Dr Melanie Dorrington

Dr Melanie Dorrington

BBiomedSci (Hons) MBBS FPAA Cert SRH FRACGP

Dr Melanie Dorrington graduated from the University of Sydney in 2008 and has practised in the ACT and surrounds ever since, including several years at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and over seven years in Bungendore.

Melanie has a special interest in sexual and reproductive health — including contraception (implants and all IUD insertions), pregnancy and abortion care, and transgender health — and is a coordinating and consulting practitioner for Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in the ACT.

Outside of work, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, including the dog, and playing soccer.

Melanie works one day a week at Watson General Practice, alongside her role as Chief GP and Primary Care Advisor for ACT Health.

Please note: Dr Melanie's books are closed to new patients, but she continues to see patients for VAD appointments, IUD insertions, and early medical abortion (EMA). Please call and talk to reception about booking any of these appointments.

Dr Raphael Chae

Dr Raphael Chae

MBBS (Hons) GDipSurgAnat GDCH FRACGP

Dr Raphael Chae graduated from Monash University Medical School in 2015. Prior to that he grew up in Melbourne - enjoying coffee and the great weather that the city is known for.

His experiences include working in various surgical units at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne as a surgical registrar, prior to finding his true passion in general practice. He completed his general practice fellowship in Orange and Sydney, then moved to Canberra in 2025 with his wife to be closer to family.

In addition to his medical degree, he also holds a Graduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy from the University of Melbourne and has also completed the Graduate Diploma in Child Health (Western Sydney University).

Outside of work, he enjoys running, playing badminton and generally staying active.

Dr Adnan Alam

Dr Adnan Alam

BSc MBBS FRACGP

Dr Alam obtained a Bachelor of Science double majoring in Public Health and Biology from Tufts University in Boston and University College London. He graduated from the University of Sydney Medical Program in 2014 and completed his fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 2020.

His diverse past experience ranges from internships in Bangladesh to research in Boston to placements on Christmas Island. He completed his hospital training on the Central Coast of NSW and moved to Canberra after GP training in Melbourne.

In addition to consulting at Watson General Practice, Adnan is a GP advisor at Capital Health Network. He has previously been a staff specialist at the Canberra Hospital's COVID Care@Home program and a member of ACT HCSD's voluntary assisted dying clinical advisory committee.

Outside of work he enjoys running, bouldering and spending time with his family.

Currently not taking on new patients

Dr Joo-Inn Chew

Dr Joo-Inn Chew

BA MBBS FRACGP

Dr Joo-Inn Chew graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1998 with a combined Medicine/Arts degree. She has been working in general practice and refugee health in Canberra for the last 20 years, after having won the RACGP Registrar of the Year award (2003).

Dr Chew completed further training in psychological medicine in 2022, and now works exclusively as a GP Psychological medicine specialist, offering psychological therapy and mental health consultations. (Note: she is not able to provide diagnostic assessments for ADHD, ASD). In her spare time she enjoys writing and getting around by bike.

Currently not taking on new patients

Madeline Dorris

Madeline Dorris

Practice Manager

Madeline is our highly capable practice manager. She has worked in general practice and other service roles for several years prior to joining Watson in mid-2021. She was appointed Practice Manager in October 2021.

She runs a tight ship as our administrator, and also brings great qualities to the role with her compassion, warmth and attention to detail. She also keeps the doctors running as close to time as possible, reminding them that a patient’s time is just as valuable.

Always approachable and astute, she (along with our front-desk reception team of Margie, Lauren, Rachel and Mary) are here to help with any administrative issues you may have.

Rachel Frkic

Rachel Frkic

BNurs RN

Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2020, and embarked on her general practice nursing career with us in June 2021. Her role ranges from children’s and adult immunisations to wound care, ear syringing, health assessments and heart health checks.

She is focussed on optimising the health and wellbeing of all our patients. She is available to conduct free health assessments for those aged 45-49, over 75, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and people of any age who may be at risk of a chronic illness. Please contact us if you would like to access any of these services.

If you are invited to come in for a free health assessment, we encourage you to take up this offer. If aged 75+, you can get a comprehensive 30-45 minute assessment with Rachel then get to see your regular GP for no gap. It may make the difference in terms of keeping you well and in your own home. You can even get your driver’s license renewed as part of it!

Dr Andrew Palfreman

Dr Andrew Palfreman

BAppSc BPPM (Hons) MBBS FRACGP

Director

Dr Palfreman graduated from the ANU Medical School in 2009 and completed GP specialty training to become a Fellow of the RACGP in 2014. He worked previously as a Registrar at Winnungah Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and Interchange General Practice. While Clinical Director at IGP, he was fortunate to help at Watson in 2015 prior to the passing of Dr Phillip Toua (well known to longstanding Watson and Giralang patients). In 2017, Dr Palfreman returned permanently as Clinical Director and bought the practice in November 2018. In 2021, he also began work at a GP outreach clinic with Directions Health Service.

Originally from Melbourne, he is an alumnus of the University of Melbourne and RMIT and worked in 1997 at Monash University. He moved to Canberra in 2001 and spent two years in Solomon Islands prior to studying medicine.  In October 2018 he returned briefly to the Pacific as a locum doctor in Port Vila, Vanuatu. He has three children, a Staffy called Steve, and lives locally.

While interested in general medicine, he has specific interests in chronic disease and pain management, men’s health and Indigenous health. In November 2024, he received a Medicare Champion award from the Australian Government:

Announcing Australia's Medicare champions | Health Portfolio Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Currently not taking on new patients

Dr Leonie Harcourt

Dr Leonie Harcourt

BA BSc MBBS FRACGP

Dr Harcourt has been working in General Practice since 2008, having graduated from Flinders University in 2004. She brings a wealth of care and experience and enjoys seeing patients of all ages and backgrounds.

Currently not taking on new patients

Dr Thomas McGuire

Dr Thomas McGuire

BA MBBS FRACGP

Dr Tom McGuire has been a GP Fellow since 2018. Originally from Tumut, he is a graduate of the ANU Medical School and completed his GP specialty training through Interchange General Practice in Canberra City (with Dr Palfreman) and Rutledge Family Medical Centre in Queanbeyan. He joined us in February 2021 with a special interest in obstetric care but also enjoys general medicine.

Currently not taking on new patients