Associate Professor Ranil Gunewardene set up and has been the Director of Mental Health Services at Northern Beaches Hospital since its inception in 2018 where he has led the growth and maturation of the Service since. He also created and is a Director of the Mindlife Clinic Frenchs Forest and the Mindcafe Education Service.
Dr Ranil as he is more commonly known, has extensive expert clinical and leadership experience in both the public and private sectors of mental health, having worked in the Northern Sydney Local Health District since the year 2000. This has provided him with a unique set of clinical skills, as well as unique complex patient care experiences and perspectives. He also brings a wealth of experience from his 15 years in the role of Clinical Director of Mental Health Services at Mosman Private Hospital and the Hornsby KRG Mental Health Services.
Dr Ranil is dedicated to teaching and knowledge sharing in psychiatry, for both mental health clinicians and for consumers. He developed the Mindcafe Education Service to facilitate the education of health care professionals. Dr Ranil has presented at numerous teaching sessions and conferences and is an engaging speaker.
As a psychiatrist, he has extensive skills and experience in the treatment of mood, trauma, anxiety and psychotic disorders; amongst other areas of mental health. He has a passion for delivering excellence in service provision and continual improvement in patient care.
Dr Ranil brings a strong interest in innovative therapies; having been involved in published TMS research programs early in its exploration as a novel therapy in Australia. This is because he has seen the limitations of conventional therapies in his roles as the senior clinical expert of major mental health services. He has cared for and effectively treated numerous patients with severe treatment resistant depression and PTSD over his career. He has undertaken additional and ongoing specialised training in medicine enhanced therapies; to deliver these groundbreaking treatments, for those who continue to suffer in our communities.