Private Emergency Health Australia (PEHA) Private Emergency Health Australia (PEHA)
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Our Team

At PEHA, we believe great outcomes start with great people. Our team brings together deep experience, shared values and a passion for delivering better emergency care. United by purpose and driven by excellence, we’re proud to support hospitals, patients and each other—every step of the way.

Dr Ruslan Fatikov

PEHA Townsville Deputy Site Director

Dr Ruslan Fatikov

PEHA Townsville Deputy Site Director
Dr Ruslan Fatikov is an Emergency Medicine specialist and healthcare leader with extensive experience across multiple international healthcare systems, including Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. He currently serves as Deputy Director of the Emergency Department at Mater Hospital Townsville and Director of Medical Training, where he contributes to departmental strategy, clinical governance, workforce development, and the education and supervision of junior medical staff. His career has encompassed roles in emergency medicine, trauma care, critical care, and pre-hospital and retrieval medicine. He has also held senior leadership and administrative responsibilities, including registrar supervision, departmental coordination, and training program development.

Dr John Groemer

Clinical Advisory Board Member and PEHA Townsville Emergency Physician

Dr John Groemer

Clinical Advisory Board Member and PEHA Townsville Emergency Physician
Dr John Groemer is a member of PEHA’s Clinical Advisory Board and also sees patients as a GP liaison across PEHA sites. Dr Groemer has over 25 years of medical experience and provided General Practice services to the Australian Department of Defence for 15 years. Dr Groemer has extensive teaching and training experience, including supervising International Medical graduates, training registrars, and implementing educational programs for medical staff.  

Dr Greg Treston

Clinical Advisory Board Member

Dr Greg Treston

Clinical Advisory Board Member
Associate Professor Greg Treston is an experienced Emergency Specialist who has worked extensively in public and private Emergency Medicine across Australia. As a specialist in Rural and Remote medicine, he has also worked at isolated rural health centres in both Australia and around the world. He has a strong interest in practical, clinical research. He has authored or co-authored Emergency Medicine research papers for over 20 years, as well as numerous presentations at local, national, and international Emergency Medicine and Anaesthetic conferences. As Director of Emergency Medicine across a number of sites, he has driven improvement in Emergency Medicine performance metrics to facilitate safer, more timely patient management, facilitating better access to care for patients.

Kristy Mehrtens

Referral Engagement Manager

Kristy Mehrtens

Referral Engagement Manager
Kristy is the Referrer Engagement Manager at PEHA, responsible for building strategic partnerships and strengthening referral networks that support sustainable growth across the organisation's emergency departments. With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, she combines her clinical background with executive leadership and commercial expertise. Kristy holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and an MBA majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and has held executive and senior management roles across a diverse range of healthcare organisations. She works collaboratively with healthcare providers, employers, community organisations, and key stakeholders to strengthen referral pathways.

Anita Cronin

Operations Manager

Anita Cronin

Operations Manager
Anita Cronin is an experienced healthcare operations leader with over 25 years experience across General Practice, Urgent Care, and Occupational Health. She excels in multi-site management, policy development, and service delivery optimisation. Anita has led national initiatives, strengthened operational systems, and enhanced efficiency across metropolitan and regional practices. Known for her strategic leadership and focus on patient-centred care, Anita is passionate about building empowered teams and creating systems that support clinical excellence and exceptional patient experiences.

Krystal Carpenter

Operations Manager

Krystal Carpenter

Operations Manager
Krystal Carpenter is a seasoned operations and administrative professional with extensive experience in healthcare. Krystal excels in team leadership, operational management, and patient care coordination. With a strong background in both hospital and private practice settings, Krystal is skilled in scheduling, software and systems development, staff training, and maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations. Her expertise spans multiple healthcare systems and administrative functions. Known for her reliability, leadership, and excellent customer service, Krystal is committed to fostering collaborative work environments and delivering exceptional patient experiences.

Joanne Burton

Medical Talent Acquisition Specialist

Joanne Burton

Medical Talent Acquisition Specialist
Joanne’s role includes the management of doctor engagement and rostering. Joanne is highly experienced with a strong background in business development, talent acquisition, recruitment and operations in the health care industry. Joanne aims to build strong and lasting relationships within her work at PEHA.

Elle Hatherly

Lead Practice Manager - New Sites and Projects

Elle Hatherly

Lead Practice Manager - New Sites and Projects
Elle works to maintain and establish PEHA’s varying locations by providing support to the PEHA Practice Managers. With a background in operations and recruitment, Elle works to preserve and strengthen PEHA’s partnerships as well as the overall coordination of PEHA’s Emergency Departments. Her aptitude for enhancing operations is evident in her contributions to PEHA’s technological and practice procedures.

