Meet the Team

Professor Ryan Hodges

MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRANZCOG, CMFM

My private practice in The Pregnancy Pod is a small boutique practice that I designed to offer personal, highly expert care whether you or your baby (or babies!) are considered at the highest risk or are perfectly well and wanting highly expert, low intervention pregnancy care. I practice in an environment that is positive, friendly, and sensitive to your feelings and focused on your experience. I achieve this through listening, mindful attention and helping you create a personalised experience with the very best expertise.

I truly do have the best job in the world. I am committed to working with women and families to achieve the richest experience and brightest start to life possible for those who I care for, the community I serve, and I strive to leave a legacy with a global impact. In addition to my private practice at The Pregnancy Pod, I am privileged to serve as Director of Women’s & Newborn Program and Director of Maternity Services for Monash Health, Victoria’s largest health care and maternity provider. I lead a remarkable and inspiring team to provide maternity care for 10 000 babies every year (1 in 8 Victorians!) across a network of hospitals, caring for some of the highest risk pregnancies in Victoria, providing the largest neonatal intensive care and special care nursery service in Monash Children’s Hospital, and extensive gynaecology services including women’s cancer services. I am proud to lead an innovative world-class service for Victoria. I continue to practice in the maternal fetal medicine high risk pregnancy service, where I was former director. I am a member of Monash Health Executive and Clinical Council for hospital quality and safety and patient experience.

Beyond my local community, I am the Victorian maternity and newborn representative to the Clinical Lead Expert Group (CLEG) advising the Department of Health on maternity and newborn care for the COVID-19 pandemic and am Vice Chair of Safer Care Victoria (SCV) Expert Working Group for maternity and newborn policy for Victoria. I am a fetal surgeon in the Victorian Fetal Therapy Service for in utero laser fetal surgery for complicated monochorionic twins. I am a member of the Victorian Consultative Council on Obstetric & Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM) to ensure high quality maternity care for Victoria. I am an Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with Monash University and Clinical Associate with the Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute for medical research, where I teach and examine medical students and training specialists and subspecialists. I supervise PhD students in research and lead an active fetal surgical research program collaborating with international experts in Europe and North America with an extensive publication track record and research grant success. This stems from my extensive international training at the world’s leading high-risk obstetric training programs in Europe (Eurofetus, Belgium) and North America (Mount Sinai, University of Toronto, Canada).

It is through these roles that I strive to make my contribution to advance health outcomes and experience at a personal level, for my community and on the global stage. I am fortunate to have a gorgeous family with four children, including twins myself. My interests are meditation, surfing, and relaxing with my family at the beach.

Dr Annie Kroushev

MBBS (Melb), FRANZCOG, CMFM

My moto for your pregnancy is “Gentle, attentive care, guided by up-to-date evidence, attention to detail and your individual needs”. I believe in tailored care, one woman at a time, in collaboration with you. With me you’ll never feel rushed and, if unexpected issues arise, you’ll be given the time and utmost attention needed to explore them.

For your labour and birth, I aim to provide you with the experience you desire as much as possible. Pregnancy and birth sometimes necessitate that we deviate from the best laid plans, to keep mum and baby(ies) safe, but there will always be ample opportunity to discuss this. My aim is to keep you safe and secure and, as much as possible, meet and exceed your expectations through an exciting but sometimes intense journey.

After a medical degree at The University of Melbourne, my passion for women’s health led me to pursue Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in Australia and New Zealand, gaining rich clinical experience and expertise. I followed this with a further 3-year subspecialty in Maternal Fetal Medicine which enables me to competently look after women and babies with the most complex health care needs.

I am the Head of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Casey Hospital, Monash Health, tasked with building a high risk pregnancy unit for the women of south-eastern Melbourne and regional Victoria. As a senior clinician at Monash Medical Centre, I work in specialized Obstetric clinics, perform fetal surveillance and supervise the birth suite. With extensive training in prenatal ultrasound and fetal procedures I am also a Sonologist at Monash Ultrasound for Women. This allows me to personally and confidently perform ultrasounds, fetal diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and make informed judgments, especially in complex situations, where intensive fetal surveillance is required.

