Our Specialist Dermatologists
Dr. John Relic
MBBS, FACD
Dermatologist
Dr John Relic is a consultant specialist Dermatologist. John graduated from the University of NSW in 1977 and became a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists in 1986. John has been practising as a Dermatologist in Newcastle for over twenty years. He is a Visiting Medical Officer at the John Hunter Hospital as well as being a Visiting Medical Officer at many private hospitals in the Hunter Region. He completed a skin surgery course at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego in 1990 and takes a particular interest in skin surgery techniques.
Pediatrics is John's other area of special interest. John meets regularly with other Pediatric Dermatologists and conducts a Pediatric Dermatology clinic fortnightly at the John Hunter Hospital.
Dr Relic consults at Lotus on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Dr. Sally de Zwaan
MBBS (Hons), PhD, BSc (Psych), FACD
Dermatologist
Dr. Sally de Zwaan completed her Dermatology training both in Australia and overseas. Sally brings a wealth of experience to the clinic, with her expertise in many areas including medical, surgical and paediatric dermatology. She completed her medical degree at Sydney University and worked in Sydney hospitals for several years before spending 4 years training in Dermatology. She is a visiting medical officer to John Hunter Hospital where she runs a monthly clinic and is the Supervisor of Training for John Hunter Hospital/Royal Newcastle Centre Dermatology Registrars.
She also has a PhD in genetics of skin cancer and a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Psychology. Sally has undertaken research and written many articles for various Dermatology journals. She has also worked extensively with the AMA.
Dr de Zwaan consults at Lotus on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Dr. Alvand Amiri
MD.MMed, FACD
Dermatologist
Dr Alvand Amiri graduated from Charles University Medical School in Prague in 1998 After undergoing 5 years of dermatology speciality training, he then achieved a specialist degree in dermatology from Charles University Hospital and became a member of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology.
After that Dr Amiri moved to Queensland where he graduated with a Master of Medicine degree from the University of Queensland. Dr Amiri also gained his fellowship with the Australasian College of Dermatologists after his dermatology speciality training at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, The Skin Hospital in Sydney and successfully completing fellowship exams with the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
Dr Amiri has been involved in teaching medical students, general practitioners and has published many articles in the Czech Republic Dermatology Journals and Australasian Journal of Dermatology.
Dr Amiri also presented at the International Academy of Dermatology and European Academy of Dermatovenerology.
Dr Amiri is trained in medical and surgical dermatology and his particular interests are skin cancers, skin cancer surgeries, inflammatory skin conditions including acne, eczema and psoriasis and auto immune skin conditions.
Dr Amiri consults at Lotus on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Dr. Juliana Junger
Dermatologist
Juliana was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she completed her medical and dermatology training.
As a dermatologist, Juliana worked in private practice for two years and was a Visiting Medical Officer to some of the major hospitals in Rio. Juliana also did research in Leishmaniasis at the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, an internationally renowned research institute, for six years during her uni years.
Juliana obtained her Masters Degree in Infectious Diseases in Portugal and afterwards moved to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a Dermatologist.
Juliana commenced working in Australia as a Trainee Dermatologist in a rural area of need position in 2015. She was successful in passing the Fellowship examination with the Australasian College of Dermatologists and has been part of our team of professionals at Lotus Dermatology since 2016. Juliana has also been the Principal Investigator in clinical trials in Dermatology at Novatrials since 2021.
Dr Junger consults at Lotus on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Dr. Tom Barrett
Dermatologist
Dr Barrett is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (FACD).
Dr Barrett completed his medical training at the University of Newcastle following undergraduate studies in economics, and continued his prevocational training within Hunter New England Health. Throughout his dermatology training Dr Barrett has worked at the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Westmead Children’s Hospital, and the Royal Newcastle Centre. He has completed rural rotations throughout NSW including Lismore, Port Macquarie, Walgett, Dubbo, Orange and with the Aboriginal Medical Service.
Dr Barrett is actively engaged in research, having had multiple papers published in domestic and international dermatology journals, and continues to be involved in the education of junior doctors and dermatology trainees through his work at the John Hunter Hospital, where he works as a Visiting Medical Officer.
Dr Barrett is a qualified Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, performing these procedures at Warners Bay Private Hospital.
Dr Barrett manages all conditions involving the skin, hair and nails including eczema, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, hyperhidrosis, acne, and paediatric dermatology. He has a special interest in skin cancer management, autoimmune bullous disease, and cutaneous lymphomas.
Dr Barrett consults at Lotus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Dr. Samra Saikal
Dermatologist
Dr Samra Saikal is a specialist Dermatologist and Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. She obtained her medical degree and Masters of International Public Health from the University of New South Wales. She also holds a Diploma of Children’s Health. She completed her specialist dermatology training in tertiary Australian hospitals including Liverpool Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and John Hunter Hospital, as well as working in the regional areas of Port Macquarie and Orange, NSW. Dr Saikal also holds a Visiting Medical Officer appointment at John Hunter Hospital.
Dr Saikal consults at Lotus on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Dr Stephanie Blake
Dermatologist
Stephanie joined the Australasian College of Dermatologists in 2024, and is passionate about all aspects of dermatology, including early detection of skin cancers, inflammatory disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, and paediatric dermatology.
She is based in Newcastle NSW in private practice and John Hunter Hospital, and consults as a locum dermatologist once a month in the Northern Rivers.
She has published in peer-reviewed journals regarding autoimmune connective tissue diseases, melanoma and its detection, and prior to commencing dermatology training worked in clinical trials for developing new biological agents for psoriasis, eczema and alopecia.
Dr Blake consults at Lotus on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Dr. Kirsty Wark
Dermatologist
Dr Kirsty Wark is a Specialist Dermatologist and Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. In addition to working at Lotus Dermatology, she is a Visiting Medical Officer at John Hunter Hospital, and works in outreach at Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service in Moree. She received her Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of Newcastle, and her Masters of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) from the University of Sydney. She has authored several papers in reputed medical and dermatology journals, and has presented at multiple national meetings. She has been involved in teaching since medical school, and continues to provide education to Medical Students, Nurses, Junior Doctors, and General Practitioners.
Dr Wark consults at Lotus on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.