MEET OUR TEAM

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.