Southside Paediatrics is focused on providing specialised high quality, compassionate medical care to babies, children and teenagers and their families in a child friendly practice.

OUR DOCTORS

Dr Eric Coudounaris
Dr Eric Coudounaris
Consultant Paediatrician

MBBS (Syd) FRACP

Dr Coudounaris is a Consultant Paediatrician with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of neonatal and paediatric care. After completing his specialty training in paediatrics in 1990 at Sydney Children’s Hospital he worked at Sutherland Hospital and then founded Southside Paediatrics in Kareena Road, Miranda.

Eric covers all aspects of neonatal and paediatric care with special interest in neonates, unsettled infants, GORD, asthma and ADHD. He treats sick infants and children at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Sutherland Hospital participating in the on call roster. He also attends other hospitals including Kareena Private Hospital, St George Private and Hurstville Private where he cares for newborns. He is actively involved in the education of medical and nursing staff in all hospitals including medical students who also attend his rooms to learn about paediatrics.

Eric is married and has three adult children all lingering at home! He speaks Greek and is an avid golfer, he has always been community minded and supports charities such as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Bear Cottage and has been active in raising funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital through the St Spyridon Golf Day.

Dr Anthony Epstein
Dr Anthony Epstein
Consultant Paediatrician

MBBS Hons (Syd) Dip.Paed. FRACP

Dr Epstein is a consultant paediatrician with more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of neonatal and paediatric care. After graduating from the University of Sydney with first class honours, Anthony completed his training in paediatrics at Sydney Children’s Hospital. This included time spent in Canberra and Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children in London, UK.

Anthony covers all aspects of neonatal and children’s care with a special interest in the unsettled baby as well as paediatric neurology and urinary/kidney issues.

He is actively involved in education and teaching of nursing and medical staff both in hospitals and in the community.

Anthony attends several hospitals including:

  • Sydney Children’s hospital Randwick for general paediatrics,
  • St George Public hospital for general paediatrics,
  • St George Private hospital for newborns, and
  • Hurstville Private hospital for newborns.

He is also a Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) at Tresillian Family Cottages where he has worked for over 20 years with families with babies who are unsettled and have sleeping issues.

Dr Epstein also has private consulting rooms in Miranda. For all Miranda enquiries and appointments please call 02 9540 5344.

He also has rooms in Randwick. For all Randwick enquiries and appointments please call 02 9326 4333.

Anthony is married and has two daughters.

He supports various charities including the Cancer council, Surf Lifesaving Foundation and Neuroscience Research Australia.

Dr Paul Joshua
Dr Paul Joshua
Developmental and General Paediatrician

BSc(Med) MBBS FRACP MPH

Dr Paul Joshua is a Developmental and General Paediatrician with a special interest in ADHD and behavioural disorders in school age children. He is a Visiting Medical Officer and cares for newborns at St George Private Hospital, Hurstville Private Hospital, Kareena Private Hospital, and Prince of Wales Private Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and members of the RACP Chapter of Community Child Health and the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Paediatric Society of Australasia. He also consults at Developmental Paediatrics in Bondi Junction, via telehealth for rural patients through Anywhere Healthcare, and is the founder of a clinic at Liverpool Hospital for children in South West Sydney with learning, behavioural and developmental challenges.

Dr Joshua worked for 10 years at Sydney Children’s Hospital in developmental medicine, refugee health, child protection and general paediatrics. Dr Joshua has been on the Sydney Children’s Hospital Clinical Council and Health Promotion Committee, and has been on the Paediatrics Division Council for the RACP. He has a Masters of Public Health from the University of New South Wales and has published research on prioritisation of health needs in vulnerable child populations, infectious diseases in newly arrived refugees, and the prognosis of developmental delay in children.

A/Prof. Usha Krishnan
A/Prof. Usha Krishnan
Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist

A/Prof. Krishnan is a paediatric gastroenterologist with over 20 years of experience in the management of children with gastrointestinal diseases. She completed her paediatric training and dedicated fellowship in Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. She was the inaugural recipient of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Fellowship in Paediatric Gastroenterology.

She is a senior staff specialist in Paediatric Gastroenterology and Director of Motility Services at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. At the Sydney Children’s Hospital, she looks after infants and children with complex gastrointestinal, nutritional, liver and pancreatic diseases. She has extensive clinical and research experience in motility disorders of the gut, eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, coeliac disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, paediatric inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and gut microbiome.

