Meet the Team

Doctors

Dr Lisa Wain

MBChB (Otago), Diploma in Paediatrics

I graduated from Otago Medical School in 2014.   Since then I have been living in Mount Maunganui and working at Tauranga Hospital in a variety of roles.   I completed a Diploma in Paediatrics and because of this have an interest in Child Health within General Practice.   I am currently GPEP 2 and working towards my fellowship.

I spend most of my spare time at the beach, keeping active and enjoying time with my husband and young daughter.

 

Dr Scott Rieper 

MBChB FRNZCGP

I grew up in Lower Hutt., studied in Dunedin, and in 2016 moved to Tauranga Hospital. In 2020 I moved to General Practice in Te Puke. I have an interest in skin cancer, and am currently training in skin cancer detection and surgery. I also enjoy the variety and continuity of care in generla practice. In my spare time I like to go with my family and our dog on adventures, often in the Kaimas, and enjoy rock climbing, golf and mountain biking. 

Dr Alex Leslie

MBChB (Otago), FRNZCGP

I am a newly awarded Fellow of the Royal College of GPs having completed training in the Bay of Plenty area in 2018. Prior  to GP training  I worked in a variety of specialities and hospitals around New Zealand and Australia, including as a General Surgery and Paediatric doctor at Tauranga Hospital and as an Emergency doctor in rural Northern Territory.

Alongside GP I work at a local Urgent Care clinic  and as a Police Medical Officer. My interests are children’s health, men’s health, and acute medicine.

I grew up on a farm in rural Manawatu and moved to Mount Maunganui with my wife in 2012. We enjoy travelling and now have two kids under three. When I’m not wrangling kids I enjoy getting outdoors on board / bike / foot and flying Cessna light aircraft

Dr Stewart Montgomery

MBChB (Otago), Diploma in Paediatrics, FRNZCGP

I am originally from Gisborne.   I  graduated from Otago University in 2000.    I have worked in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia and gained a Diploma in Paediatrics in 2005 before commencing my GP training in 2006.   Following completion of my exams I worked in General Practice in Dublin, Ireland for 4 years where I gained great general experience.

I have been working at Te Puke Medical Centre since 2011 and have recently joined the Partnership.

I spend most of my spare time with my family and have two young children.    I also love surfing, golf and mountain biking.

Dr Kerry Neilson

MBChB, DipObst

I am from South Canterbury where I was a solo rural practitioner for many years. To keep some variety, I also worked at the local emergency department, the family planning clinic, the STI clinic, and for a while the youth health clinic & the marae clinic too.
I am passionate about women’s health, and have been active in community efforts to improve women’s health.
Out of work I enjoy pets, gardening, bicycling, motorcycling, and tramping.

Dr Elaine Pooler

MBBS.Dip.Obst., FRNZCGP

I qualified from St.George’s Hospital Medical School, London, in 1992. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1993, initially spending several years in Auckland and Invercargill, before settling in Tauranga in 2001. Since then I have worked, enjoying patient-centred family practice, at Te Puke Medical Centre.

Outside of work, I enjoy time spent with my partner and 2 young sons on beach walks, cycling and kayaking;  trying to keep the garden under control and beat the bugs to the fruit and veg.

Dr Brooke Vosper  

MBChB (Auckland), PGDipSurgAnat, FRNZCGP

After studying medicine in the early 2000’s and doing my house surgeon years at Auckland and Middlemore Hospitals, I expanded my world view with time spent travelling around Europe and Africa. On returning to New Zealand in 2012, I undertook locum experience at Timaru Hospital before returning to my much loved home town where I spent 3 years as an Orthopaedic Registrar at Tauranga Hospital.

Surgery was a deep passion of mine but I discovered I could put my medical skills to stronger use within community based medicine.

I spent some time working and travelling through the Northern Territory of Australia and Asia in 2015. I returned to Tauranga where I trained as a GP, passing my exams in 2016 and completing my GP Specialist fellowship in 2023.

During that time that I welcomed a baby boy with my partner, returning from maternity leave at the start of 2024.

My passion is helping my local community stay healthy and well informed. I also have a particular interest in musculoskeletal medicine.

Dr Cheryl Pittar 

BSc, BHB, MBchB, FRNZCGP

I was born and raised in Tauranga. My family and extended family come from Te Puke. After training and working several years as a Nurse I enrolled at the University of Auckland and completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Pharmacology and Psychology before entering my medical training at the Auckland School of Medicine. I spent my junior doctor years in a variety of Auckland Hospitals and then went onto start my GP training in 2010 . After living in Auckland for 17 years I returned home in 2011.
I am a fellow of the Royal NZ college of GPs having completed the GP specialist training. I enjoy being a generalist. I love the variety that general practice has. I have a variety of other roles outside of working two days a week as the duty doctor at Te Puke Medical which includes Urgent care work at Accident & Healthcare, School Doctor for Papamoa College & remote work from home – initially covid response work but now medical administration work.
Outside of work I like to spend time with my partner on the weekends. I have a 22 year old son who lives in Auckland. I enjoy running and am involved with my local Mount running club.

