Meet our cochlear implant team of ENT surgeons, implant audiologists and client services staff, caring for adults across Sydney and regional NSW.
HIA Professional Network
Our Team
Our team brings together ENT surgeons, implant audiologists, a vestibular audiologist and client services staff. We work together to support you from your first appointment through to long-term care.
Our Implant Surgeons
Associate Professor Phillip Chang specialises in ear surgery in children and adults with particular training and interest in tympanomastoid surgery, cochlear implants and acoustic neuroma surgery. He has completed 3,000 hearing implants, including more than 2,000 cochlear implants.
Following his ENT training in Sydney, A/Prof Chang completed a series of fellowships with Ugo Fisch in Zurich, David Moffatt in Cambridge and The House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles.
Currently A/Prof Chang operates at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Norwest Hospital and St Luke’s. In addition A/Prof Chang serves as the clinical director for a paediatric cochlear implant programme (The Shepherd Centre) and an adult programme (Hearing Implants Australia).
Dr Draghi trained in Argentina and Australia obtaining ENT training and post-training subspecialties in Paediatric Otolaryngology, Otology, Neuro-Otology and Skull Base, as well as implantable solutions.
In 2014, he completed a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Implantable Hearing Aids at St Vincent’s Private Hospital with Dr Chang. He works at St Vincent’s Private Hospital and serves the broader Central Coast and Newcastle region.
Dr Serefli completed a Fellowship in Otorhinolaryngology in 1997. In 2016, he completed a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology and Implantable Hearing Aids at St Vincent’s Private Hospital with Dr Chang.
He has worked in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven areas for the past 13 years. He expanded his practice and in 2017 developed a locally based Cochlear Implant program, in conjunction with Wollongong Private Hospital and Hearing Implants Australia. Dr Serefli has two practices that support our cochlear implant recipients, located in Wollongong and Nowra.
Dr. Hannah North is a qualified surgeon with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, specialising in ear, nose, and throat issues. She graduated with honours in Medicine from The University of Sydney in 2005 and completed her ENT training across various Sydney hospitals.
Dr. North has conducted research on inner ear hair cells and has extensive teaching experience, currently instructing medical students at the Westmead Clinical School. She completed fellowships in paediatric ENT and complex ear surgery in the UK and has further enhanced her skills through international training in hearing reconstruction and endoscopic techniques. She has also completed the Advanced Surgeons Course with the Institute of Cochlear Implant Training in Valencia, USA.
Since 2016, she has been practising in Sydney, seeing patients at Norwest Private Hospital and operating at multiple local hospitals.
Dr North also performs surgeries for our public patients, who do not have cover under Private Health Insurance, DVA or Workcover.
Dr. Rhydian Harris is a dual fellowship-trained surgeon specialising in Ear, Nose, and Throat conditions for both adults and children. He graduated with honours from Guy’s Kings & St. Thomas’ Hospitals in London and completed extensive surgical training, including a fellowship in Otology and Neuro-otology at the Manchester Skull Base Unit.
After moving to Sydney, he pursued advanced training in ear surgery and refined his skills in rhinology through the Sydney Rhinology Fellowship and additional fellowship training at Westmead Hospital. He also has a strong background in immunology and significant paediatric experience from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Harris is passionate about childhood ENT conditions. He consults at The ENT Care Hub and Norwest Private Medical Centre, providing operative care at several hospitals in Sydney. He conducts outreach clinics at Port Macquarie ENT and Head & Neck Surgery. Operative care is provided at Westmead Private Hospital, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Hospital, and Sydney Day Surgery Hospital.
Dr Harris also performs surgeries for our public patients, who do not have cover under Private Health Insurance, DVA or Workcover.
Dr Ranga Sirigiri is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). He has a special interest in otology and cochlear implant surgery, alongside general and paediatric ENT.
After completing his medical and ENT training in India, Dr Sirigiri undertook a Fellowship in Paediatric Otolaryngology at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in the USA.
Dr Sirigiri has a strong commitment to regional health. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney’s School of Rural Health in Dubbo and a Conjoint Lecturer at the University of Newcastle. He works with Hearing Implants Australia to improve access to cochlear implant care for patients in Dubbo and on the Central Coast.
He speaks English, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu.
Dr June Huang is an Australian-trained ENT Surgeon, who has undergone further sub-specialty Fellowship training in Otology (Ear Disorders) at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
She obtained her Medical Degree at the University of Manchester, England, and completed her Foundation Training in the United Kingdom before relocating to Sydney.
She is a VMO ENT Surgeon at St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital, also operating at St Luke’s Hospital and St George Private Hospital.
Dr Aydin Mohammadi is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon based in Orange. He grew up in the Central West, attending high school in Parkes, and is committed to providing specialist care close to home for regional patients.
He completed his Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Newcastle and his Master of Surgery at the University of Sydney, followed by ENT specialty training in NSW. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and a member of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS). He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney.
Dr Mohammadi works closely with Hearing Implants Australia to provide hearing implant care in the Central West, so patients can be assessed and supported without travelling to Sydney.
His areas of interest include:
- Cochlear implantation, bone conduction implants, stapes and middle ear surgery
- Sinus surgery and rhinoplasty
- Head and neck cancer surgery
- Salivary gland and thyroid surgery
Our Cochlear Implant Audiologists
Dina is a dual-trained audiologist and speech pathologist who specialises in adult cochlear implant assessment and rehabilitation. She combines both skill sets to support auditory rehabilitation, with a particular interest in complex cases, bilateral implantation and the patient’s decision-making journey.
