Dr Melanie Dorrington

Dr Melanie Dorrington

BBiomedSci (Hons) MBBS FPAA Cert SRH FRACGP

Dr Melanie Dorrington graduated from the University of Sydney in 2008, having spent almost all her final 2 years rurally in Orange, and a bit of time in Broken Hill. She grew up in Port Stephens (though not near the beach), and did her undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle. Melanie worked in medical research, mostly immunology in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wales, before her medical degree.

Melanie moved to Canberra after her medical degree and has done all of her medical work in the ACT and surrounds. She did most of her GP training at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, and once fellowed worked in Bungendore where she remained for >7 years.

As well as her clinical work across general practice, SHFPACT, and an online women’s health/abortion service, she has had several non-clinical roles including with ACT/SNSW HealthPathways, GP Liaison Officer, and GP Policy Advisor.

Outside of work Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, including her dog, and walking/hiking/running.

Currently Melanie works as Chief GP and Primary Care Advisor for ACT Health, which is a 4 day/week role. She spends 1 day per week at Watson General Practice to maintain her clinical skills and knowledge and to continue caring for people in the community as individuals, in addition to her Chief GP job contributing to wider community care.

Melanie has a special interest in sexual and reproductive health (including pregnancy care, abortion care, contraception including implanon and all IUD insertions, and also transgender health).

 Please note that Dr Melanie only has 1 day per week in the practice.

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 graduated from the University of Sydney Medical Program in 2014. Prior to that he obtained a Bachelor of Science double majoring in Public Health and Biology from Tufts University in the United States.

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 for the good life after attaining his general practice fellowship in Melbourne.

In addition to consulting at Watson General Practice, Adnan is the GP representative for Capital Health Network's Clinical Council. Outside of work he enjoys running 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

Dr Khaleda Edib

Dr Khaleda Edib

MBBS DCH FRACGP

Dr Khaleda joined Watson GP in March 2023. She graduated Medicine & Surgery in 2005 from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh and also holds a Diploma in Child Health. As a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practice, she provides comprehensive and empathetic care to all her patients. She is a dedicated GP who has been practicing in Australia for over 10 years while also managing her young family. While skilled in general medicine, she is interested in paediatrics, women’s and menopausal health, pain management and sexual health.

Currently telehealth only, and not taking on new patients

Dr Liz Fraser

Dr Elizabeth Fraser

MBBS MEd FRACGP

After graduating from the University of Adelaide in 1985, Dr Liz Fraser left the hospital system after a few years, disillusioned and never going back to medical practice. After working in hospitality and then in a women's refuge, Dr Liz completed GP training in Canberra in 2003. Since then she has worked at Justice Health, Interchange General Practice and more recently at Hobart Place General Practice.

Dr Liz has a particular focus on patient-centred medicine and helping patients with complex health problems with nutrition and lifestyle. She talks more than she prescribes.

She joined Watson in May 2023 to further her special interest and skills in Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction for T2D and other metabolic conditions. She is involved in the Defeat Diabetes program research and writes articles for Australian Doctor magazine.

Activities such as gardening, outdoor physical fitness and cooking real food provide Dr Liz with a work-life balance.

Currently not taking on new patients

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 Lynda Newman

Dr Lynda Newman

MBBS DRANZCOG FRACGP

Dr Newman obtained her medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1991, completed her Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1994 and her Fellowship in General Practice in 1998.

Dr Newman moved to Canberra in 2002 and worked at Calvary Hospital Emergency Department for 14 years until returning to general practice in 2016.

Dr Newman’s interests are preventative health care (keeping patients well so they do not have to go to the emergency department!), complex medical conditions and women’s health. Dr Newman has a special interest in the health of women and men aged 45 to 55 because of the unique life challenges, in particular the health issues of menopausal women. Dr Newman is credentialed to insert Implanon, Mirena IUD’s and copper IUD’s.

Outside of her clinical work, Dr Newman enjoys spending time with her family and in the great outdoors – bushwalking, backcountry skiing and our beautiful local coast.

Currently not taking on new patients

Dr Gillian Riley

Dr Gillian Riley

BSc B Asian Studies MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG (Adv)

Pronouns she/her

Dr Gillian Riley graduated in medicine from ANU in 2007 after first detouring via a combined Science and Asia Studies degree:  She became a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2012 as well as obtaining an advanced diploma of obstetrics and gynaecology.  

She worked as a GP Obstetrician providing intrapartum care at Queanbeyan Hospital before deciding the sleepless nights raising her own children were quite enough for her.

Dr Riley strongly believes that medical care is not dependent on body size and practices within a Health at Every Size framework.  She is inclusive of all people as individuals and maintains the best part of General Practice is getting to know people’s stories and walking with them through life’s twists and turns. 

She enjoys all aspects of General Practice but has a particular interest in women’s health,  children's health (particularly the first five years!), sexual health, early pregnancy, antenatal care and breastfeeding medicine.  She is trained in the insertion of all contraceptive devices including Mirena, Kyleena and copper IUD.  

Only accepting new patients for pregnancy & breastfeeding

Dr Tom Leach

Dr Tom Leach

MBChB OCH EMCert FRACGP

Dr Tom graduated from the University of Manchester in 2011 and worked in the NHS for 2 years before moving to Canberra in 2013.

He has since worked in Emergency, Intensive Care and Anaesthetics, before moving into General Practice in 2016, completing his specialist training in 2021 while working in Bungendore. He has also attained a Diploma of Child Health from Sydney Children's Hospital and the Emergency Medicine certificate from the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. He has interests in Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine and injuries, child’s health and men’s health, and is currently studying for a Masters in Sports Medicine at the University of Queensland. He is often the only practicing doctor on Lord Howe Island.

Dr Leach is available on certain weekends (check availability on HotDoc or ring the practice)

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