Dr Lauren Whitworth

MBchB

I grew up in Whangamatā, in the Coromandel Peninsula. I moved to Auckland to study medicine and graduated in 2018. I worked in a variety of medical specialities at Tauranga Hospital, before completing my Diploma of Paediatrics through Otago University in 2021. I started my GP training in 2022 in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, which I now consider to be home.

I enjoy the continuity of care that being a GP provides as well as the variety. I am looking forward to working with the community of Te Puke. I spend time outside of work with family and friends, keeping active and enjoying good food. 

Dr Michelle Stewart

MBChB; Dip. OMG

Kia ora koutou katoa, nō Tāmaki Makaurau ahau.  Ko Michelle tōku ingoa.

After growing up in Auckland, I headed south to Ōtepoti (Dunedin) to study medicine.  I spent my clinical years in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) before graduating in 2016 and moving to the sunny Tauranga Moana.  I spent 4 years working in a range of specialties in Tauranga Hospital gaining valuable experience in General Medicine and Paediatrics then completing my diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology.  I am passionate about Hauora Māori and I’m currently in my second year of studying Te Reo Māori at Toi Ohomai.

Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors; hiking, biking, diving, or skiing.

I started GP training in 2021 and I am working towards my fellowship.  I am looking forward to getting to know the community here in Te Puke.

Ngā mihi.

Dr Catherine Rawcliffe

MBChB (Hons) Birm

I am originally from the UK and trained at Birmingham Medical School. I worked in Perth, Western Australia in Emergency Medicine for 4 years and then moved to New Zealand with my partner 8 years ago. Since then I have been training in General Practice and also spent a year doing Palliative Care in London and Gloucestershire.

We have recently moved from the Mount area to a lifestyle block and are enjoying bringing up our two young children in a more rural setting. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors; walking, mountain biking, skiing, swimming.

 

Dr Stephanie Buttle

MBChB; FRNZCGP

After completing medical training at Otago University in 2011 I moved to the beautiful Bay of Plenty and worked at Tauranga Hospital in a variety of specialties. I decided to go into General Practice in 2015, passed my exams in 2016 and completed my GP Specialist Fellowship in 2020.

I enjoy the variety and challenge of being a Generalist. I also have a passion for supporting patients to improve their overall wellbeing as I believe that this is where primary care providers can make the greatest difference. I have a particular interest in children’s health and lifestyle medicine.

In my spare time I enjoy being with my family in the outdoors; at the beach, on a mountain bike or hiking up a mountain. I am an avid runner and gym goer and enjoy playing social sports.

Having recently joined the TPMC team, I am excited to get to know the local community and I look forward to developing quality long-standing relationships with my patients here in Te Puke.

 

Tanya Nicholson – Nurse Practitioner 

 MN (NP) BN

As a registered nurse I have worked both in New Zealand and overseas and have experience in both hospital and community settings. I began Practice Nursing in 2010 and found that it was a good fit for my passion for community well-being, intertwined with my nursing knowledge and clinical skills.

I completed my Masters of Nursing in 2023, becoming a Nurse Practitioner. As a Nurse Practitioner, I bring valuable life skills and expertise to deliver comprehensive care to patients and their families across the lifespan for both acute and chronic conditions. I provide holistic, patient-focused, evidence-based nursing care which focuses on improving health outcomes.

I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Te Puke Community. My children have all completed their schooling here and are now studying or working in New Zealand and abroad. I enjoy all things, coffee, walking, the beach and spending time with my family.

 

Kelly Withers – Nurse Manager

 

Born in Christchurch and raised in Seattle, I transitioned from nearly two decades of teaching to follow my passion for healthcare. Since 2019, I embarked on a journey that led me to attain a Bachelor of Nursing. Proudly serving as a practice nurse in the Te Puke Medical Centre, I find joy in diverse interactions across all stages of life, focusing on empowering patients towards healthier lives through education.

My teaching background has provided me with valuable parallels between nursing and education, emphasing communication and empathy in guiding patient journeys. I aim to apply these skills to enhance individuals’ well-being.

Outside of work I cherish moments with my family and dog in the great outdoors. 

 

Chris Fyfe – Practice Manager

 

I grew up in Tauranga and left after school to study at Waikato University before travelling the world.

After returning to New Zealand and before taking on this role at Te Puke Medical Centre, I have worked in a similar role at a medical centre in Rotorua. I enjoy the challenges and variety this role brings and it is a privilege to be part of this team.

Outside work I enjoy the outdoors, particularly tramping, cycling, tennis, recently stand up paddle boarding and on a day off can be found at the beach. 

Nurses

Nurses

Left to Right: Lea Bayly; Brittany McDonnell; Kelly Withers (Nurse Manager),
Orna Chalmers, Paula Tanner, Sarah Hodgson (Health Care Assistant)

Absent: Paula Waterhouse

Admin Team

Left to Right: Tanya Broomhead; Gail Drennan; Debbie Murray; Jo Edwards;
Susanne Jones; Gill White