About Us
Queensland Respiratory and Sleep is a specialty practice with multiple locations across Queensland established and run by experienced consultant respiratory & sleep physicians. Our doctors are committed to providing the best possible support for general practitioners and compassionate care for patients suffering from all aspects of respiratory and sleep disorders. All our doctors are available for general consultation, however each physician also has special interest expert areas. These complementary sub-specialty interests of our physicians enable our practice to expertly treat all patients. Our sub-specialty interests include lung cancer, chronic airways disease, pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung infections, interstitial lung disease, sleep apnoea and parasomnias.
Meet our medical team
Dr Chris Zappala
Dr Zappala is a Respiratory and Sleep Physician. He achieved his MBBS(Hons) at the University of Queensland and underwent his advanced training at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital. Dr Zappala worked for two years in London at the Royal Brompton Hospital where he began his interest and research in interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. He has an active interest in airways disease and sleep apnoea also.
His research interests include examining how change in serial pulmonary function and chest imaging describe disease behaviour and predict survival in interstitial lung disease, epidemiology of pulmonary hypertension, assessing diffuse lung diseases at baseline.
Dr Zappala is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Australian Medical Association.
Dr Zappala consults at Wesley Medical Centre and St Stephen’s Hospital Hervey Bay.
For an appointment with Dr Chris Zappala, please call 07 3371 0500 .
Dr Farzad Bashirzadeh
Dr Bashirzadeh is a Respiratory and Sleep Physician. He obtained his medical degree in Iran and completed his FRACP training at The Canberra Hospital and Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital in Brisbane. Farzad has completed further training in interventional bronchoscopy including Thoraxklinik Heidelberg and robotic bronchoscopy at Intuitive Surgical in US.
Farzad’s main interest area is interventional pulmonology, including diagnostic and management of lung cancer using endobronchial ultrasound, narrow band image (NBI) bronchoscopy, bronchial stenting and medical thoracoscopy. He performs Endobronchial lung volume reduction for management of severe COPD in both public and private.
Farzad consults for diagnosis and management of lung cancer, asthma, emphysema, sleep disordered breathing, chronic cough, sarcoidosis, pleural disease and other respiratory conditions.
Dr Bashirzadeh is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a member of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, the European Respiratory Society and the American Thoracic Society.
Farzad consults at Wesley Medical Centre, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital Hervey Bay and Mater Misericordiae Hospital Rockhampton.
For an appointment with Dr Farzad Bashirzadeh, please call 07 3871 0033.
Dr Geoff Fanning
Queensland trained Respiratory and Sleep Physician. He completed his medical degree from the University of Queensland in 2009. Dr Fanning undertook his respiratory training at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Logan Hospital and completed his Sleep Fellowship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr Fanning currently holds Staff Specialist Respiratory and Sleep Physician positions at the Mater Public Hospital and Logan Hospital.
Dr Fanning’s interests include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, pleural disease and lung cancer. In addition, he is interested in both respiratory and non-respiratory sleep disorders.
Dr Fanning is trained in bronchoscopy, including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), and pleural disease management. He is committed to providing a high standard of care to his patients, with consideration of their individual circumstances and practical needs. Dr Fanning has a strong focus on communication with patients, family, and the wider care team.
Dr Fanning Consults at Greater Springfield Specialist Suites and Mater Misericordiae Hospital Rockhampton.
For an appointment with Dr Geoff Fanning, please call 07 5322 5904.
Dr Hervey Lau
Dr Hervey Lau is a Queensland-trained Respiratory, Sleep, and General Physician who speaks fluent English and Cantonese. Dr Lau initially undertook specialist internal medicine training at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital before embarking on advanced respiratory training at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Mater Hospital. Dr Hervery Lau then returned to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to complete his fellowship in sleep medicine.
Whilst general respiratory and sleep practice is broad, Dr Hervey Lau’s keen interest is to offer assistance in the work-up and management of patients with airway diseases (such as asthma and COPD), lung cancer, and sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnoea and insomnia).
Dr Hervey Lau has opened his books for new patients in his rooms at Sunnybank Private Hospital and St Stephen’s Hospital Hervey Bay. If you would like to discuss referral of a patient or any aspect of a patient’s care, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Hervey Lau’s rooms on ph-3371 0500 or via fax (3371 0522) or email (reception@qldrespiratorysleep.com.au).
Dr Alistair Cook
Dr Alistair Cook is a Respiratory Physician who graduated from the University of Queensland and completed his training at Logan and Gold Coast University Hospitals. He has since completed fellowships in Severe Asthma at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, and Interventional
receiving advanced asthma treatments.
Dr Cook has a public position at RBWH, and he has recently commenced seeing patients in private practice and has appointments available for immediate consultation. Dr Cook has broad expertise and is happy to be involved in the care of all general respiratory conditions. His subspecialty interests are difficult asthma, COPD, lung cancer and bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound.
Meet our admin team
Ashton
Ashton is highly organised, process driven person with an outgoing personality. Ashton has several years of experience as a Practice Manager where she creates new innovative procedures to streamline the business practices. In her spare time Ashton enjoys spending time with her young daughter and husband outdoors camping and fishing.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle is a fun loving and energetic team member, who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things administration. Gabrielle is known for her ability to get the job done. In her spare time Gabrielle enjoys adventure in nature with her two young children.
Julie
Julie is our newest member of the team. Julie is a quiet achiever, she prides herself attention to detail and her can do attitude. Julie only started her medical administration career 5 years ago. When Julie is not at work she enjoys going for long rides on her Harley Davidson
Carolyn
Carolyn is disciplined and hardworking, where her main focus is patient care. Carolyn is from the north of England and brings with her a wealth of knowledge, with a background in Human Resources along with previously working as a teacher aid. Carolyn enjoys various crafts including card making is her spare time, she is extremely talented.
Karen
Karen an extremely devoted individual with a stellar background in scheduling appointments and performing administrative tasks. Karen is a self-motivated individual who ensures all tasks are completed to a high standard. In Karen’s spare time she enjoys going for walks with her dog and spending time with her children and grandchildren.