Dr Halland, while born in Norway, has a longstanding connection with Newcastle. He arrived here in 2000 to study medicine and ended up staying 13 years before his career shifted to Mayo Clinic in the USA. There, he underwent two year-long subspecialty fellowships in esophageal and motility, completed a PhD and worked as a specialist for number of years before returning to Newcastle in 2022. 

Dr Halland has vast experience with both endoscopic and physiological assessment of luminal gut disorders. In addition to being a full-time clinician, Dr Halland is a recognised educator and researcher.

Dr Costa Karihaloo grew up in Newcastle and completed medical training at Sydney University and surgical training based in the Hunter region.

Dr Karihaloo returned to practice in Newcastle having completed the Ramsay Fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery on the Gold Coast. He has appointments in the private and public sectors and is a former Director of General Surgery at the John Hunter Hospital. He is the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and has been performing bariatric surgery for fifteen years.

Dr Karihaloo performed the first laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the Hunter region in 2008 and has successfully performed over 1000 cases since then. He performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass in the region in 2009, the first laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass in 2013 and the first laparoscopic post pyloric bypass in 2018. He has been a regular contributor at national and international meetings and has a particular interest in body composition post bariatric surgery as well as adjuvant medical therapies post weight loss surgery.

Dr Karihaloo is committed to lifelong follow up of bariatric surgical patients and ongoing research and quality improvement to optimise patient outcomes. Dr Karihaloo operates at Belmont and John Hunter Hospital and at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and Warners Bay Private Hospital.

Dr Anil Koshy is a General Surgeon, a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), a member of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New-Zealand (CSSANZ), a member of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and is accredited with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) for gastroscopy and Colonoscopy. He completed his master’s in surgery at Sydney University, and has had extensive surgical training in the management of colon and rectal cancer surgery, Complex locally advanced colon and rectal cancers including exenteration and pelvic cancer surgery having worked at the World’s most renowned Tertiary referral bowel cancer centres, Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney, and John Golligher Colorectal unit, Leeds (UK).

Dr Koshy is committed to providing you with the latest safe, minimally-invasive surgical techniques, including endoscopic surgery, and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TAMIS). He is also a keen advocate of key-hole colorectal surgery. Dr Koshy also performs robotic surgery for colon and rectal cancer including rectopexy using the Da-Vinci robot with this new technology allowing for better 3D vision, and more precise surgical technique.

Dr James Lavender is a Gastroenterologist with advanced training in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). He completed an IBD fellowship and is undertaking a Master of Philosophy focused on optimising care for patients with complex IBD. He has expertise in intestinal ultrasound as a point-of-care tool to assess disease activity and guide management. Dr Lavender provides comprehensive general gastroenterology care including gastroscopy, colonoscopy and balloon enteroscopy, while maintaining a strong commitment to evidence-based, patient-centred practice. He is actively involved in research, teaching, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Dr Lumsdaine is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with subspecialty training in Hand and Wrist surgery. He completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgical training in Newcastle, before undertaking fellowships in Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Following his Hand, Wrist and Trauma fellowship in London, he was took up a post as a Consultant Surgeon at the prestigious
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, and was awarded the Diploma in Hand Surgery by the British Society for Surgery of the
Hand in 2022.

Dr Lumsdaine continues to be involved in research and education. He is a tutor for the BSSH Diploma in Hand Surgery, and a
Lecturer and Course Coordinator with the University of Newcastle. He is proud to return home to the Hunter, bringing the skills and
experience he has acquired to provide an exceptional service to his community.

Dr Josh McCarthy is a specialist gastroenterologist and hepatologist. 

After earning his medical degree at the University of Newcastle in 2011, Josh has completed advanced training in gastroenterology across a various institutions in Port Macquarie, Lismore, Sydney, and Newcastle, refining his skills in complex clinical environments. 

As a former endoscopy fellow at John Hunter Hospital, Josh focussed on advanced endoscopic techniques, enhancing his ability to deliver comprehensive care in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal and liver conditions. He continues to serve as a Staff Specialist Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at John Hunter Hospital, maintaining an active role in a busy tertiary healthcare setting and contributes to medical education.