As Director of Audiology, Research and Relationships, Dina has helped grow Hearing Implants Australia from a single audiologist into a multidisciplinary team working alongside surgeons across Sydney and regional NSW. She leads the development of HIA’s regional outreach and remote services, with a strong focus on equitable access to care regardless of where patients live.
Dina is active in research through Macquarie University. Her Master’s research focused on patient-reported outcomes for cochlear implant users, and she currently leads a study on how adults make decisions about cochlear implantation. She also co-supervises Master of Clinical Audiology research students.
Dina is a guest lecturer in Macquarie University’s Master of Clinical Audiology program, supervises student placements, and regularly runs education events for audiologists, GPs and other health professionals.
Mona is an experienced audiologist who specialises in adult vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. She initially completed her Audiology studies in Tehran, and has been practising as an audiologist for more than 10 years. In Australia she completed training to obtain certification under the Australian College of Audiology (ACAud), and is currently completing the Master’s of Audiology degree at Macquarie University.
Mona comes with years of experience in identifying and treating vestibular disorders and lesions. Patient safety and care is at the forefront of every clinical decision she makes. She is highly respected as an expert in the field of vestibular audiology.
Yashaswini is a dual-trained speech-language pathologist and audiologist. She completed her Bachelor of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology at the JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, and more recently completed her Master’s of Audiology at Macquarie University.
Yashaswini comes with a welcoming and calming presence, and with a wealth of knowledge in adult rehabilitation. She loves solving a puzzle, so complex patients and trouble-shooting at her specialty.
Yashaswini has sub-interests in vestibular, hearing aid and implantable solutions care. Yashaswini works most closely with our surgeons Dr Hannah North and Dr Rhydian Harris in Westmead Private Hospital, with Dr Ranga Sirigiri in Dubbo, and with Dr Aydin Mohammadi in Orange. She also services the Wagga Wagga region.
Brooke Rose is a senior audiologist with 17 years of experience specializing in paediatric audiology and cochlear implants. Her career spans major clinical and educational milestones, including 10 years with The Shepherd Centre’s First Sounds cochlear implant program and five years as a clinical educator at Macquarie University. Since 2022, Brooke has also shared her expertise as a lecturer for Macquarie University’s Master of Clinical Audiology program.
Now bringing her wealth of knowledge to Hearing Implants Australia, Brooke loves working with a vibrant, mixed caseload and collaborating closely with ENT surgeons to bridge the gap between clinical practice and student education. On the weekends, you can find her tap dancing, performing in community theatre, or relaxing with her friends and cats.
Jasmine is a new graduate from La Trobe University in Victoria. Jasmine completed a Bachelor of Pre-Veterinary Studies prior to completing the Master’s of Audiology at La Trobe University in Melbourne.
Jasmine brings a unique take on client care and conversations through her background as a veterinary nurse, and understands that communication and delivery are some of the most important aspects of patient-centred care. Jasmine works most closely with our surgeon Dr Rhydian Harris in Port Macquarie, Dr Chang and Dr Hannah North in Norwest Private Hospital, and at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, and also looks after our Tamworth patients.
Krystina is a new graduate from Flinders University in South Australia. Krystina completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and a Bachelor of Letters (Health) prior to completing the Master’s of Audiology at Flinders University.
Krystina brings a fresh perspective and energy to our practice through her experience as a long-term medical receptionist, as patient care and accuracy are most important for her. Krystina loves to see regional patients, and works most closely with our surgeons Dr June Huang at St George Private, Dr Ekrem Serefli in Wollongong and Nowra, and Dr Chang at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Our Patient Services Team
Zoey is often the first friendly voice our patients hear and a consistent point of support throughout their care journey. As our Client Services Advisor and Patient Advocate, she looks after day-to-day administration while ensuring every patient feels heard, supported, and well informed.
Zoey plays an important role in coordinating appointments, assisting with enquiries, and helping patients navigate their care with confidence. She is a strong advocate for patient needs, taking the time to listen, explain processes clearly, and liaise with the clinical team to ensure concerns are addressed promptly and thoughtfully.
With a calm and compassionate approach, Zoey helps create a welcoming experience for patients and families, supporting them from their first contact with our clinic through ongoing care.
Stef is our practice manager. She has worked alongside Dr. Chang for 19 years and provides a seamless patient journey and enhanced operational efficiency. Stef she effectively manages daily operations, staff coordination, and patient relations.
The HIA Professional Network
The HIA Professional Network brings together the audiologists, speech pathologists, GPs, ENT surgeons and other health professionals who refer to and work alongside our team. Together, we provide coordinated care for adults with hearing loss across NSW.
Our implant audiologists manage your patient’s implant care directly, in Sydney and through regular regional and rural outreach, and keep you informed at every step. We share detailed clinical reports, hold regular multidisciplinary team meetings, and run education sessions and breakfast meetings for our referrers.
Get in touch
Whether you’re a patient, GP or health professional, our team is here to help. Contact us to make a referral, ask about hearing implants, or learn more about our services.
Referring a patient? Send referrals by email to [email protected]. Please include recent audiology results where available.
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