Above all, love one another earnestly 1 Peter 4:8 #bekind
Dr Yota yoshimitsu specialist gp
Born in Japan, Dr Yota grew up in Melbourne and is fluent in both Japanese and English. He was an optometrist before deciding it would be cool to treat more than just eyes. He studied Medicine right here in Geelong before doing further training in Southwest Victoria. He’s back in Geelong to join Family Doctors Highton!
Dr Yota believes you deserve the best care possible at all stages of life. He enjoys taking care of your whole family from newborn bubs to nan and pop. You will love Dr Yota for his warmth and friendliness, and of course, his thoughtful and thorough medical care. He seeks to build a long-term therapeutic relationship with you. Dr Yota is particularly passionate about eyes (duh!) and the "cradle to grave" care framework which Family Doctors Highton holds close to our hearts.
Dr Yota is also “Teacher Yota” in his role as a Medical Educator for GP trainees and part of the teaching staff at Deakin’s School of Medicine.
He exercises the creative part of his brain by playing the viola with various orchestras including the Geelong Symphony Orchestra and Corpus Medicorum. Living and working in Geelong means he can easily hit up the Avalon Airshow to feed his inner aviation geek!
Dr Ern Chang - Principal Specialist GP
Dr Ern has been a doctor for over 20 years and was voted Geelong's Best GP in 2019! He is passionate about preventive health and the care of patients with chronic illnesses. As a father of two teenagers, he also enjoys caring for children and their families.
Dr Ern is all about holistic healthcare and he will carefully select health care professionals to support you. You can also be sure that he will take the time to patiently listen to your health concerns, assess your needs in your context, and work with you towards the most suitable health outcomes.
Besides being the Principal GP at Family Doctors Highton, Dr Ern is also actively involved in teaching the next generation of doctors as a conjoint Senior Lecturer at Deakin University.
He's not all scrubs and mask, on nice days you will catch him on the roads trying to channel Cadel.
Dr catherine Eltringham Specialist Gp
Dr Catherine enjoys being a GP for the whole family from birth to retirement and beyond! She will help you manage your acute and chronic illnesses, immunisations, preventative health checks and when it’s allowed again, travel planning. Dr Catherine is actively involved in teaching and training doctors so you can be sure you are getting the latest evidence-based medical care.
Having worked with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative, Dr Catherine is passionate about Indigenous health. You can also count on her for skin checks as she has extra training and experience in skin cancer medicine.
We know you will appreciate Dr Catherine's excellent medical expertise and her kind and caring nature. She's always up for a good joke, any time! Seriously, we hear her infectious laughter all the way from reception sometimes!
Watch her video (til the end!) to get to know her! You will love her.
Dr Frances Maxwell specialist gp
Dr Frankie has worked in Geelong since 2007 and is well known for her personable care for her patients and their families. "It's like talking to a trusted friend who is an expert in their field" says a Dr Frankie fan.
Besides helping you with acute and chronic illnesses, she has extra training in women's & children's health as well as reproductive & sexual health. Dr Frankie will hold a safe, non-judgemental space for you and help you get the best and most suitable care.
Like all our doctors, Dr Frankie loves teaching medical students and is actively involved in Deakin's School of Medicine.
If you like riding your bike, get ready to wave (safely!) to her as she whizzes around on her bike! She's also famous for her cooking. When asked what cake she loves to bake she said "all cakes". Nailed it!
Michelle Funk specialist dietitian
Michelle has been a dietitian for over 20 years. She completed a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from Deakin University (DUX) and has worked in hospitals, private practice and a multinational company. Other than English, she also speaks Mandarin and Bahasa.
Besides being an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician (CEDC), she is also a casual academic with the School of Medicine at Deakin University and works at The Geelong Clinic Eating Disorders Programs.
Michelle has a real heart for helping people be at peace with food whatever their health needs. Her practice is evidence-informed and uses the Non-Diet approach with elements of Intuitive and Mindful Eating. She has extra training in CBT-e , FBT and SSCM. You will find Michelle to be a kind, compassionate and caring ally who will partner you to reach your goals.
Michelle enjoys having a laugh with her teenage daughters (although she says it's mostly them laughing at her) and is learning how to play the cello.