Dr Zana Jamal
General Paediatrician
MBBS DCH FRACP- Newborn care and support of the mother-baby dyad during the ‘fourth trimester’
- Infant growth and development
- Asthma and eczema
- Constipation
- ADHD
- ASD
- Anxiety
Dr Ramani Kone
General Paediatrician
MBBS FRACPRamani is a general paediatrician who provides care to patients from birth up to 18 years old, addressing a wide spectrum of health concerns.
She values collaborative work with families, general practitioners, allied health professionals, and educators to facilitate children in reaching their full potential.
In addition to managing general paediatric issues such as feeding, growth, development, continence, asthma, eczema, and sleep, she also possesses expertise in neonatal care, neurodevelopmental and behavioural problems, ADHD, Autism, and learning difficulties.
Ramani completed her Paediatric training at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, and Peninsula Health. During her training, she gained additional experience in community child health, allergies, dermatology, and conditions related to the upper airways.
Alongside her private practice at Monash Obstetrics Kids, Ramani also consults at Melbourne Paediatric Specialists in Parkville. She holds accreditation at Jessie McPherson and Waverley Private Hospitals and provides care for neonates in the special care nursery and postnatal ward.
She is also a member of the Neurodevelopmental and Behavioural Paediatric Society of Australasia (NBPSA).
Dr Ahmed Shaalan
Consultant Neonatal Paediatrician
MBBCH MSc MRCPCH(UK) PhD FRACP MBBS FRACPAhmed is a Neonatal Paediatrician with over 18 years of experience in Paediatric and Neonatal Care both overseas and in Australia. He completed training in various perinatal centres across Victoria, including Monash Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, and Royal Children’s Hospital.
He holds specialist training in Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine, obtaining fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Additionally, Ahmed holds a master’s degree in Paediatrics and a Ph.D. in Childhood Studies, specifically focusing on “Children’s Health & Nutrition.”
Ahmed is highly experienced in all aspects of newborn care, starting from prenatal consultations, attending both high-risk and low-risk deliveries, conducting baby assessments, performing hospital discharge examinations, and overseeing growth and development assessments for the first two years of life.
Furthermore, he was a Certified Lactation Consultant (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant IBCLC) from 2008 to 2018, actively working to support and facilitate successful breastfeeding.
He recognizes the significance of the initial days after birth as a golden time for both the baby and the parents. His primary goal is to establish ideal bonding between the baby and the family.
Dr Laura Prado
Neonatal Paediatrician
MBBS FRACPLaura is an experienced neonatologist with a keen interest in all matters related to neonatal care, particularly emphasising family-integrated approaches. She is also deeply committed to enhancing neonatal care through the implementation of quality improvement initiatives.
Having practiced in various tertiary neonatal intensive care units across Argentina and Canada, Laura has seamlessly integrated these acquired skills into her work in Australia for numerous years. Her robust professional background in neonatal medicine in Victoria includes notable positions at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) service, Mercy Hospital for Women, and Monash Children’s Hospital.
For many years, Laura has served as an instructor for the Neonatal Resuscitator Program, a role she continues as a NeoResus instructor in Australia. Her fervent dedication extends to the realm of quality improvement and patient safety practices, as she envisions these as the pathway to a more enhanced and equitable healthcare system.
She underwent training at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston and has led a variety of quality improvement initiatives across several hospitals.
In addition to her consulting role at Monash Obstetric Kids, Laura holds positions at Monash Children’s Hospital and Royal Darwin Hospital within the neonatal department.
Laura is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Dr Pramod Pharande
Neonatal Paediatrician
DCH DNB FRACP CCPU MMed (Clin Epi)Pramod is a neonatal paediatrician at Monash Children’s Hospital, while also contributing his expertise for Monash Obstetrics Kids. He offers his services for deliveries and newborn care at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital.
One of Pramod’s primary passions lies in conducting neuro-developmental assessments for high-risk neonates. He leads these assessments at the ‘Early Neurodevelopmental Clinic’ under Monash Newborn. His aim is to identify developmental issues as early as three months of age, enabling timely interventions and improved outcomes.
A key focus of Pramod’s work is enhancing neonatal nutrition in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. His commitment to achieving a ‘zero’ rate of infection in neonates through central venous lines is notable. He achieves this by implementing central line bundles and meticulously monitoring incidents through critical incident reviews.
Affiliated with the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), Pramod utilizes “point of care ultrasound” to elevate clinical care, advance research in neonatal haemodynamics, and enhance the education of trainees.
Beyond his clinical roles, Pramod is an active researcher and facilitator in the field of simulation-based interdisciplinary training. His involvement in the ONE-Sim (Obstetric and Neonatal Emergency Simulation) program significantly contributes to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.
General Paediatrics
General paediatricians play a vital role in the healthcare of children and adolescents. Their role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities aimed at promoting the health, development, and well-being of individuals from birth to 18 years of age. Here are the services that our general paediatricians offer:
Preventive Care:
Emphasize preventive healthcare by educating parents and caregivers about newborn care, nutrition, safety, hygiene, and other factors that contribute to a child’s overall well-being.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Diagnose and treat various medical conditions and illnesses that affect children. These conditions encompass common issues such as asthma, eczema, constipation, infections, and growth concerns. Additionally, our paediatricians can also address more complex challenges including chronic diseases, as well as developmental and behavioural concerns like ADHD, ASD, and learning difficulties.
Developmental Assessments:
Monitor developmental milestones, assess physical and cognitive growth, and identify any developmental delays or concerns that may need intervention.
Behavioural and Emotional Support:
Address behavioural issues, emotional challenges, and mental health concerns that children may experience, providing guidance and referrals when necessary.
