Dr Sarah Palermo grew up in Hobart and completed her medical degree at The University of Tasmania. She moved to Melbourne to commence specialty anaesthesia training at The Alfred, where she has continued to work as a consultant. She served as a Supervisor of Training for 6 years, actively participating in the training, evaluation and well-being of trainees. In 2023, she has taken on a new leadership role at The Alfred as the Deputy Director of Operations.

Dr Sarah Palermo understands that undergoing a surgical procedure can be stressful. She takes the time to explain the process, answer all questions and provide reassurance.

She finds great satisfaction in her diverse clinical practice across both public and private hospitals, with particular interests in anaesthesia for oesophagogastric and bariatric surgery, and for obstetric patients.

Dr Charith Weeraratne is a specialist anaesthetist with expertise across thoracic, hepatobiliary, obstetric, neurosurgical, and paediatric anaesthesia. He graduated with honours from Monash University in 2009 and completed his specialist anaesthesia training across major Victorian hospitals, culminating in a fellowship year at Austin Hospital. He was awarded Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA) in 2018.

Dr Weeraratne has a particular interest in regional and neuraxial anaesthesia, as well as perioperative cardiac ultrasound. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound from the University of Melbourne and is accredited as a HeartScan Trainer. At Monash Medical Centre, where he practises as a Visiting Medical Officer, he teaches cardiac ultrasound to anaesthesia trainees and is actively involved in developing structured training programs.

Committed to education, clinical excellence, and innovation, Dr Weeraratne is known for his patient-centred approach and dedication to mentoring junior colleagues. He values the trust placed in him by patients and peers alike, aiming to deliver the highest standard of care.

Outside of medicine, he enjoys staying active and supporting ongoing medical education initiatives.

Dr Darragh O’Brien was born and educated in Ireland, completing his medical degree with full honours at The Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. In 2009, he migrated to Australia, the same year he was admitted as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. He went on to train in anaesthesia and intensive care at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Darragh undertook fellowships at The Alfred and Mercy Hospital for Women, followed by a dedicated fellowship in Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine with Adult Retrieval Victoria through Ambulance Victoria. His academic work includes research in pneumonitis and ventilation compliance, which has been presented internationally, and he is also the inventor and patent holder of a medical device developed in 2018.

A passionate educator, Darragh is an accredited EMAC instructor and lectures in Critical Care at Notre Dame University.

He currently combines public and private practice, working as a Retrieval Physician with Ambulance Victoria, an Anaesthetist at Monash Health, and in private practice across Melbourne. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his young family, watching Super Rugby, and fitting in a game of golf when he can.

Dr Ramanan Rajendram is a consultant anaesthetist with extensive experience and subspecialty expertise in major head and neck surgery and obstetric anaesthesia.

He graduated with honours from Monash University and completed his anaesthetic training through Monash Health. He then undertook general fellowships at The Alfred and Frankston Hospitals, followed by a dual Airway and Obstetric Anaesthesia Fellowship at University College London Hospital (UCLH) – one of the UK’s leading tertiary referral centres. Dr Rajendram subsequently worked as a consultant anaesthetist at UCLH for three years, providing anaesthesia for complex cases, particularly in his areas of subspecialty.

Now based in Melbourne, he holds a public appointment at St Vincent’s Hospital and works across several private hospitals.

Dr Rajendram is passionate about education and has been actively involved in teaching medical students and anaesthetic trainees. He has served as a simulation instructor at the Alfred Simulation Centre and contributed to obstetric anaesthesia education through the Central London School of Anaesthesia.

He is known for his calm and collaborative approach, with a strong focus on patient safety, clear communication, and evidence-based care.

Dr Trent Evans is a specialist anaesthetist with extensive experience in critical care and perioperative medicine. After completing his medical degree at the University of New South Wales, Dr. Evans pursued Specialist Anaesthesia training and was awarded his Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA). He furthered his expertise by obtaining a Master of Medicine in Critical Care from the University of Sydney.

Dr Evans has worked in both metropolitan and regional hospitals, gaining valuable clinical experience in a wide range of anaesthetic specialties. Dr Evans current public appointment is at Austin Hospital where he is actively involved in quality improvement initiatives and participates in multi-centre clinical research projects aimed at advancing anaesthetic care.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Evans is deeply committed to medical education. He serves as the Departmental Scholar Role Supervisor at Austin Hospital, where he mentors anaesthesia trainees in research and audit projects and contributes to simulation training and registrar exam preparation. His dedication to education ensures the continuous development of the next generation of anaesthetists.

Dr Shi Hong Shen is a dedicated specialist anaesthetist with a passion for excellence in safety and the best possible patient experience.  He is experienced and has a strong background in ear nose throat and airway surgery, high-risk obstetric anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and anaesthesia for cancer surgery. After completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy at Monash University, he undertook his medical degree at the University of Melbourne, followed by specialist anaesthetic training across Austin Health, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, the Mercy Hospital for Women, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

His training focused on perioperative optimisation, efficient delivery of perioperative services and the anaesthetic management of patients with complex comorbidities. Dr Shen continues to refine his knowledge and skills through ongoing participation in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ Continuing Professional Development Program.

Dr Shen combines clinical excellence with a strong commitment to education, quality assurance, and service development. He has held teaching roles with the University of Melbourne and regularly contributes to ANZCA training courses. In his current role as Anaesthetic Representative on the Medical Advisory Committee at Waverley Private Hospital, he contributes to clinical governance and patient safety initiatives. His practice is defined by a collaborative, patient-centred approach and a focus on evidence-based care.

Outside of medicine, Dr Shen is an aspiring culinary enthusiast and a competitive badminton player. He brings values of humility, compassion, and integrity to both his professional and personal life.