A/Prof. Krishnan is a world expert on the management of children with Oesophageal Atresia-Tracheoesophageal Fistula (OA-TOF). She is also the Director of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Multidisciplinary OA-TOF Clinic which was established in 2011. She is the only representative from the Asia Pacific on the Steering Committee of the International Network on Oesophageal Atresia (INoEA) and was the chair of the organising committee for the Fourth International Conference on Oesophageal Atresia which was held in Sydney in September 2016.

A/Prof. Krishnan is also a conjoint senior lecturer at the School of Women’s and Children’s Health at University of New South Wales. She has published more than 50 peer reviewed publications.

Dr Guy Henry
Dr Guy Henry
Specialist Paediatric Surgeon

Dr Guy Henry is a specialist paediatric surgeon who has been practising in southern Sydney for over 20 years. He is based at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, and also consults and operates in the Sutherland Shire. His interests include general paediatric surgery (including circumcision), hypospadias, minimally invasive surgery (keyhole surgery), gastroesophageal reflux surgery, and foetal malformations.

Dr Ganesh Gnanappa
Dr Ganesh Gnanappa
Paediatric Cardiologist

Ganesh Gnanappa is a paediatric cardiologist with more than 15 years of experience. He is a staff specialist in paediatric cardiology and works for Sydney Children Hospital Network (Sydney Children Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead). He has worked in various countries, and he is equipped with a strong clinical acumen. He has advanced imaging skills in echocardiography, foetal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac MRI.

Dr Hadley Milne
Dr Hadley Milne
Consultant Paediatrician

BSc(Hons), BMBS, DCH, FRACP

Dr Hadley Milne is a General Paediatrician. He graduated from medicine in 2008 from Flinders University, spending his first couple of years practicing in the Northern Territory, before moving back to Sydney in 2011 to complete his paediatrics training through Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. He has spent two years working in Paediatric Emergency, a year in Neonatal Intensive Care and six years in General Paediatrics in metropolitan and regional NSW. He also has experience in paediatric neurology, gastroenterology, haematology, oncology and renal medicine. He enjoys teaching medical students and junior doctors and has held conjoint associate lecturer appointments at both the University of NSW and Western Sydney University.

Dr Milne has worked locally in the St George and Sutherland Hospital Paediatric Departments. He has established links with subspecialists within in the Shire, as well as at Sydney Children’s Hospital. He enjoys all aspects of general paediatrics and will see children from birth through to adolescence. He provides on-call services for neonates at Kareena Private Hospital.

Hadley is married with two young children. On weekends he enjoys escaping down to the Royal National Park and exploring Sydney’s live music scene.

Dr Yulia Stekhova
Dr Yulia Stekhova
Consultant Paediatrician

Dr Yulia Stekhova is a paediatrician and neonatologist who completed her initial paediatric training in Russia. She worked in NICU in perinatal centre in Russian Far East region for 8 years and then moved to Australia with her family.

She has subsequently completed Paediatric and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine training through the Children’s Hospital Network with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Dr Stekhova is working part time in the busy neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Westmead Hospital. This work includes looking after critically sick newborn infants in the NICU and special care nursery and also growth and development follow up after discharge.

Yulia is a paediatric VMO in several hospitals: Hurstville and St George Private, Bowral and Dubbo Base Hospital.

She has a special interest in health issues during infancy, looking after NICU graduates and ex-preterm babies.

Yulia speaks Russian and English.

Dr Doreen Hershco
Dr Doreen Hershco
Consultant Paediatrician

Dr Doreen Hershco is a Consultant Paediatrician who enjoys all aspects of paediatric care ranging in age from newborns to adolescents. She has particular interests in helping families adjust to the newborn period and managing all types of challenges occurring during growth and development. These include a range of medical conditions such as reflux, constipation, eczema and development and behavioural concerns. She has particular interest in behaviour and developmental disorders including ADHD.

Dr Hershco has been working in paediatric medicine for over 10 years. She completed her Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Sydney at the University of Sydney and trained as a General Paediatrician with the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasia College of Physicians. Prior to commencing medical training, Dr Hershco completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours.

Dr Hershco is a mother of two children and can relate to the many challenges of parenthood. She provides realistic approach to management. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her children and keeping active.