Alys Bleasel

Marketing Coordinator

Alys Bleasel

Marketing Coordinator
As Marketing Coordinator, Alys supports PEHA’s marketing efforts by devising and executing campaigns, coordinating marketing activities, and assisting in strategic planning and analysis. Although originally from Brisbane, Alys joins us from New Zealand, where she obtained her degree in Marketing & Communications at the University of Waikato. Alys has over six years of experience within the healthcare industry, which includes involvement in health-related project planning and advocation. Alys is thoroughly enjoying the sunshine and vibrant energy of her new city lifestyle. On weekends, she has been embracing her inner tourist and exploring everything Brisbane has to offer.

Brock Schafer

Financial Accountant

Brock Schafer

Financial Accountant

Brock is a Financial Accountant within PEHA's finance team, supporting the company's growth while developing his commercial and leadership skills. He brings foundational Big 4 audit experience from EY, strong commercial accounting abilities, and a diverse industry background. Brock's interest in the financial side of business led him to study a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) at QUT in Brisbane. He has since become a Chartered Accountant and a member of CAANZ. Outside of work, Brock is passionate about fitness and strength training, believing that positive outcomes, in this and other areas of life, come from consistent effort and intention.

Anisha Suwal

Financial Accountant

Anisha Suwal

Financial Accountant
Anisha is an Assistant Financial Accountant with experience across Accounts Payable, cost accounting, financial reporting, and month-end processes. She is currently expanding her skill set into payroll, bringing strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in every task. Known for her organised approach and willingness to take initiative, Anisha supports the finance team in delivering timely, reliable results. She values continuous learning and enjoys contributing to smoother processes and better reporting outcomes. In her spare time, Anisha loves spending time with her toy cavoodle, Max  

Tara Rane

Operations Support Officer

Tara Rane

Operations Support Officer
Tara works at PEHA as an Operations Support Officer, bringing a diverse background across scientific operations and healthcare administration. She holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a major in Public Health from the University of Queensland and has hands-on experience in patient management, regulatory compliance, and process improvement. Known for her attention to detail and ability to work across diverse stakeholders, Tara works to support the Operations Team and Practice Managers and assists developments in key projects as PEHA continues to expand.

Lily Winburn

Operations Support Officer

Lily Winburn

Operations Support Officer

As Operations Support Officer, Lily works to support senior leadership and the Operations Team with day-to-day operational activities, including maintaining operational systems, supporting Practice Managers, and contributing to process improvements. With a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Lily's background in health sciences informs her analytical approach and attention to detail across all aspects of her role.

Kerry Hay

PEHA Townsville Practice Manager

Kerry Hay

PEHA Townsville Practice Manager

Kerry oversees the daily administrative operations of the Townsville Mater Emergency Department, working closely with PEHA doctors, Mater nursing, and administrative staff to ensure the site runs smoothly and delivers exceptional patient care. With over 25 years of experience in the private medical sector, primarily in Specialist Care. Kerry joined PEHA in 2023 as a Practice Manager. Her role is dynamic and multifaceted, offering continual opportunities for personal and professional growth within the fast-paced environment of Emergency Care. Kerry is dedicated to fostering a supportive, compassionate environment for both staff and patients, especially during what is often a challenging time in their lives.

Michelle Mclennan

PEHA Mackay Practice Manager

Michelle Mclennan

PEHA Mackay Practice Manager
Michelle McLennan brings extensive experience in healthcare administration and customer service to her role as Practice Manager at the Mater Private Hospital Mackay Emergency Care Centre. With a background in administration roles in healthcare and retail sectors, Michelle is highly skilled in operational management, ensuring efficient processes and a seamless patient experience. Since joining PEHA in 2019, she has become the organisation’s most experienced practice manager, known for her attention to detail, and commitment to excellence in healthcare delivery.

Kristie Heron

PEHA Rockhampton Practice Manager

Kristie Heron

PEHA Rockhampton Practice Manager
Kristie is the Practice Manager and plays a vital role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Care Centre. She is dedicated to ensuring the clinic runs efficiently while delivering an exceptional experience for patients, families, and staff. With years of experience in healthcare administration and a background in radiology, Kristie brings a strong understanding of both clinical and operational processes. Her leadership, organisational skills, and patient-focused approach help support the delivery of high-quality emergency healthcare in a fast-paced environment. Passionate about creating a welcoming and efficient service, Kristie is committed to ensuring patients receive timely, compassionate care while supporting the team to provide the highest standard of treatment to the community.

One purpose brings us together: delivering better emergency care.

Every member of our team is driven by the same goal: improving the emergency experience. No matter the role, we work together to deliver outcomes that put patients, hospitals and communities first.

From clinical decisions to everyday interactions, we act with honesty, transparency and accountability. It’s how we build trust—with each other, and with those we care for.

We believe diverse perspectives make us stronger. That’s why we listen, communicate openly, and treat everyone—colleagues, partners, and patients—with respect and empathy.

Excellence isn’t a finish line. We’re always learning, evolving and improving—so we can meet today’s challenges and shape the future of emergency healthcare.