Collaboration and Referrals:
Work closely with other medical specialists and healthcare professionals to coordinate care for children with complex medical needs. They may refer patients to specialists when specific expertise is required.
Adolescent Health:
Provide medical care tailored to the unique needs of adolescents, including discussions about puberty, sexual health, mental health, and substance abuse.
Health Promotion:
Promote healthy lifestyles, encouraging physical activity, proper nutrition, and other habits that contribute to long-term well-being.
In essence, our general paediatricians provide comprehensive medical resource for children and their families, focusing on holistic care that encompasses physical health, developmental milestones, emotional well-being, and preventive measures.
Please note that developmental or behavioural assessments, including ASD, ADHD, and learning difficulties, require a minimum of 2-3 appointments. In cases where your child does not initially meet the criteria or if additional information is needed, a referral may be made for further multidisciplinary assessments conducted by allied health professionals.
In essence, our general paediatricians provide comprehensive medical resource for children and their families, focusing on holistic care that encompasses physical health, developmental milestones, emotional well-being, and preventive measures.
Please note that developmental or behavioural assessments, including ASD, ADHD, and learning difficulties, require a minimum of 2-3 appointments. In cases where your child does not initially meet the criteria or if additional information is needed, a referral may be made for further multidisciplinary assessments conducted by allied health professionals.
Appointments
The Maternal and Child Health Nurse from your local council will contact you to inform of their first home visit within the first 2 weeks of discharge from hospital. Ongoing review with them is highly recommended for growth and development monitoring.
They will also help organise New Parent Groups and Playgroups, linking you with other parents of similar aged children for socialising and support.
Consultations with our paediatricians are by appointment only.
Please call 1300 121 000 for information.
We require your referral prior to making an appointment. Please email us your referral. We will triage the appointment based on the information provided and contact you to make an appointment with the appropriate paediatrician.
Please note: The Paediatricians may decline a referral if they think the referral is unsuitable but will make recommendations for alternatives where possible.
Please make sure your referral includes the following information:
- Reason for referral
- Background history i.e. past and current diagnosis/ medications/ allergies
- Available relevant investigations
Email: reception@mobkids.com.au
We require the patient registration to be completed online at least 72 hours prior to your appointment.
Please click the link below and fill in the details on the form. You can upload the referral and any other relevant investigations or documents to this form. Please submit once complete.
While waiting to see the paediatrician, if you have concerns about developmental delay, learning difficulties, or behavioural issues, it is advisable to have your GP refer your child for a hearing assessment and a vision assessment. We also recommend obtaining a letter from your child’s educator or school outlining their concerns. Kindly bring this letter to the appointment or email it to us in advance.
If you are already a patient, please call our rooms directly on 1300 121 000 so we can arrange a suitable appointment time.
Provide medical care tailored to the unique needs of adolescents, including discussions about puberty, sexual health, mental health, and substance abuse.
Promote healthy lifestyles, encouraging physical activity, proper nutrition, and other habits that contribute to long-term well-being.
Booking Appointments
Consultations with our paediatricians are by appointment only.
Please call 1300 121 000 for information.
New Patients
We require your referral prior to making an appointment. Please email us your referral. We will triage the appointment based on the information provided and contact you to make an appointment with the appropriate paediatrician.
Please note: The paediatrician may decline a referral if they think the referral is unsuitable but will make recommendations for alternatives where possible.
Please make sure your referral includes the following information:
- Reason for referral
- Background history i.e. past and current diagnosis/ medications/ allergies
- Available relevant investigations
New Patient Registration Form
We require the patient registration to be completed online at least 72 hours prior to your appointment.
Please click the link below and fill in the details on the form. You can upload the referral and any other relevant investigations or documents to this form. Please submit once complete.
Newborn Babies
Your attending obstetrician will refer your baby to a paediatrician who will be responsible for your baby’s medical care during your hospital stay.
Your paediatrician will provide the following services:
- Attend your caesarean section or vaginal birth to help support your baby transition to life outside the womb.
- Complete the newborn physical examination on discharge.
- Managing newborn health issues such as jaundice, low blood sugar, suspected infection, excessive weight loss and any other medical issues your baby may have.
- Managing prematurity related complications in Special Care Nursery.
- Organising appropriate investigations and follow up any medical concerns detected during your pregnancy.
- Addressing any concerns that you may have.
The lactation consultant and midwives will help support your breastfeeding journey. It is important to feed or express regularly to help build and maintain milk supply.
- Attend your caesarean section or vaginal birth to help support your baby transition to life outside the womb.
- Complete the newborn physical examination on discharge.
- Managing newborn health issues such as jaundice, low blood sugar, suspected infection, excessive weight loss and any other medical issues your baby may have.
- Managing prematurity related complications in Special Care Nursery.
- Organising appropriate investigations and follow up any medical concerns detected during your pregnancy.
- Addressing any concerns that you may have.
6 Week Baby check
Your baby will need a thorough physical examination at 6 weeks. You can either see your paediatrician who attended your baby at birth or your GP. You will, however, need to make an appointment with your paediatrician if investigations were ordered in the hospital or your baby was admitted into Special Care Nursery.
Following discharge from the postnatal ward or special care nursery, the referral made by your obstetrician to the paediatrician who attended your baby in hospital, is valid until your baby is 3 months old. If further visits are required after 3 months old, then you will need to get a referral from a GP.
Antenatal Counselling
Our paediatricians are available to counsel parents prior to birth where there are concerns of genetic conditions or abnormalities found on antenatal scans. They can discuss the treatment plan for problems your newborn might have, help you understand the condition and educate you on how to prepare for the care of your newborn.
The mother will require a referral from the obstetrician or GP, preferably to the paediatrician who will be attending the delivery.
