Our Anaesthetists
Dr Colin Brodie
BSc., MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Colin Brodie
BSc., MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Colin Brodie is an Australian Specialist Anaesthetist providing expert anaesthetic care to adult and paediatric patients in private practice. He is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA) and has extensive experience across a broad range of surgical specialties, including Orthopaedic, Plastic, Bariatric, Obstetric, and General Surgery.
Dr Brodie is committed to safe, evidence-based, and personalised peri-operative care. He works closely with surgical teams to optimise patient outcomes, with a focus on communication, comfort, and the prevention of post-operative pain and nausea.
Dr Brodie grew up on the Gold Coast, and after studying and training in Brisbane and overseas, has returned home as a full-time Anaesthetist with Southport Anaesthetic Specialists.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr Brodie maintains active professional interests in patient safety, crisis management, and the ongoing development of best-practice anaesthesia protocols. He is a member of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the ANZCA Perioperative Medicine Special Interest Group, and the ANZCA Airway Management Special Interest Group.
Outside of medicine, Dr Brodie enjoys running, travel, and spending time with his young family on the Gold Coast.
Dr Frank Daday
MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Frank Daday
MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Daday grew up in Brisbane and completed his medical degree at the University of Queensland in 1988. He then worked in Brisbane and Mount Isa before commencing his specialist anaesthetic training in Brisbane, which included postings in the Gold Coast and London. He was awarded Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA) on completion in early 1998.
Dr Daday is very experienced in all types of adult anaesthesia, except for cardiothoracic surgery. He aims to provide high quality care for all of his patients, and in particular has a special interest in anaesthetic care for spinal surgery and plastic surgery.
Dr Daday participates in the Continuing Professional Development program of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. He regularly attends educational meetings, workshops and simulations to help maintain his knowledge and skills, as well as learn newer techniques as they evolve.
Dr Philippa Hall
MBBS, FANZCA, M.Med (Pain Management)
Dr Philippa Hall
MBBS, FANZCA, M.Med (Pain Management)
I am an Australian trained doctor having completed my medical degree at the University of Queensland, along with my specialist qualification through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. My Anaesthesia training was completed both in Queensland and the UK, ending in a fellowship year at the Gold Coast Hospital in Southport. On completion of my Specialist training, I worked as a Staff Specialist at the Gold Coast Hospital for 1 year and then joined the Southport Anaesthetic Group.
My professional interests include pain management and I obtained a Masters Degree in pain management through the University of Sydney.
I am accredited at Pindara Private Hospital, Pindara Day Procedure Centre, the Gold Coast Private Hospital and Pacific Private Day Hospital. I am involved in anaesthetic teaching through my public position as a Visiting Medical Officer at the Robina Campus of the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Once a year I volunteer with Interplast, travelling to Fiji to help those who have little access to medical treatment. There I look after children with cleft lips and palates, burn injuries and tumours that otherwise would not receive medical treatment.
I participate in the Continuing Professional Development Program from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, which ensures I keep my knowledge and skills up to date with current practices.
Dr Grace Kirkby-Strachan
MBBS, FANZCA, M.Pharm. B.Pharm.
Dr Grace Kirkby-Strachan
MBBS, FANZCA, M.Pharm. B.Pharm.
Dr Anthony McDougall
MBBS, FANZCA.
Dr Anthony McDougall
MBBS, FANZCA.
Tony graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland in 1993.
He spent his time training in anaesthetics in Brisbane and Cairns with one year in the United Kingdom, ending in a fellowship year at the Gold Coast Hospital in Southport.
He was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in January 2003.
He has been an associate with Southport Anaesthetic Specialists since that time.
Tony regularly covers anaesthetics for the following surgical fields: Ophthalmology, Plastics, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, IVF, Orthopaedics, Bariatric and General surgery.
Tony is enrolled with the ANZCA Continual Professional Development Programme and has been a member of The Australian Society Of Anaesthetists since an anaesthetic trainee.
Interests outside of medicine include surfing, swimming, walking the dog, good food, travel and a happy family life.
Dr Dana Pakrou
MBBS, FANZCA, GCCritCareEcho
Dr Dana Pakrou
MBBS, FANZCA, GCCritCareEcho
I completed my medical degree at the University of Adelaide in 2003 and subsequently undertook anaesthesia training in Queensland finishing my specialty training in 2010. I have been working full time, in both public practice at The Gold Coast University Hospital and Privately with the Southport Anaesthetic group since 2011. My subspecialty area of training is in cardiac anaesthesia and echocardiography having done 2 years of extra fellowship training at Austin Health in Melbourne, St Michael's Hospital in Toronto and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Outside of work I enjoy keeping active, a lifestyle the Gold Coast provides. I regularly do triathlons and completed my first Ironman last year in France. I have also recently married and will be looking to start a family in the near future
I participate in the Continuing Professional Development Program from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, which ensures I keep my knowledge and skills up to date with current practices.
Dana Pakrou
Staff Specialist GCUH
MBBS, FANZCA
GCCritCareEcho
Dr Martin Sandler
MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRACP, FANZCA
Dr Martin Sandler
MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRACP, FANZCA
I am an Australian trained Anaesthetic Specialist, completing the Fellowship in Anaesthesia in 1982.
