DR MAREE FLAHERTY

MB, BS (HONS) FRANZCO, FRACS, FRCOPHTH

Dr Flaherty established the Children’s Eye Centre in 1993. She graduated in Medicine from UNSW with Honours in 1978, and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists in 1984 following training at Sydney Eye Hospital. She gained further qualifications in Human Genetics Theory at Macquarie University in 1991, and was granted Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK) the same year. In 1992 Dr Flaherty was awarded the RACO/OPSM Travelling Fellowship to further her studies overseas in paediatric ophthalmology and genetic eye disease.

Dr Flaherty was a Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Children’s Hospital Westmead (CHW) for over 25 years. She has long maintained a particular interest in Neurofibromatosis and was an integral member of the multi-disciplinary group at CHW monitoring children with Neurofibromatosis for optic pathway tumours. Prior to the appointment at CHW Dr Flaherty was a Consultant at Westmead Hospital where, in conjunction with the Genetics department, she established the first combined Genetic Eye Clinic in Australia. This clinic subsequently transferred to CHW when the hospital opened in 1995 and she was therefore able to celebrate 30 years of involvement with the clinic in 2020, prior to retirement from her public hospital appointment at the end of 2022.

Dr Flaherty continues in private practice at the Children’s Eye Centre. She is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Ophthalmology Society, and the Australian and New Zealand Strabismus Society, and attends their meetings regularly. In addition she is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the International Strabismological Association as well as various genetic associations. She has authored a number of publications in Australian and international peer reviewed journals. She has admitting rights at Westmead Private Hospital.

DR LOREN ROSE

BSC (HONS I), MBBS (HONS), FRANZCO, PHD

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Dr. Loren Rose joined the Children’s Eye Centre in 2007. She completed her medical degree from the University of Sydney, graduating with MBBS (Honours). Prior to that, she completed a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, graduating with Honours (Class I) in Visual Neuroscience. At Sydney University, Dr Rose continued with her interest in Visual Neuroscience and subsequently published in peer reviewed literature. Dr. Rose completed her internship and residency at Concord General Hospital, NSW, and her ophthalmic training at the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital in Victoria. Following this, she underwent a Fellowship in Paediatric ophthalmology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. In 2022 Dr Rose was awarded a PhD from Macquarie University titled Myopia Progression in Children and is the founder of the myopiaaustralia.com.au website. Dr Rose has admitting rights at Bankstown Hospital, Sydney Private and Macquarie Hospital. She is a Clinical Lecturer at Macquarie University.

DR SUBHASHINI (SUBHA) KADAPPU

MBBS, MS(OPHTHAL), FRANZCO

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Dr Subha graduated from MAHE University in India and underwent general Ophthalmic training in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India and has a Masters degree in Ophthalmology. She moved to Australia for further training and obtained the Fellowship of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. She completed subspecialty training in Paediatric Ophthalmology and strabismus with Associate Prof. Frank Martin at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead.

Dr Subha has conducted research in Paediatric eye injuries at the Westmead Children’s Hospital. The findings of this research helped develop EYEPLAYSAFE, a web based interactive resource with a series of relevant and fun activities for children, centred on eye safety. Dr Subha also conducts the STEPS (Statewide Eyesight Preschooler screening) Clinic at Bankstown Hospital.

Dr Subha is fluent in English, Hindi and Kannada.

DR TRENT SANDERCOE

B MED SCI (HONS), MBBS, PHD, FRANZCO

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Prior to starting medicine Dr Sandercoe completed a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours at Sydney University in 1997. In the following years Dr Sandercoe embarked on a PhD looking at Retinal Vascular Development at Sydney University. He simultaneously completed this with his medical degree at the same university in 2005.

Dr Sandercoe started his prevocational training at Westmead Hospital in 2005 and completed his Ophthalmology Training at Sydney Eye Hospital in 2011 and was awarded FRANZCO after completing a General Ophthalmology Fellowship at Royal North Shore Hospital in 2012. He completed a Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane from 2013 to mid 2014. He then undertook a Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital until mid 2015. He was award a RANZCO travel scholarship for this period. Upon returning to Australia he worked at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane as a locum staff specialist before returning to Sydney.

Throughout his training and fellowships he has been involved in the teaching of medical students, other non ophthalmic medical professionals, including the Rural Vocational Training Scheme for General Practitioners, as well as supervision of registrars, and has several publications.

DR RUSHMIA KARIM

BSC MBBS MMED (CLIN EPI)(HONS) MMED (OPHTH SCI) GENOMICS (PGCERT) FRCOPHTH FRANZCO

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Dr. Karim completed her medical degree at the University of New South Wales with additional post graduate Masters at the University of Sydney in Ophthalmology and Clinical Epidemiology. She also completed a Genomics degree at Imperial College London.

Dr Karim trained in the highly regarded London ophthalmology vocational program including the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital. She completed an additional Moorfields Eye Hospital fellowship in Strabismus/ Paediatric ophthalmology and has subspecialty training in Neuro-ophthalmology.

Prior to her return to Sydney, Dr Karim was the Head of the Paediatric Eye Service at the distinguished Prince Charles Eye Unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Trust, Reading, UK. Dr Karim has been extensively involved in research including Cochrane reviews and randomised controlled trials and has published many papers. She was an expert panel member for Ophthalmology at the National Institute for Health and Care excellence (NICE).

