Doctors in Southside

General Practitioner -
Dr Oliver Chadwick is a second year GP Registrar commencing practice at Excelsior Medical Centre after spending a year in Stanthorpe. He brings a diverse academic and clinical background to general practice, with a strong commitment to thoughtful, patient-centred care.
Before studying medicine, Oliver completed a PhD at The University of Queensland, with a research focus on medieval English literature and gender studies. This academic training developed his skills in critical analysis, research, and communication, which continue to inform his approach to medicine and patient care. He later completed his Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University.
Following graduation, Oliver spent three years working at Ipswich Hospital, where he gained broad experience across a range of medical and surgical disciplines. This included exposure to acute care, chronic disease management, and multidisciplinary teamwork, providing a solid foundation for comprehensive general practice.
Oliver has a particular interest in men’s mental and physical health, including preventative care, mental wellbeing, and the management of long-term conditions. He values open, respectful conversations and aims to create a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable discussing sensitive health concerns.
He is looking forward to becoming part of the Gympie community and working with patients to support their health and wellbeing over time.

Dr Stuart Cooper is a British born and trained GP, who has enjoyed practising as a GP in Gympie since 2021. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Stuart is passionate about family general practice due to the breadth of medicine it allows him to practice, as well as the long-term relationship and continuity of care it enables him to offer patients. He enjoys being a medical generalist and is experienced in all areas of general practice but has special interests in male health, chronic disease management and palliative care. Stuart is also an experienced occupational physician. He has worked with organisations spanning all industry sectors to assist them in managing the health and wellbeing of their employees. Stuart is accredited to manage and prescribe for HIV positive patients under the S100 scheme in Queensland. He is also an active prescriber of PrEP. In his spare time Stuart enjoys spending time with his family, travel, being in the water and the great outdoors. He is married to Lizzie, who is also a GP at the clinic and they have 3 children, so their house is never quiet but always great fun!

Kilkivan State School Outreach

Dr Lizzie Cooper is an experienced British born and trained doctor, who relocated to Australia with her family in 2016. After over 10 years of broad hospital based medical experience, with a particular focus on women’s health, Lizzie chose to train as a specialist general practitioner. Lizzie has practised as a GP in Gympie since 2021. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Lizzie enjoys all areas of general practice but has particular interests in women & children’s health, includign antenatal shared care and post-natal care. She undertakes minor skin procedures, intravenous iron infusions and inserts the contraceptive implant and IUD. Lizzie is married to Stuart, also a GP at the clinic and they have 3 children. In her spare time Lizzie enjoys travel, a wide range of crafts, is a huge Harry Potter fan and loves being in the outdoors.

Dr Lilian Popovic has been in general practice for over 35 years. She takes a holistic approach to health and partners closely with patients to achieve optimal health & wellbeing solutions.

She has a special interest in women’s health and particularly enjoys supporting women through every stage of life.

Dr Popovic understands every patient is an individual and, where appropriate and where patients prefer, she integrates natural and lifestyle-based options alongside conventional medical care.

Having studied Ayurveda (the science of wellness), she weaves nutrition, sleep, stress, movement and mind–body practices into her clinical work.

Dr. Alex Anderson is a General Practice Registrar with a strong passion for providing comprehensive, patient-centred care with a focus on preventative health and chronic disease management.

Alex is committed to delivering care that not only addresses immediate health concerns but also focuses on long-term well-being and prevention. Alex graduated from the University of Queensland in 2021 and has been working across the Sunshine Coast region ever since.

In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Dr Jack is a general practice registrar with a strong interest in musculoskeletal and sports medicine, supported by previous experience in orthopaedic surgery. He enjoys helping patients stay active, recover from injury, and manage both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Dr Jack employs a collaborative approach that empowers patients to understand their health and feel confident in their treatment plan.

Jack graduated from the University of Queensland in 2020 and has worked in Mackay and the Sunshine coast across a range of different specialties.

Outside of work, Jack enjoys cycling, sports and spending time with family, friends and his dog Marley.

Dr. Simi began her medical career in the UK, graduating from the University of East Anglia. She spent several years working in hospital settings, gaining broad experience with a particular focus on emergency medicine, before transitioning into general practice.

She is passionate about all aspects of family medicine, including chronic disease management, preventative health, women’s health, and paediatrics. Dr. Simi takes a holistic approach to care, with a strong focus on delivering comprehensive, patient-centered treatment.

