Dr. Vasant Hirani

Dr. Vasant Hirani

Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics | Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
Dr. Vasant Hirani is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with over 25 years of experience in clinical nutrition, teaching, and research. She is currently an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics and also consults in private practice, where she brings her deep expertise and compassionate approach to help individuals improve their health and quality of life through nutrition. Dr. Hirani holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Nutrition, a Diploma in Dietetics, a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition, and a PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology. Her academic work and publications have focused on nutrition and ageing, public health nutrition, and the impact of diet on chronic diseases and health outcomes such as frailty, sarcopenia, and pain-related conditions. At PainMed, Dr. Hirani plays a vital role in supporting patients experiencing chronic pain, using evidence-based nutritional strategies to complement medical and allied health treatments. She creates tailored nutrition care plans that align with each patient’s health goals, dietary preferences, and unique needs—supporting improvements in pain levels, energy, and overall wellbeing. Dr. Hirani has particular strengths in:

Her passion lies in empowering patients to make sustainable lifestyle and nutrition changes that promote long-term health and functional independence. She combines scientific knowledge with practical, compassionate care—making nutrition accessible and impactful for every individual she supports.

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    Dr. Sally Wride

    Originally from England, Sally graduated from St George’s Hospital, University of London in 2004 with a BSc (First Class Hons) in Physiotherapy. Since settling in Australia, Sally has worked in private practice and in the public hospital setting across Sydney.

    Sally gained a Masters in Medicine Pain Management from the University of Sydney in 2019 and is a Titled Pain Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian Physiotherapy Association).

    In addition to private practice, Sally currently works as a Senior Physiotherapist at Westmead Hospital Pain Management Service.

    Sally is highly skilled in assessing, diagnosing and treating people who experience chronic pain. She enjoys working with injured workers and CTP claimants. She has a deep understanding of the impact of pain on the whole person and on their functioning in daily life. In partnership with her colleagues, Sally enjoys applying her knowledge and clinical skills to provide a safe space for exploration of the physical and emotional meaning of pain and for recovery of function.

    Qualifications and Experience

    Education
    MSc in Medicine Pain Management (Sydney University) Accreditations

    Dr. Baraa Kassim

    Dr. Baraa Kassim is a highly skilled rehabilitation and pain management specialist. With experience in treating patients with complex medical conditions, her expertise spans strokes, neurological, orthopedic, musculoskeletal, and geriatric conditions, as well as spasticity management and spinal and brain injury rehabilitation.

    Dr. Adam Mir

    Dr. Adam is a Fellowship-trained Pain Medicine Specialist with a Fellowship from the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMANZCA) and a Master of Pain Medicine from the University of Sydney. He is dedicated to the comprehensive management of chronic pain across all age groups.

    Dr. Adam trained in adult pain medicine at Liverpool Hospital, Nepean Hospital, and the Department of Pain Medicine, and completed additional training in paediatric chronic pain at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. He currently serves as a Staff Specialist at Westmead and St George Public Hospitals (NSW Health), and is a Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) at Liverpool Public Hospital, St George Private, Sydney Southwest Private, Holroyd Private, Norwest Private, and Nepean Private Hospitals.

    He adopts a whole-person, multidisciplinary approach rooted in the socio-psycho-biomedical model, utilising both pharmacologic and interventional techniques. These include:

    Dr. Adam is an Authorised Prescriber of Medicinal Cannabis and holds a Diploma in Medicinal Cannabis. He is also certified in Opioid Treatment Programs, including Methadone, Suboxone, and Buprenorphine injections. His areas of interest include opioid dependence management, medicinal cannabis, and interventional pain procedures.

    He also completed advanced training in Virtual Reality Therapy for chronic pain and mental health disorders in Barcelona, Spain, and has further qualifications in Focused Psychological Strategies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Clinical Hypnosis.

    Qualifications:

    Languages Spoken: English, Persian (Farsi), Dari

    Dr. Alister Ramachandran

    Dr. Alister Ramachandran, a dual specialist in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, boasts 20+ years of experience. FIPP-certified, he leads Westmead’s pain service, teaches at Sydney University, and is a Faculty of Pain Medicine examiner. His focus remains on delivering evidence-based chronic pain treatment, ensuring comprehensive and effective pain management intervention.