Our Team

DOCTORS

Dr Sarah Bell is a Specialist in Internal Medicine. Sarah is New Zealand trained and qualified, presently working as a consultant at Auckland City Hospital in the Department of General Medicine seeing a range of diseases and acutely unwell medical patients and in private practise.

Sarah is on the Royal Australasian of Physicians (NZ) committee looking after advance trainees in Acute and General Medicine and on the IMSANZ committee for perioperative medicine. Sarah is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medicine at The University of Auckland.

Sarah’s interests are not only in the complex medical problems but in evaluation of incipient disease for the purpose of helping the individual lead a better life with health promotion and prevent chronic disease. Sarah does perioperative medicine, working with the surgeon and anaesthetist in complex medical cases to ensure the safety of the patient prior to and after their surgical procedures, and assisting with ongoing management of medical problems and complications.

Sarah likes to work with the primary care provider and patient to achieve better health for the patient.

Sarah is Southern Cross affiliated and accredited at Mercy Ascot Hospitals.

Dr Hari Talreja is a Renal Physician with special interest in Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation. He works at Counties Manukau Health (CMH), and is the Lead for Hypertension, Renal Transplantation, and Clinical Research. He also practices in private at Ormiston Specialist Centre and Gilgit Road Specialist Centre. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at University of Auckland.

Hari received his medical degree from University of Mumbai, India following which he undertook specialist training in General Medicine and Nephrology. He then moved to Canada for advanced training, and completed fellowships in Renal Medicine including Dialysis Therapies, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation from University of Ottawa. He is one of the few American Society of Hypertension-certified ‘Specialist in Clinical Hypertension’ in NZ. Hari also has a masters degree from the prestigious Harvard University, and is one of the Harvard Alumni in NZ.

Hari is passionate about his work and is committed to his patients. This is the reason he holds key portfolios in his role at CMH. He developed the Hypertension Clinic at CMH over six years ago. He is a frequent speaker at various conferences, and is involved in clinical research. He is also part of the ANZDATA NZ working group, and is a reviewer for a couple of medical journals. He also does weekly radio talks on a local radio station in Auckland. He has also been working closely with The Goodfellow Unit, which delivers continuing professional development for primary healthcare professionals.

Maritza completed training as an endocrinologist in 2016 and moved to Seattle, WA with her family. She worked as a visiting academic scholar at the University of Washington (UW) and co-authored several papers in the area of hormonal male contraception (HMC). Maritza completed a Master of Public Health (Global Health) at UW in 2020 and worked with a group of researchers studying HIV in Kenya. She currently also works as an endocrinologist at Te Toka Tumai, Te Whatu Ora.

Maritza brings a “global to local” perspective to her endocrinology practice. with a consideration not only on the issue at hand but also unique upstream factors that shape health and well-being. She has a special interest in adolescent and women’s health.

Areas of Specialisation
Endocrinology and reproductive medicine with a special interest in Women’s Health. Menopause, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Bone, Thyroid, Pituitary, Osteoporosis and Adrenal Disorders

Qualifications

• MBChB
• MPH
• FRACP

Mr Angus Don is a New Zealand trained orthopaedic surgeon specialising in the surgical and non-surgical management of cervical and lumbar spine conditions.

Having completed his training in New Zealand, Angus spent considerable time in America where he was working as a Visiting Assistant Professor in spinal surgery at Stanford University. Prior to this he undertook spinal fellowships in Hong Kong and Auckland. He recently received the North American Spine Society’s Outstanding Paper Award.

Angus is happy to see any orthopaedic referrals including fractures, general orthopaedic consults and spinal patients.

He is based out of more than one location so be sure to double check where your appointment will be. Mr Angus Don is also an orthopaedic and spinal surgeon at Auckland City Hospital.

Nikki Tugnet a UK-trained and New Zealand-registered Rheumatologist, practicing in Auckland, New Zealand. She is the world’s first dually-trained Rheumatologist and Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist. With years of experience in the medical field and holistic health practices, it is Nikki’s mission to provide an integrative approach to healthcare.

ALLIED STAFF

Simone is a clinical nurse specialist and research nurse with more than 10 years’ experience in immunology and allergy nursing.  She is an active member of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy (ASCIA) nurses committee and on a working group sub-committee.

Simone is involved in the development of New Zealand allergy and immunology nursing guidelines. She is a NZ preceptor for Professional Certificate in Allergy Nursing (University of South Australia). She supports and has presented at educational forums within allergy and immunology for professional and patient groups. She also has NZ vaccination certification

Simone has extensive previous nursing experience to draw on including the care of people with intellectually disabilities, laboratory nursing, geriatric and neurosurgical nursing. Nursing research projects have included immunoglobulin treatments, biologics treatment in chronic idiopathic urticaria and is currently involved in further clinical trials.

Qualifications

• P.G Dip HSc (Advanced Nursing) 2013
• Prof. Cert. Allergy Nursing 2011
• Grad. Cert. Nursing Practice 2000
• Dip. Comprehensive Nurse 1990