Meet our doctors

Dr Neil Macpherson is a general practitioner with a strong interest and experience in skin and cutaneous surgery spanning more than 15 years.

He was awarded his Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Newcastle in 2000 and spent four years in general surgery at John Hunter Hospital before undertaking eight years focused on all clinical skin conditions.

Dr Macpherson also holds an appointment at the Melanoma Unit, Calvary Mater Hospital Newcastle.

Dr Balaji Chalapathy is a highly qualified general practitioner who has always had a strong interest in skin cancer and skin medicine.

He completed his medical training in the United Kingdom and qualified as a GP, working for a number of years with a particular interest in skin. He moved to Australia in 2015, continuing in general practice and skin clinics where he managed complex skin cancers and skin disease.

He has worked as a tutor for the Skin Cancer College of Australasia teaching dermoscopy and skin cancer surgery. In 2021 he completed the membership course of the Australian Institute of Dermatology and was awarded a distinction, followed by his Fellowship from the Australian Institute of Dermatology in 2022, also awarded with distinction.

Dr Chalapathy has worked in skin cancer surgery for many years, with a focus on large or complex head and neck skin cancer surgery, often using precise skin flaps to obtain a suitable cosmetic result for the patient.

Dr Nooshafarin Kazemikhoo holds an MD and a PhD, with a post-doctorate in Medical Laser, and is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New South Wales.

She uses photobiomodulation for wound healing, particularly non-healing diabetic wounds and burn ulcers, and has been pioneering this work since 2003. She has published 29 international papers and two books in the field.

Dr Kazemikhoo has run workshops and training courses on photobiomodulation in both academic and non-academic settings, and has delivered oral and poster presentations at international conferences.

She is available to receive referrals for burns, wounds or surgical scar reduction, in addition to general skin conditions.

Dr Bill Owen holds degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney.

He worked in major Sydney hospitals for several years before moving to rural New South Wales to complete his GP Fellowship.

He has worked as a full-time skin cancer practitioner since 2012, initially in Nelson Bay and then for ten years at a major clinic in the Newcastle CBD. He has undertaken advanced training with the Australian Skin Cancer College and has extensive skin surgery experience, including skin flaps and grafts.

Dr Gulpan Sarajsada, who practises as Miriam, is a general practitioner with extensive experience across general practice, skin cancer medicine and aesthetic medicine.

She holds an Advanced Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine and a Professional Certificate of Skin Cancer Medicine, along with a Certificate of Dermoscopy, and is a member of the Australasian College of Skin Cancer Medicine.

Dr Sarajsada is a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She sees patients for skin cancer checks and skin cancer medicine, as well as for rashes and dermatitis.

Michele Higginson is a senior dermal therapist and laser technician with more than 25 years in the beauty, dermal and medical aesthetics industry.

Originally from Newcastle, Michele moved to Sydney to specialise in skin health and aesthetics, building a career across clinical practice, education and clinical leadership. She spent a decade with a Sydney plastic surgery practice working in non-surgical skin rejuvenation and laser treatments, and has since worked in medical aesthetics alongside doctors in Sydney, where her role included the clinical training of nursing staff.

Alongside her clinical work, Michele has managed and taught at a leading Sydney beauty college, where she helped develop and deliver the Diploma of Beauty Therapy. She continues to undertake advanced training and is a member of the AABTh and CIDESCO.

At Newcastle Skin Medical Centre, Michele provides dermal therapies and laser and broadband light treatments. Suitability for any treatment is assessed at consultation.