Josh’s clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening, advanced polyp resection techniques, quality improvement in endoscopy, and the management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Having grown up in the Port Macquarie region, Josh is passionate about providing high-quality, patient-centred care to the Mid North Coast community. Josh provides diagnostic and therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy at Port Macquarie Private Hospital and Ramsay Surgical Centre Charlestown. 

Newcastle rooms: 

Hunter Gastroenterology
81 Chatham Street
Broadmeadow NSW 2291
Phone: 02 4942 2111
Email: contact@hgut.net.au

Website: Gastroenterologists Newcastle - Hepatologists - Hunter Gastroenterology

Dr Mistry is a fully qualified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in both Australia and New Zealand. He is Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS).

Dr Mistry graduated from the University of Auckland in Medicine in 2001. He completed 10 years of specialist plastic surgical training in 2012. He has undertaken fellowships in aesthetic surgery, burn surgery, hand and micro surgery.

Dr Mistry moved with his family to Newcastle in early 2015 to focus on hand surgery at the John Hunter Hospital. He then established his own plastic surgical practice.

Dr Mistry believes in delivering the highest quality of care for his patients. His mix of warmth, humour and honesty makes his patients feel at ease. Dr Mistry takes the time to ensure his patients are well informed and understand their condition and planned treatment.

Dr Moncrieff is an experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeon who is passionate about making women feel great about themselves.

Dr Moncrieff’s focus – breast and body surgery

He is one of only a handful of Plastic Surgeons across Australia with this sole breast and body focus.

His depth of experience in breast and body transformations means he focuses exclusively on breast reductions, breast lifts, breast augmentation, tummy tucks and body lifts.

Dr Moncrieff has performed thousands of surgical procedures over more than two decades in medicine. Over 20,000 of these procedures have been in Newcastle.

His qualifications and background

Dr Moncrieff is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS).

After working between his practices in Sydney and Newcastle during 2008, he decided to focus solely on the Hunter Region so relocated with his family in 2009. He consults from his state-of-the-art clinic in Charlestown.

Dr Moncrieff graduated from the University of New South Wales in Medicine with Honours in 1997 and completed 10 years of specialist surgical training in 2007.

Professional Memberships:

• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
• Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
• Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)

The bigger picture

Outside his practice, Dr Moncrieff is a proud father of three boys, including twins, and a patient fisherman. What do those interests mean for you? That he can multi-task, stays very calm under pressure and remains focused for hours – nice traits to have in a surgeon!

Dr Savannah Morrison is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist who works as a Staff Specialist at the John Hunter Hospital.

After earning her medical degree from the University of New England joint medical program, Savannah completed advanced training in
gastroenterology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Dr Morrison completed her interventional endoscopy fellowship at John Hunter Hospital, followed by a further fellowship in interventional endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Thailand.

Dr Morrison is actively involved in teaching and research.

Dr Kate Napthali is a graduate of the University of Sydney. Kate undertook her training in the NT and finally at the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital. Kate moved to Newcastle in 2011 and is a Staff Specialist in General Medicine and Gastroenterology at the Calvary Mater Newcastle. She has played a key role in ongoing clinical trials and research through her involvement with the Department of Gastroenterology at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle.
Dr Napthali has been involved in youth exchange programs and aid work in Indonesia. Furthermore, she is fluent in both Malay and Indonesian.

Dr Napthali enjoys being involved in medical education and is happy to contribute to the ongoing education of General Practitioners. Some suggested topics are:
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease – current treatments and diagnosis
• Coeliac Disease and Refractory Coeliac Disease
• IBS
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) and Motility Disorders
• Bowel Cancer Screening
• Capsule Endoscopy

Dr Napthali is happy to offer the ease of Open Access Endoscopy for GP’s and their patients in Newcastle and surrounds. This is a practical and efficient means by which your patients can have the GI investigations completed.
Low anaesthetic risk patients are welcome to be booked directly onto a theatre list at Lake Macquarie Private for timely investigations without the burden of an appointment in rooms (which can unnecessarily delay colonoscopy).
If you would like copies of the Open Access Endoscopy Referral Form please contact Dr Napthali’s rooms.