Outside of work, she enjoys a morning coffee by the beach, travelling, and attending live music events.

Dr Mihaela Negru-Radu is an overseas trained Paediatrician who has changed career pathways in order to achieve a better work life balance. She moved to Gympie from Brisbane in January 2012 together with her husband, Dr Romulus Calin Negru-Radu, and both fell in love with the area.

She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and has completed a Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) with the same college.

Dr Mihaela has a passion for medical education and is keen to share her knowledge and expertise with Registrars and medical students. She enjoys all facets of general practice from conducting pre-employment medical assessments for the coal mine workers, to managing complex chronic cases.

Mihaela performs hormonal IUD IUD insertions and continues her passion for paediatrics as at least a third of her bookings are paediatric encounters. Outside work she loves cooking and travelling with her husband and their beautiful son.

General Practitioner -

Dr Romulus Calin Negru-Radu moved to Gympie in January 2012. He fell in love with the area and has worked in various locations in town and he is now happy to return to Excelsior Medical Centre. He is interested in all aspects of general practice and has been extensively trained in advanced Skin Surgery as well as Paediatrics. He also has a passion for medical education and is keen to share his knowledge and skills with the younger generation of doctors. Outside work, he enjoys cooking, playing tennis and travelling all over the world with his wife, also a GP, and their beautiful son.

Dr Freshney enjoys all aspects of family medicine, with particular interests in preventative medicine, paediatrics, fertility, pregnancy, menopause, women’s health, weight loss management, chronic disease and occupational medicine. She aims to give patients a greater understanding of their health to enable patients to make their own decisions regarding their treatments plans.Dr Freshney began her training in Scotland, at the University of Aberdeen in 2005. She immigrated to Australia in 2012 and worked at Gympie hospital Emergency before perusing General practice. She joined the Excelsior family over 10 years ago in 2016. She conducts Coal board, Quarry, pre-employment, Rail and commercial driver’s medicals.Dr Freshney feels very thankful to have such a rewarding career. She has been privileged to support patients with their health in the whole social family dynamic (sometimes even spanning four generations.)Dr Freshney takes great pride in sharing her passion of general practice as a supervisor and welcomes new registrars to the region in the hope they will love Gympie as much as she does.She lives in Gympie with her husband and two boys. Out of work she will be found on the side lines supporting her boys, mountain biking, exploring the outdoors or swimming at the beach.

Dr Dhaliwal enjoys all aspects of family medicine with particular interests in Preventative Health, Skin medicine, Paediatrics, Men's Health and Chronic Disease.

He aims to give his patients understanding of their health conditions to assist them to make their own decisions about possible treatment options.

Dr Dhaliwal completed his training from India in 2008 and immigrated to Australia in 2015. He obtained his AMC certificate in 2017.

He speaks English, Hindi and Punjabi fluently and enjoys travelling around Australia in his free time

A GP at Excelsior Medical Centre since 2011. Dr Malek likes to see patients from a variety of areas, including paediatrics, geriatrics, adolescents, men’s & women’s health. Dr Malek was trained and practiced as an Obstetrician Gynaecologist in Baroda, Gajurat, India.

Now a GP in Australia, her background supports her special interest in girls and women's health issues.

Previously acting as a Supervisor and Medical Educator with the RACGP and James Cook University, Townsville, Dr Malek has been involved in training/mentoring several young GPs.

With strong ties to her community, Dr Rashida is a long term GP here at Excelsior.

Dr Marthinus Nel is an experienced GP born and trained in South Africa. He obtained his primary medical degree in Pretoria in 1980 and worked in general practice, occupational medicine and medical management before emigrating to Queensland in January 1999.
He worked in a large medical practice in Bundaberg for 20 years before moving to the Mary Valley in December 2019.

Dr Nel's medical experience is vast and varied and covers all aspects of general medicine.

His medical degree was obtained at University Pretoria and he qualified for the Fellowship of Royal Australia College of General Practice in 1999.

He holds post graduate qualifications in: Occupational medicine, Dive medicine, Skin cancer medicine and Anaesthetics.

Dr Nel is married with two grown up boys and lives with his wife on a small cattle property in the Mary Valley. No cats or dogs, just Droughtmasters.

Dr Nel works Monday to Thursday.