I graduated in medicine from The Royal London Hospital, University of London, UK. My initial medical experience was on a pathway to become a Physician. I worked as an Emergency Room Physician at The Royal London, after which I was Medical Registrar for three years in Neurology and General Medicine at The New Charing Cross Hospital, London,
I gained the postgraduate qualification of Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians MRCP(UK) in 1976.
I travelled to Australia on a working holiday in 1977. I’m still here.
1978 I was registrar in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. I completed training through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as an Intensive Care Physician in 1980, then went on to gain the Fellowship in Anaesthesia in 1982.
I saw the light and moved to Queensland. I was Visiting Medical Officer in Anaesthesia at The Gold Coast Hospital, Tweed Heads Hospital and Murwillumbah Hospital from 1982.
In 1984 I joined Southport Anaesthetic Specialists as the sixth associate in the group. I have very extensive experience in Anaesthesia for all types of surgery. I continue working full time in both a hospital setting and in Day Surgery. I participate in the Continuing Professional Development Programme, from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
I have four children, including twin girls. My three girls are married, with one child each. Two are currently working in London, UK and the third works in Spain. My son lives on the Gold Coast.
My interests include reading, cooking and travelling, when possible, to visit my family.
Dr Adrian Skidmore
MBBS, FRCA (London) FANZCA
Dr Adrian Skidmore
MBBS, FRCA (London) FANZCA
My name is Dr Adrian Skidmore, and I will be your anaesthetist for your upcoming procedure.
Please be reassured that Australian anaesthetists have world class training in anaesthesia, pain control, resuscitation, intensive care and managing medical emergencies, so there is no safer place in the world to have on anaesthetic than in Australia.
I completed my anaesthetic training in the UK where I worked for some years. I have been in private specialist anaesthetic practice on the Gold Coast for over 30 years and it is where I raised my family.
My aim is for you to have a smooth, comfortable experience starting with my pre-anaesthetic check and continuing throughout your procedure and into your post-operative recovery and after care. I am qualified in clinical hypnotherapy, and this can sometimes be helpful for very anxious patients or those with needle phobias.
Outside of medicine I enjoy bushwalking and supporting the local AFL teams.
I hope you find the information in this document to be helpful.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my rooms.
I look forward to meeting you on the day of your procedure.
Dr Phil Stagg
BSc (Biomed) MBBS (Hons), FANZCA
Dr Phil Stagg
BSc (Biomed) MBBS (Hons), FANZCA
Assistant Professor Phil Stagg graduated from Flinders University medical school (South Australia) in 2006, with first class honours. He received the prize in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the prestigious Australian Medical Association (AMA) prize in medicine. In addition, he received undergraduate academic awards for physiology, pharmacology, and genetics which together helped shape his interest in anaesthesia.
Dr Stagg completed his Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) fellowship in February 2014, having trained at the Gold Coast hospitals, Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane), Mater Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Brisbane), and Lismore Base Hospital. Between 2014 and 2016 he coordinated medical student teaching in anaesthesia for Bond and Griffith University, and holds academic appointments at both these institutions. He was clinical lead for regional anaesthesia at the Gold Coast University Hospital between 2014 and 2016. He has multiple peer reviewed medical publications.
In 2016, Dr Stagg joined the Southport Anaesthetic Specialist Group full time. Dr Stagg provides comprehensive anaesthetic services across the Gold Coast covering all major fields, including general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency, orthopaedic and spine, vascular, urological, ophthalmic, dental, plastic and reconstructive, pain procedures, and paediatric anaesthesia over 1 year of age.
His special interests include providing you, the patient, with excellent post-operative pain relief. This is achieved with techniques such as ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia (nerve blocks), and multi-modal pain relief. Safe and stable anaesthesia with smooth emergence aimed at minimising the potential for nausea and vomiting are the primary goal. To achieve this, he regularly uses total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), which is considered a very clean anaesthetic, with a smooth wake up and emergence profile.
Dr Stagg is a faculty member and lecturer at the Australian Institute of Ultrasound (AIUS), and has developed educational video resources in regional anaesthesia in partnership with this renowned institution, available online.
Personally, Dr Stagg has twin boys, and embraces an active and balanced lifestyle, including surfing, kayaking, and competitive running, including a marathon PB of 2.54.32 in 2018.
He looks forward to looking after you in the future, and promises to take good care of you!
Dr Rod Van Twest
MBBS, FANZCA
Dr Rod Van Twest
MBBS, FANZCA
Rod graduated with a medical degree from the University of Queensland in 1998.
He obtained his specialist fellowship from the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in 2008.
Over the years, Rod has worked throughout Queensland, regional NSW and London (UK) and has now been established with Southport Anaesthetic Specialists on the Gold Coast for more than 10 years.
Rod has developed excellent working relationships with some of the best specialist surgeons and proceduralists on the Gold Coast, working together to provide a high standard of patient care.
Rod has an extensive experience in anaesthetics for a broad range of surgical specialities, including eyes, plastics, spine, orthopaedics, urology, endoscopy, obstetrics and gynaecology.
A special interest in regional anaesthetic techniques for eye procedures and for orthopaedic surgery allows for optimised patient care and peri operative pain relief solutions for his patients.
Rod is an active member of ANZCA and the ASA, is a member of multiple hospital committees and participates in regular Continuing Medical Development and educational activities.
Outside of work, Rod enjoys spending time with family, playing tennis, drums and keeping active.Rod graduated with a medical degree from the University of Queensland in 1998.