The Hunter Heart Team
Dr Nicholas Jackson
Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist
B Med Sci, MB BS, FRACP, FCSANZ
Dr Nick Jackson was born and raised in Hobart and studied medicine at the University of Tasmania. Following medical school, he moved to Newcastle where he completed his training in cardiology before undertaking fellowships in cardiac electrophysiology in Newcastle, Australia and receiving the Miriam Burnett scholarship to study at Toronto General Hospital in Toronto, Canada. During this time, he has authored over fourty peer reviewed articles and book chapters, including work on ventricular fibrillation in explanted human hearts and new mapping techniques for ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation ablation.
Dr Jackson is a conjoint senior lecturer with the University of Newcastle, a staff specialist at John Hunter Hospital and works in private practice to perform ablations for simple and complex cardiac arrhythmias and all forms of pacemaker and defibrillator implantation.
Since returning to Newcastle he has set up the program to
perform lead extractions for infected and redundant pacemaker or defibrillator leads and in 2018 took over as the director of Pacing and Electrophysiology at John Hunter Hospital. He had worked as a proctor for colleagues nationally and internationally for performing catheter ablations and continues to spend time researching new techniques and technologies for ablation of atrial fibrillation (amongst other treatments). When not working, he enjoys hobbies such as bike riding and hiking and spending time with his family.
Dr Suku Thambar
Cardiologist and Interventional Cardiologist
MB BS, FRACP
Dr Suku Thambar undertook his specialist training in cardiology at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, USA. He has since lived in the Hunter region where he practices as an interventional and structural cardiologist in the private and public sectors. Dr Thambar is a Visiting Medical Officer at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital and Newcastle Private Hospital. He holds a conjoint appointment as a Senior Staff Specialist at the John Hunter Hospital and Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle.
Dr Thambar is an active clinical researcher who acknowledges the significance of research in contributing to the advancement of cardiology. His major research interests are the use of adult stem cells in the management of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases and the emerging technology of renal artery denervation. This uses catheter-based radio frequency ablation to manage conditions such as resistant hypertension and heart failure. He has also started a left atrial appendage closure program in private and at John Hunter Hospital.
Dr Thambar has been an inventor, innovator and serial entrepreneur developing novel medical devices for the past 20 years. He is currently a Cofounder and Chief Medical Officer of VenstraMedical (a novel pVAD company).
Helen Koch
Office Manager
Helen has worked with Hunter Heart for over 20 years and has over 30 years experience in the health care industry working for a variety of different medical specialists.
Robyn Newell
Robyn has been with Hunter Heart for 4 years in various roles. Prior to Hunter Heart she has many years of experience working for various Medical Specialists and General Practitioners.