Dr Karim is a dual Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists as well as a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, United Kingdom. She is a RANZCO board examiner for physiology. She sits on the RANZCO public health committee. In addition to this she is a member of the British & Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Association (BIPOSA), The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), The International Strabismological Association (ISA) and The World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS). She is a current affiliate at the Save sight institute (University of Sydney).

Dr Karim has a public hospital appointment at Nepean Hospital.

DR HUGO LEE

BSC(HONS) MBBS, FRANZCO

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Dr Hugo Lee completed ophthalmology training at Sydney Eye Hospital in 2019 and went on to complete a 3-year, dual fellowship training in paediatric ophthalmology and oculoplastics surgery at the SickKids Hospital, Canada and the Singapore National Eye Centre, respectively. He is currently appointed at Sydney Eye Hospital, Nepean Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital.

He has been awarded the Fred Hollows Scholarship for empowering ophthalmology care in the Pacific Islands; He has also been a visiting scholar at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.

Dr Lee’s expertise encompasses the assessment and management of congenital and acquired eye conditions such as squint (strabismus), eyelid malpositions (ptosis), tearing (epiphora), as well as complex conditions per referrals from other healthcare professionals.

MS JESS CRIPPA

B APPL SC (ORTHOPTICS), DIP BUSINESS, CERT IV HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Jess graduated from the University of Sydney in 2004 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Orthoptics. Jess began working for the Children’s Eye Centre full time in January 2005 and has been employed here since. She gained her certificate IV in Health Administration in 2013 and completed a Diploma of Business in 2024. Jess now works four days a week as Practice Manager at the Children’s Eye Centre, and for the University of Technology Sydney as a practitioner teacher for orthoptics on Thursdays. Jess has previously worked for the University of Sydney as a part time clinical educator for undergraduate Orthoptists. She has presented at National and State conferences and co-authored a paper with Dr Flaherty calling for a national approach to pre-school vision screening. Jess is registered on the Australian Orthoptic Board.

MS WENDY LIANG

B HEALTH SCIENCE / M CLINICAL VISION SCIENCE

Wendy graduated from the University of Sydney in 2010 with a Bachelor of Health Science and a Masters in Clinical Vision Science and began working at the Children’s Eye Centre from January 2011. She is a member of Orthoptics Australia and is registered on the Australian Orthoptic Board. In 2011 she presented at the Australian Orthoptic Conference on the topic of Nystagmus in children. In 2012 she presented again on the topics of Dyslexia and Examining the Child with Intermittent Exotropia. She is also a practitioner teacher UTS for the orthoptics course there. She speaks fluent Cantonese.

MS DEVICA APRIYANI

BSC LIFE SCIENCES/BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE (HONS), M ORTHOPTICS

Devica graduated from the University of Sydney in 2014 with a Masters of Orthoptics after gaining first class honours in her undergraduate qualification. She was awarded with Dean’s Scholar Award in 2013, Lance Jolly Orthoptics Prize and NSW Branch Student Prize in 2014. She is a registered orthoptist on the Australian Orthoptic Board. She began working for the Children’s Eye Centre in June 2016 and she works on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Before joining Children’s Eye Centre, she worked as an Orthoptist in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore. She occasionally supervises Orthoptic students from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Devica will be on maternity leave from May 2024.

MS IRINA SIM

B APPL SC (ORTHOPTICS), MTS

Irina completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Orthoptics with Honours from the University of Sydney in 2006. She joined us in 2017 after working in both adult and paediatric clinics in Sydney and is our Head Orthoptist and Patient Relationship Manager. Irina is a member of Orthoptics Australia as well as being registered on the Australian Orthoptic Board. Irina presented at the Australian Orthoptic Congress, Continuing Education seminars and conferences in NSW and once presented at Tian Jin University Eye Hospital in China (although she does not speak Chinese). Irina has also been an Associate Lecturer, tutor, and research assistant at the University of Sydney. She occasionally supervises and examines Orthoptic students from the University of Technology, Sydney.

ROSALYN OBRA

B MED SCI, M ORTHOPTICS

Rosalyn completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and a Masters of Orthoptics in 2020 from The University of Technology, Sydney. She began working at The Children’s Eye Centre in March 2021. She is a member of Orthoptics Australia as well as a registered orthoptist on the Australian Orthoptic Board.

MEET OUR TEAM

DR MAREE FLAHERTY

DR LOREN ROSE

DR SUBHASHINI (SUBHA) KADAPPU

DR TRENT SANDERCOE

DR RUSHMIA KARIM

DR HUGO LEE

MS JESS CRIPPA

MS WENDY LIANG

MS DEVICA APRIYANI

MS IRINA SIM

ROSALYN OBRA

DR MAREE FLAHERTY

DR LOREN ROSE

DR SUBHASHINI (SUBHA) KADAPPU

DR TRENT SANDERCOE

DR RUSHMIA KARIM

DR HUGO LEE

MS JESS CRIPPA

MS WENDY LIANG

MS DEVICA APRIYANI

MS IRINA SIM

ROSALYN OBRA