 2010 after moving from South Africa with her husband and 3 children.
Laetitia works at our Salamander rooms on Wednesday and at our Soldiers Point rooms on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Her interests include female sexual dysfunction, biodentical hormone restoration, and paediatrics.
She enjoys kite boarding, triathlons, and playing the saxophone.
Dr Leigh-Anne Bingham
MBChB, DRANZCOG
Dr Bingham joined the Bay Medical Group in July 2012. She is originally from South Africa where she completed her medical training and worked in emergency medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthetics and orthopaedics.
She made the move to Australia with her husband Rickert in 2009 where she spent time working and living in Melbourne and Newcastle. She also completed an obstetrics and gynaecology diploma to qualify as a GP Obstetrician.
Dr Bingham works at our Salamander rooms on Monday and Wednesday and our Nelson Bay room on Tuesday.
Leigh-Anne is interested in pregnancy/antenatal care, fertility medicine, women’s health and paediatrics. Her personal interests include her family, music, cooking, dancing and the outdoors.
Dr Rickert Serfontein
MBChB, FRACGP
Dr Serfontein has been working at the Bay Medical Group since July 2012. He is originally from South Africa where he completed his medical training. He made the move to Australia in 2009 with his wife Leigh-Anne and spent time working and living in Melbourne and also Newcastle before settling in Nelson Bay.
His special interests include skin cancer medicine, emergency medicine and paediatrics. Rickert works at our Salamander rooms on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning and at our Soldiers Point rooms on Wednesday and Friday.
When Rick isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
Dr Rebecca Moore
MBBS FRACGP
Dr Rebecca Moore graduated from University of Adelaide in 2000 and then worked as a medical officer in the RAAF giving her experience and training in aviation and diving medicine. Rebecca has a special interest in aged care.
She has spent 5 years working in the UK, predominantly in acute general practice and emergency medicine. Bec returned to the Bay Medical Group in 2014.
Dr Moore works at our Soldiers Point rooms on Tuesday and Thursday and at our Salamander rooms on every 2nd Monday and Friday. She is a busy mother of three who enjoys trail running, painting, and reading.
Dr Paul Bilokopytov
MBBS MRCGP (The UK) FRACGP
Dr Paul Bilokopytov had GP training in the UK and joined the Bay Medical Group in January 2017 with the intention of staying in the area.
Dr Bilokopytov works at our Salamander rooms on Monday and at our Nelson Bay rooms on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He is developing interest in skin cancer medicine, minor procedures and general internal medicine.
When Paul isn’t working he enjoys kayaking, camping, fishing and keeping fit in the gym.
Dr Katherine Breckon
MBChB MRCGP FRACGP DFSRH
Dr Breckon graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK. Her post-graduate hospital training included adult and paediatric emergency medicine, general and geriatric medicine, colorectal surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and psychiatry. She worked as a GP in London for 10 years before moving with her family to Australia.
Dr Breckon joined the Bay Medical Group in 2018. Her interests include preventative health, holistic care, chronic illness management and women’s health. She works at our Salamander rooms on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In her spare-time she enjoys exploring the country with her family.
NURSES
Our nursing team is led by our head nurse Mary-Jane Griep. Our busy nurses assist with wound management, surgical procedures, INRs, ear syringing, immunisations and injections, spriometry, and blood pressure and cardiac monitors. The nursing staff are all highly qualified and are continuously updating and expanding their knowledge base.
Home Health Assessments
Health Assessments are available for patients aged 75 and over who are living at home. A friendly member of our nursing staff will visit you at home once per year to complete the assessment. The nurse will then report back to your GP and you will be contacted to make an appointment to discuss the findings.
Diabetes Clinic
Our Diabetes Clinic is run by Registered Nurse Sandy Addison. Sandy has been managing our Diabetes Clinic since 2007. She is very passionate about Diabetes care and is continuously updating and expanding her Diabetes knowledge base. Our Diabetes Clinics are held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from all 3 surgery locations. Registered Nurse Angie Physick has recently joined Sandy in the Diabetes Clinic. Both of these nurses report regularly to your GP to maintain a holistic approach to your Diabetes care.
Well Womens Clinic
Our Well Womens Clinic is run by Registered Nurse Carolyn Matthews. The clinic offers routine pap smears and breast checks and is available for appointments each Wednesday at our Salamander Bay rooms. Carolyn is highly trained in Womens Health and believes in delivering a comfortable experience for our female patients.
Cardiac Clinic
Our Cardiac Clinic is run by Registered Nurses Mary-Jane Griep and Roschelle Rosenberg. Appointments for the Cardiac Clinic are made via referral from your GP and are available each Wednesday at our Nelson Bay rooms. Mary-Jane and Roschelle offer support and encouragement for a healthy lifestyle and perform investigations such as blood tests, ECG, and blood pressure checks.
Aged Care Liaison Nurse
Nelson Bay Medical Group employs a dedicated Aged Care Liaison Nurse, Annie Robards. Annie is a Registered Nurse with many years experience in aged care and is extremely dedicated to her important role. She is highly qualified in all fields of aged care including palliative care. Annie works full time liaising between local Aged Care Facilities and our GPs. Nurse Carolyn Matthews is also trained in this role and offers relief to Annie when required.
ADMINISTRATION
Practice Manager – Courtney Coles
Manager Assistant – Nadine Lennox
Laboratory Quality Manager/Accounts Controller – Toni Merrifield
Front Office Manager/HR – Jenny O’Loughlin
Our reception team is the first point of contact at our medical centres. Their role is extensive and significant in the patient’s experience.
Our friendly reception staff display empathy whilst working efficiently to accommodate our patients and their needs.