Dr Claire Smyth
Dr Claire Smyth
Consultant Paediatrician

MB, BCh, BAO, LRCPI, LRCSI(Hons)

Dr Smyth is a General Paediatrician and is currently completing further advanced training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine. Following her medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, she returned home to Australia to complete postgraduate training through the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. She continues to work at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Sutherland Hospital.

Dr Smyth is interested in a broad range of general paediatric issues including neonatal wellness, feeding issues, growth problems, common childhood illnesses, food intolerance or allergy, tic disorders, behavioural difficulties, ADHD, constipation and enuresis (bedwetting). She is passionate about empowering children and their families through shared knowledge.

Through her subspecialty emergency training, Dr Smyth has had broad experience with acute clinical problems that are often complex and undifferentiated. She strives to collaborate with patients to achieve excellent health outcomes in line with the best current evidence available.

Lisa McLeod
Lisa McLeod
Speech Pathologist

B.A (Psychology and Linguistics), B. App Science in Speech Pathology

Lisa has been working as a Speech Pathologist for 30 years. After graduating in 1989, Lisa worked at Liverpool Hospital for 11 years, the last 5 of which, were as Head of Department.

Whilst at Liverpool Lisa developed specialist skills in Paediatric feeding and was the consultant Speech Pathologist for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Furthermore, Lisa was actively involved in the areas of Paediatric feeding and was part of a team developing a national postgrad education programme for Speech Pathologists.

Lisa also consulted with Karitane and Tresillian and was part of the multidisciplinary Feeding Clinic at Rainbow Cottage.

In addition, Lisa has worked closely with lactation consultants and was on the Newborn care outpatient follow up team.

Lisa has presented at numerous conferences on The Role of The Speech Pathologist in Neonatal Intensive care, Paediatric Dysphagia, Cleft Palate and School based Speech Pathology services.

Lisa was also part of a pilot project in partnership with Holsworthy Public School delivering Speech Pathology services to transient populations.

Since 2001, Lisa has worked in private practice both clinic and school based.

Areas of Specialisation/ special interest:

  • Paediatric Dysphagia
  • Feeding Difficulties – breast/bottle, failure to thrive, transitioning to solids.
  • Early Intervention (Down Syndrome)
  • School age language (ADD, ADHD, learning difficulties)
  • Multidisciplinary team approach
  • Psychological impact of Communication difficulties in children.
Claire Davidson
Claire Davidson
Dietitian

B Science (Nutrition) Honours

Claire has been a dietitian since 2007, working for 16 years at Westmead Adults Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, before starting her own private practice in 2023. Whilst at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Claire worked in a number of clinical areas including the Feeding and Nutrition Support Service, supporting children and families with a wide range of clinical and feeding conditions, many of whom required feeding tubes to meet their nutrition requirements. She also was a member of the multidisciplinary feeding clinic, working alongside a Paediatrician and Paediatric Speech Pathologist, providing support to children and families with feeding difficulties and tube feeds.

Claire is passionate about working with children and families who experience a wide range of different nutrition concerns. She enjoys being able to support her clients through adjusting their nutrition to their individual needs, whilst also encouraging an enjoyment of and love for food, and supporting families to create positive mealtimes.

Claire supports children and families with:
• Infant feeding and breastfeeding support
• Introducing solids
• Fussy eating and mealtime difficulties
• Faltering or poor growth
• Food allergies/intolerances e.g. CMPI/CMPA, FPIES, EoE
• Nutrient deficiencies e.g. iron, calcium
• Constipation
• NDIS Disability including tube feeding
• Transition from hospital admission to home

Email: clairedavidson.dietitian@outlook.com
Mobile: 0493 790 655

Lauren Sorbara
Lauren Sorbara
Physiotherapist

Lauren is a Senior Physiotherapist with nearly 20 years’ experience in working with children with complex disabilities and motor delays. She has worked as a service co-ordinator at Westmead Children’s Hospital, where she played an integral role in the Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Combined Services working with children with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions. Lauren has worked with children with disabilities and delays throughout her career.

Lauren is an experienced and compassionate Paediatric Physiotherapist who is committed to helping children reach their full potential and lead active, healthy lives. She has a special interest in working with and children with physical disabilities and infants with motor delays.

Lauren is a committed member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and the APA Paediatric Physiotherapy Special Interest Group.

Email: lauren.sorbara@shirepaediatricphysio.com.au
To make appointments please phone mobile: 0480 589 772