I am one of only four clinicians on the Adhesive Placenta Unit and care for women with abnormally adherent placenta who may require specialised decisions and surgical interventions around their birth.

I teach medical students and Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainees and am also an adjunct lecturer at Monash University. I am involved with hospital protocol and policy reviews and research projects aiming to advance the best possible care for women and babies.

Aside from my professional roles, I am a mother to three cheeky children who keep me on my toes and young at heart. In my spare time I marvel at my growing family, play sports, love to hike and read.

Professor Kirsten Palmer

BBiomedSc, MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRANZCOG, CMFM

As an obstetrician and maternal fetal medicine (MFM) sub-specialist, I am passionate about partnering with women to both maximise their health and wellness during pregnancy, and to ensure they feel empowered and confident as they approach birth and parenthood. I bring a sense of calmness and clarity in my approach to pregnancy care, no matter what unexpected situations may arise. This is supported by delivering care through our purpose designed rooms at The Pregnancy Pod, which provide a calm and relaxing environment.

In addition to my work as a private obstetrician, I also provide care for some of Victoria’s most complex pregnancies as the Head of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Monash Medical Centre. Here I work at the forefront of advanced obstetric care, leading the maternal fetal medicine and fetal growth restriction clinics, while also driving practice improvement initiatives, and training future MFM sub‐specialists. My work brings together a network of leading and passionate healthcare providers from midwifery, genetics, neonatology, paediatrics, anaesthetics and a range of medical specialities, to ensure women have access to the multidisciplinary team they need within the one centre.

While I provide current expert care, I am also passionate about progressing the future of pregnancy care. I achieve this through being actively engaged in research, working as the head of the Maternal and Perinatal Medicine Translational Research Group within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University. Here I supervise a number of higher degree research students, as well as a team of highly skilled and passionate clinical research midwives and trial coordinators. My research focuses predominantly on placental disorders, where I am working to develop new approaches to care delivery and treatments that could improve outcomes for mothers and babies affected by conditions, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. I lead a number of clinical trials, working in partnership with some of Australia’s leading researchers from Monash University and The Ritchie Centre within the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. As an executive committee member of the Interdisciplinary Maternal and Perinatal Clinical Trials (IMPACT) network, I also work with others across Australia and New Zealand to progress new research through clinical trials to hopefully inform future best practice. I also aim to enhance current best practice through my work with the Victorian Consultative Council of Obstetric and Paediatric Morbidity and Mortality (CCOPMM).

I am also a mum to two amazing children and enjoy just hanging out with them, as well as yoga, bushwalking, tennis and drawing.

Dr Carmel Walsh

BSc (Hons) MBBS FRANZCOG

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Creating and growing your family is exciting, but it can also be a daunting experience. My small private practice provides bespoke pregnancy care focussed on individuals and shared decision making in a relaxed environment. I believe in creating a positive partnership with families as we navigate your unique journey. The relaxing, purpose built space of The Pregnancy Pod, and the exceptional team who work here, provide the perfect space for us to build our relationship.

In addition to my work as a private obstetrician, I work in the Maternal Fetal Medicine team at Monash Health. This means that whilst sometimes pregnancy can have unexpected challenges, you have the confidence in knowing that your care provider has the skills and capability to manage any challenges that may arise. Whilst I am a specialist in high-risk pregnancy care, I aim to provide individualised care for the healthiest of families through to those of the very highest risk.

One of my passions is ensuring that families have the very best outcomes during their pregnancy journeys. This has led to a strong focus on advocating for patient safety and enhancing the interacts between families and the healthcare system. My work in this space involves a focus on listening to families, applying cutting edge research, and providing education opportunities for families and healthcare providers. This has resulted in partnerships with both Monash University and Safer Care Victoria with roles in education, advocacy, and policy development.

I am also the mother of two incredible teenagers, and when I’m not working, I enjoy finding my roots in nature. I enjoy photography, crafting with yarn, and relishing the sunset over the mountains with my beautiful family.

I am very much looking forward to the privilege of being part of the journey for
your family.