Profiles of Your Specialists

Professor Richard G. Bittar

MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRACS
Neurosurgeon and Spinal Surgeon

Professor Richard Bittar is a highly qualified Australian neurosurgeon, spinal surgeon and researcher.

Professor Bittar is a neurosurgeon at Precision Brain Spine & Pain Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital and also operates at numerous private hospitals in Victoria, including St Vincent’s Private, Melbourne Private, Epworth, Peninsula Private and The Valley Private. His consulting locations are numerous, and include metropolitan and regional locations in Victoria.

Professor Bittar’s main areas of interest and expertise are complex and keyhole spinal surgery, surgery for brain tumours, and deep brain stimulation. He also established the first and largest contemporary (deep brain stimulation) Psychosurgery program in Australia.

Professor Bittar completed an elective in neurosurgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston, USA, and undertook his internship in Sydney. After a further 12 months of medical and surgical rotations he enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Sydney. Most of his research was conducted at the prestigious Montreal Neurological Institute, Canada, and he graduated with a PhD in functional brain mapping in 2001. During this time, Professor Bittar underwent formal postgraduate training in Neurosurgery, culminating in his admission to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He has been appointed a Clinical Professor at Deakin University.

Professor Bittar travelled to Oxford, UK to undertake a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, where he also received further training in Complex Spinal Neurosurgery. His time in Oxford was extremely productive.

Professor Bittar has published around 50 clinical and scientific papers in peer-reviewed medical journals. He has presented his work in Australia, as well as at international conferences in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He has been awarded several scholarships, fellowships, and other prizes, reflecting the value and quality of his academic and patient-orientated endeavours. Professor Bittar is a member of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, and the Australian Pain Society.

He offers video conference consulting to his patients.

Associate Prof Wendyl D’Souza

MBChB, MPH, FRACP, PhD
Neurologist (Epileptologist)

Assoc Prof Wendyl D’Souza is an Australian-based health professional. Wendyl is trained as a Neurologist (Brain Specialist) and offers a video conference consulting at our practice.

He is a member of:

American Epilepsy Society. Member2008 –
Scientific Advisory Committee for the Australian Pregnancy Register of Antiepileptic Drugs for Women in Pregnancy with Epilepsy and Allied Conditions. Member2008 –
Asia-Oceania Epilepsy Congress Public Health/Psychosocial/Quality of Life Subcommittee for developing Research Priorities in the Asia-Oceania Region. Member2007 –
Asia-Ocieania Epilepsy Congress Epidemiology Subcommittee for developing Research Priorities in the Asia-Oceania Region. Chair2007 –
Steering Committee for the National Parkinson’s Disease Collaborative Research Group. Member2005 –
Steering Committee for the Epilepsy Pharmacogenomics Collaborative Research Group. Member2004 –
Tasmanian Epilepsy Register. Director2002 –
Epilepsy Society Society of Australia. Member2001 –
American Neurology Association. Member2000 –
Australian Association of Neurologists. Member1999 –
Victorian Epilepsy Centres. Appointed Chair2007 – 2009
New Zealand Steering Committee for the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC). Member1994 – 1995
Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand. Member1993 – 1995
Wellington Residents’ Doctors Association. President1989 – 1990

He offers video conference consulting to his patients.

Dr Ross Kirkman

MBBS, FRANZCP
Private Psychiatrist

He is a considerate and effective psychiatrist with many years experience.

He spent my early years in Western Australia and originally completed a degree in Physics but changed my mind and career aspirations and undertook a Medical Degree at the University of Western Australia. Following graduation he worked in Perth’s teaching hospitals for 4 years prior to commencing psychiatry training in 1986. I graduated as a psychiatrist in 1992 and then worked in both the private and public sectors in Melbourne. For the last 10 years I have lived in Tasmania and worked in the rural sectors outside of Hobart, in particular the North West Coast.

He is the founding Clinical Director of Rivendell Clinic, North West Private Hospital, Burnie – Tasmania’s first private psychiatric unit outside of Hobart, established in 2005.

He takes a holistic approach to psychiatry and believe that successful treatment needs to include the physical, emotional, psychological and social factors in a person’s life. For this reason I like to work closely with General Practitioners (GPs), local psychologists and other related services in order for my patients to receive ongoing, informed and effective care.

As an adult general psychiatrist in a rural area he treats the full range of psychiatric disorders seen in the adult population.

He is particularly interested in, and has extensive experience in:

Pharmacological interventions – prescribing/modifying medications so they work for you with minimal side effects.
Mood Disorders – including Depression and Bipolar Disorder.
Anxiety Disorders – including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Holistic approaches to mental health

He is excited to be embarking on a different style of practice at this stage of my life and career. He sees his patients via teleconference using Skype from one of consulting room. He works closely with GPs and/or other case workers, He can consult his patients within a reduced wait time and nobody has to travel long distances for an appointment.

Caring for your well-being with exceptional medical care and services for our community.