Professor Tim Lambert, Dr Kathy Smith, and Dr Rebecca Koncz apply their considerable expertise in mental health and psychopharmacology to obtain the optimum outcome for the patient. They understand which aspects of the mental illness itself can act as barriers to health-promoting behaviours. They advise the inpatient team and the patient’s General Practitioner on balancing the treatment of mental illness with management of cardiovascular risk factors.

Dr Avinash Suryawanshi and Dr Tim Middleton are the clinic’s specialists in metabolic disease and diabetes which afflict a large proportion of our target population. The assessment and recommendations allow for optimised management of conditions such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This is of critical importance in reducing the risk of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.

ccCHIP is fortunate to have access to an experienced exercise physiologist. Ms Georgia Frydman combines his extensive knowledge of exercise physiology with a tailored individual approach to allow our patients to participate in a variety of physical activities.

Mrs Angela Meaney fulfills many roles in the ccCHIP service. Through education and promotion of the physical health needs of our patients, Angela is a powerful advocate for change in the health system. Angela’s work ensures that our patients are the beneficiaries of streamlined care, from the time of their referral to their scheduling and follow up of further investigations.

Ms Erikka Hennessys and Ms Jessica Guidas’ experience as dietitians to people with mental illness is invaluable in our clinic. Their skillful assessment of dietary habits and focus on achievable and specific dietary goals have wrought major changes in the lives of our patients. This empowering approach means that our patients can take ownership of this aspect of their care.

Prof Tim Lambert and Daniel Farnan work together to support and improve the activities of cCCHiP using various information and multimedia technologies.

A/Prof Shilpi Ajwani, senior dentist, and the dental team apply their knowledge and expertise to assess, recommend and provide the dental treatment for ccCHIP patients. They liaise with other dental specialists and clinicians to improve patients’ access and facilitate their dental treatment. The goals are to achieve pain-free, disease -free dentition and to restore function and appearance.

Members of ccCHIP continue to form partnerships with our colleagues in other subspecialty areas, to enhance our own knowledge and to improve patients’ access to specialist care.

Health education is any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes. Mrs Philippa Jane Boss conducts health literacy workshops with our consumers in the community.

Dr Vincent Chow is the centre’s cardiologist. With clinical and research interests in Psychiatric Cardiology, he is committed in improving the cardiometabolic outcomes in our undertreated population. In addition to his broad role in ccCHiP clinical service provision, he also runs a weekly dedicated Clozapine Cardiology Clinic at Concord Hospital.

Our sleep researcher’s role include: i) Objective screening for potential Obstructive Sleep Apnoea by using Flow Wizard and Wristox; ii) Plan to use DXA for baseline and future monitoring of visceral fat levels; iii) Objective screening of lung function with spirometry; and, iv) Monitoring of CO levels in those who smoke, with particular focus on those who wish to quit.